The announcement came shortly after her arrival from a successful official trip to India to review operations and promote Canada’s immigration program abroad. She visited Mumbai, Chandigarh and New Delhi.

“India is a major source of immigrants to Canada, with highly qualified individuals,” says. Minister Finley. “Canada wants skilled and talented professionals from India and around the world and is committed to helping them integrate quickly into the Canadian labour market, the Minister adds.

“To this end, we have established the Foreign Credentials Referral Office and just announced the expansion of orientation sessions abroad to help potential immigrants get their credentials assessed and recognized in Canada as quickly as possible,” Finley said. While in India, the Minister announced the expansion of overseas orientation services to help immigrants from India and China get their credentials assessed and recognized in Canada. The expansion adds service on a rotational basis in the states of Gujarat and Punjab in India, as well as rotational services in Beijing and Shanghai in China.

Until now, orientation sessions were available in three cities in India, China and the Philippines.  A new, centrally-located office was also opened in New Delhi to respond to increased demand in the region.

The sessions are funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program and delivered by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges’ Canadian Immigration Integration Project. The Minister also addressed representatives of educational institutions at a roundtable in Mumbai. Her speech touched on various initiatives undertaken to attract new immigrants, including the plans to introduce a new Canadian Experience Class in 2008.

While details are still being finalized, this new avenue to immigration will help foreign students and skilled workers already living and working in Canada, to apply for permanent resident status from within Canada.

During the visit, Minister Finley took the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs and other officials of the Indian government.