OVERVIEW
Express Entry is an immigration management system which selects skilled workers to Canada under Federal Economic programs.
Applicants interested in immigrating to Canada submit an expression of interest (an online profile) to the Express Entry Pool.
Canadian employers and provincial governments across Canada access the best candidates who are invited by the Federal government to apply for job validation, provincial nomination and/or Canadian permanent residence.
QUALIFYING UNDER A FEDERAL ECONOMIC PROGRAM:
There are three federal economic programs and many provincial programs that an applicant may be eligible for in the express entry pool. These are:
- Federal Skilled Worker (this is the most popular program);
- Federal Skilled Trade; and
- Canadian Experience Class.
In addition to the above federal programs, applicants may also qualify for nomination under the following provincial programs:
- Ontario Express Entry Streams;
- Alberta Express Entry;
- British Colombia Express Entry;
- Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker – Express Entry Sub-Category;
- Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas stream;
- Nova Scotia Demand- Express Entry streams;
- Prince Edward Island- Express Entry stream;
- New Brunswick Express Entry Labour Market Stream;
- Newfoundland and Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker Category;
- Yukon Express Entry;
- Northwest Territories Express Entry.
FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM
Federal Skilled Workers are persons with suitable education, work experience, age and language abilities under one of Canada’s official languages and who are selected under the Express Entry Immigration system to apply for permanent residence.
To qualify for admission to the Express Entry Pool as a Federal Skilled Worker, applicants must meet the following essential conditions:
- Possess one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment within the previous 10 years in one of 347 eligible occupations listed under the applicable National Occupational Classification (NOC) system; AND
- The work experience must be classified within Skill Type 0 (Managerial Occupations), Skill Level A (Professional Occupations), or Skill Level B (Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades) within the meaning of the NOC system; AND
- Undergo language testing from a recognized third party and demonstrate intermediate-level language skills in English or in French corresponding to the Canadian Language Benchmark level 7;
- Hold at least a high school diploma, recognized by one of the accredited institutions as a degree at the level of a high school diploma in Canada;
- Score sufficient points under the skilled worker point grid comprising of six selection factors. The current pass mark is 67 points;
- Possess suitable settlement funding;
- Undergo a successful security background and medical examination.
FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is addressed to candidates who want to become permanent residents of Canada based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before they apply;
- Meet the job requirements for that skilled trade, as set out in the NOC of their primary occupation, except for needing a certificate of qualification;
- Have an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority;
- Meet the required levels in English or French for each language ability (CLB level 5 in speaking and listening, CLB level 4 in writing and reading);
CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS
To qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through Express Entry, candidates must meet the following conditions:
- Have accumulated at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the three years before they apply. The work must be full-time OR an equal amount in part-time; Note: Self-employment and work experience gained while being a full-time student (such as on a co-op work term) doesn’t count under this program.
- Have gained their work experience in Canada with the proper authorization as foreign workers;
- Meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability (writing, reading, listening, speaking):
- CLB level 7 if the job position falls under NOC level 0 or A;
- CLB level 5 is the job position that falls under NOC level B.
Upon review of your credentials, we confirm that you qualify under at least one of the above programs.
ENTERING THE EXPRESS ENTRY POOL:
An applicant with the qualifications for one of the above programs can enter the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry process comprises 2 steps.
Step 1: Applicants make an expression of interest by uploading their credentials to the Express Entry Pool (and, optionally, to the Canadian Job Bank). Once a profile is uploaded, applicants are ranked under various factors to determine their score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Profiles will remain in the pool for up to 12 months.
Step 2: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will select from the pool the highest-ranking applicants. Applicants selected will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence under a qualifying federal. Once an invitation has been issued, the applicant will have 60 days to submit a complete application. IRCC aims to process completed applications within 6 months.
COMPREHENSIVE RANKING SYSTEM (CRS):
Under the CRS, applicants can score up to 600 points for core human capital factors and skill transferability factors. These factors take into account the applicant’s age, education, language proficiency and work experience. The higher a CRS score, the higher the chances are of being issued an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Although a job offer or a provincial nomination is not required to enter the Express Entry pool, candidates with a qualified job offer will receive an additional 50 or 200 points, depending on the NOC level of the job position, and will significantly raise their CRS ranking score. A provincial nomination is worth 600 points in the pool. However, IRCC expects to select most applicants without a job offer or a provincial nomination.
How can you increase your chances of success?
Employment recruitment and individualized search consulting are very important considerations for all immigrant applicants outside Canada under the Express Entry immigration system.
Attorney Colin Singer can help increase your chances of success to Canada under Express Entry, drawing on over 30 years of experience in immigration matters and more than 20 years as licensed international recruitment professional.
Through our Law Firm’s In-House recruitment enterprises, SkilledWorker, an independently owned franchise of Chicago-based Global Recruiters Network, and www.skilledworker.com, the leader in foreign recruitment, Attorney Singer offers to each of his clients individualized recruitment services as well as immigration legal advice.
