AdminImmigrating to Canada is a wonderful dream for many, and there are several paths to make it happen! One of the fastest routes is through the Express Entry system. This system allows the Canadian government to evaluate newcomers and determine the value they bring to the country. While Express Entry is indeed the quickest option, there are other pathways that might be just right for you and your family. To help you navigate this journey, we’ll provide a comprehensive step-by-step guide to follow.
You have the opportunity to choose the path that best suits your immigration journey. Thanks to the Express Entry immigration selection system, individuals and families from all over the globe can potentially make Canada their home in just a few months!
Launched in 2015, Express Entry has quickly become the leading method for skilled worker immigration to Canada and is one of the most favored immigration systems worldwide.
The Express Entry system awards points to candidates based on their eligibility through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The great news is that you don’t need a job offer to enter or be selected from the Express Entry pool! Still, those with a job offer can earn extra points in the CRS to boost their chances.
What is Express Entry?
This is an application management system used by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage and process applications received through three of Canada’s federal economic immigration programs for skilled workers.
The Express Entry system is very highly competitive ranking all eligible candidates against one another and then inviting the best ranking candidates to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. Candidates are ranked against one another based on their age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors.
Under Express Entry, individuals and families wishing to settle in Canada can become new permanent residents within just a few months.
Step-By-Step Guide for Express Entry:
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National Occupational Classification
This is needed to know if you have enough work experience in your field. This is done through the NOC system. This will also help your scores.
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Eligibility
Express Entry applicants will need to be eligible under one of the following federal economic immigration programs.
- The Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC);
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC); or
- The Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC).
A portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are aligned with Express Entry, but candidates still must be eligible under one of the three federal programs to enter the Express Entry pool.
Though the eligibility requirements differ for each of the Express Entry-aligned programs, all candidates are required to have at least one year of skilled work experience, as well as a certain level of proficiency on an approved language test in either English or French. Also, Canada screens all Express Entry applicants for criminal history and medical issues that could make a person inadmissible.
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Create A Profile:
Immigrants are to submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry profile acts as an Expression of Interest (EOI). Eligible candidates will automatically receive a score based on their profile and will be ranked against the other candidates in the pool. This score is strictly based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) with a maximum point of 1200.
Candidates can improve their rank by taking steps to improve their CRS scores. The higher a candidate’s CRS score, the higher the likelihood they will receive an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA). The CRS score is used as a cut-off point in Express Entry draws. It is designed to foresee the candidate’s possibility of surviving economically in Canada. The factors they will put into consideration include;
- Career and educational history;
- Language skills;
- Provincial Nomination in Canada;
- Job Offer.
- Receiving An Invitation to Apply:
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts Express Entry draws at regular intervals (usually every two weeks). In these Express Entry draws, candidates above a certain rank are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. If a candidate is not invited, their profile will expire after 12 months, at which point they may submit a new profile.
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Improving Your CRS Scores:
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who have not yet been selected can improve their Express Entry profile and score. They can do this by submitting new and updated information. Examples include increased language scores, educational credentials assessments, adding additional work experience, and/or obtaining a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination.
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Submitting Your Application for Permanent Residency:
If you receive an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will be given 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants have been given 90 days to complete their applications. In this application, you will have to provide extensive personal information along with supporting documentation. The entire application is submitted electronically.
After you’ve submitted your application, you have to wait for a final decision to be issued. 80 per cent of Express Entry applications are processed in six months or less. If your application is approved, then you will receive authorization to activate your permanent resident status in Canada.
Things You Should Know
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his the application process is completed and submitted entirely online, making it convenient for you! Here are a few important things to keep in mind about your final permanent residence application:
You might need to provide proof of settlement funds:
All applicants in the FSWC and FSTC programs should show that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members while settling down in Canada. If you have a valid job offer in Canada or if you’re applying through the CEC program, you’re in luck—you won’t need to provide this proof requirements
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- Importance of Profile:
The majority of the important data that you enter into your Express Entry profile carries over automatically into your electronic Permanent Residence (PR) application. Any changes you make at this stage could jeopardize your application.
Consequently, it is important to be conscious about everything that you enter the first time around. You will be asked to provide documentation to support the claims you’ve made. Lying on an immigration application is a serious crime and can result in a five-year ban from Canada.
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