Express Entry to Canada
In order to meet the growing demand of Canadian businesses for highly-skilled employees, Canada’s government created a new immigration system called “Express Entry.” A key goal of Express Entry is to more effectively select skilled foreign workers whose characteristics put them in a strong position to immigrate to Canada and to start working in their occupation as soon as possible. Therefore, if you meet the eligibility requirements for one of the Canadian immigration programs that qualify for Express Entry, you and your family may be able to start a new life full of great opportunities in Canada!
Economic Immigration Programs
Skilled foreign workers who meet the criteria for one of the following “economic immigration” programs may be able to apply for Express Entry to Canada:
- Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program
- Provincial Nominees Program (PNP)
Express Entry Procedure
The Express Entry procedure will vary somewhat, depending on which economic immigration program a highly-skilled worker qualifies for, but the process can generally be divided into four key steps:
- Preparation
- Submission
- Selection
- Decision
Preparation
The first step of the process involves adequate preparation prior to submitting the Express Entry profile to the Canadian government. This usually includes an evaluation to determine which specific Canadian economic immigration program a skilled foreign worker may be eligible for (as required for Express Entry to Canada). In most cases, the applicant will need to have their English and/or French language abilities assessed by taking an authorized evaluation test (such as the IELTS or TEF exams), plus an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) may be necessary.
Submission
After the necessary preparations have been made, the second step of the procedure is submission of the Express Entry profile to the Canadian government. In the Express Entry profile (which is filed online), the applicant will enter his or her personal details, including their English and/or French language evaluation score(s), results of their ECA (if necessary), and other information about their work experience, job skills, etc. The applicant must also register with Canada’s Job Bank within 30 days of filing their Express Entry profile, unless they already have a qualifying offer of employment in Canada. A Canadian government official will then review the details provided in the Express Entry profile and an overall Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will be given for various factors. If the Canadian official believes that the applicant appears to meet the criteria for one of the economic immigration programs that qualify for Express Entry to Canada, the applicant’s profile may then be placed in the Express Entry “pool” of potential Canadian immigration candidates.
Selection
The selection of a skilled foreign worker from the Express Entry pool of Canadian immigration candidates may occur during the third step of the process if he or she: (1) receives a qualifying job offer from an employer in Canada; or (2) gets a nomination from a Canadian province or territory for the Provincial Nominees Program (PNP); or (3) is among the highest-scoring candidates in the Express Entry pool. When a candidate is selected from the Express Entry pool, they are issued an official Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada by the Canadian government. Once the ITA is issued, the skilled foreign worker will have 90 days to send the Canadian government their complete application for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada, along with all of the required documentation and fees.
Decision
In the fourth and final stage of the Express Entry process, the applicant will normally be notified within six months of the Canadian government’s decision regarding their application for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada. If all goes well, the Canadian government will approve the applicant and their eligible family members for Express Entry to Canada and grant them permanent residency.
Canadian Immigration Made Simple
The professional team at Become A Canadian makes immigration to Canada through the new Express Entry system simple and works hard for you and your family to move your Canadian immigration process forward as quickly as possible. This begins with an expert assessment of your Express Entry options by our experienced Immigration Consultants that we collaborate with . If you are assessed as likely to meet the eligibility requirements for Express Entry to Canada, our Immigration Consultants that we work with can use their expertise to assist you with proper preparation and submission of your Express Entry profile to the Canadian government. Once you receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Canadian government, our Immigration Consultants that we collaborate with can also help you to accurately complete and correctly submit your official application for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada. To find out if you and your family may be eligible for Express Entry to Canada, click here!