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Express Entry

Since, the adoption of the IRCC pivotal application management system, on January 1st 2015, the term Express Entry has become a synonym for Canadian Immigration. This is because the system is by far the fastest way of gaining Permanent Residence status in Canada.

The Express Entry system has been a significant change from the earlier immigration systems. The preceding Federal Immigration programs to Canada used to be “First Come First Served”. The Express Entry on the other hand is a highly competitive system. Under the Express Entry System, eligible candidates are ranked against one another based on their Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS).

Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) for Express Entry

Calculation of the  Comprehensive Ranking Score is done on the following factors:

  1. Age
  2. Education
  3. Language Proficiency (English and/or French)
  4. Foreign Work Experience
  5. Canadian Work Experience
  6. Spouse or Common Law Factors (If Applicable)
  7. Canadian Post Secondary Credential
  8. Certificate of Qualification (for applicants in Skilled Trades)
  9. Brother/Sister living in Canada (PR/Citizen)
  10. Arranged Employment
  11. Provincial Nomination

Holding true to its name, Express Entry promises speedy PR Application processing. Approximately 80% of the cases are processed within 6 months or less. In many cases, candidates don’t require any Canadian experience or studies within Canada to apply for this program. Such applicants can directly land in Canada and obtain their Permanent Resident status right after they go through CBSA security checkpoints. On the other hand certain cases, one does gain some additional leverage for having Canadian Work Experience.

 


How does Express Entry System Work?

 

The Express Entry procedure starts with the creation of an Express Entry profile. In the absence of a valid job offer or a provincial nomination, registration on the Canadian Job Bank.
The profile created details important material facts about the applicant such as job history, educational history, language skills etc. There is a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that gets assigned to the candidate & the profile moves to the Express Entry Pool waiting for the right CRS score to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
On receiving the ITA, the applicant has to complete the online application process with documentation proof to support the Express Entry Profile.
For eligibility under the Express Entry stream, the applicant can use any of the 3 broad programs along with  PNP:

3 broad programs

  • Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program: This is a quick and efficient method through which professionals & skilled workers from all around the world can move to and settle down in Canada. The Federal Skilled worker program is highly sought after which is why an applicant must successfully pass an additional screening step other than the regular CRS scoring system used under Express Entry. This additional step is known as the Federal Skilled Worker Category (FSWC) points system where an applicant must score at least 67 points out of 100 in order to gain eligibility.

The minimum requirements under this program:

      • Securing 67 out of 100 points under FSWC points system (in addition to the CRS score cut off to receive ITA under the Express Entry System)
      • This Program is NOT applicable for Candidates wishing to settle down in Quebec. Quebec has a separate program of its own for such candidates
      • Language Proficiency Requirement – CLB 7 (Listening, Speaking, Reading & Writing)
      • A Canadian secondary high school diploma or ECA verified equivalent diploma from around the world
      • 1 year or 1 year equivalent of continuous full time paid work experience in a NOC type 0/A/B job within the last 10 years
      • Meet the Proof of Funds minimum requirement for the primary applicant and the entire family to settle in Canada
      • The Proof of funds minimum requirement can be waived under this program in either of the following examples:
        1. If the applicant has a work permit to currently work in Canada
        2. Obtain a qualifying job offer from an Eligible Canadian employer

 

  • Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program: This program was launched as a measure by the Canadian Government to tackle the labor market shortages in jobs that are technical in nature or can be categorized as a skilled trade (NOC type B). This program measures the ability of an applicant to settle down well into the Canadian Job Market based on his/her skills or certification linked to the trade that he/she specializes in.

Once an applicant receives an ITA through the Federal Skilled Trades Program there are certain minimum requirements that need to be fulfilled:

      • This Program is NOT applicable for Candidates wishing to settle down in Quebec. Quebec has a separate program of its own for such candidates
      • Language Proficiency Requirement – CLB 5 (Listening & Speaking) & CLB4 (Reading & Writing)
      • Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience in a related technical trade within the last 5 years before applying
      • Job Offer of full-time employment (at least 30 hrs per week) by 1 employer or split between up to 2 employer
      • The said job offer must be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
      • In the absence of the Job Offer, the applicant can also provide a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a provincial or federal authority that allows the individual to work in that province
      • No Specified minimum Education Requirements although any education listed under an ECA report could improve the CRS score
      • Meet the Proof of Funds minimum requirement for the primary applicant and the entire family to settle in Canada

 

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This program is meant to permanently absorb foreign nationals into Canada, who are working in Canada through a work permit directly or subsequent to completion of studies in Canada. Such individuals are given additional weightage for their experience because they have already proven their abilities to integrate into Canada by first joining and then sticking around for 1 year or more in the Canadian Job Market and by approving the PR applications of such individuals, Canada would facilitate in easing some of the job market shortages in NOC type 0, A or B jobs.

The minimum requirements under this program:

    • 1 year or 1 year equivalent of continuous full time paid Canadian work experience in a NOC type 0/A/B job within the last 3 years
    • This Program is NOT meant for Candidates wishing to settle down in Quebec…. (Work experience gained in Quebec can be counted towards the Canadian Work experience required for this program)
    • No Specified minimum Education Requirements although any education listed under an ECA report could improve the CRS score
    • No Proof of Funds Requirement
    • Applicants can be outside Canada when applying
    • Language Proficiency Requirement:
      • NOC 0/A – CLB 7
      • NOC B – CLB 5

Express VS PNP

Apart from these, Provinces  periodically nominate candidates from the Express Entry Pool based on the respective PNP’s sub-category

 

Express Visa Information - SAAB Immigration

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