Canada Skilled Immigration - Express Entry - Nysa Global

Canada Skilled Immigration – Express Entry

What is Express Entry?

The Federal Express Entry System makes the Canadian Visa Application process easier for aspiring skilled foreign immigrants, with its point-based program based on age, education, and work experience. The system holds regular draws which selects qualified applicants for various Federal Economic Immigration programs to further your application for permanent residence. The most noticeable aspect of this process is its processing speed. You could be on your way to Canada in as little as 6 months from your date of application!

Express Entry is not exactly an immigration program. It is a system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to select immigration candidates using the following economic immigration programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Class
  • Federal Skilled Trades Class
  • Canadian Experience Class
  • Provincial Nominee Program

Canada Express Entry Program Guidance

Who is eligible for Express Entry?

You are an ideal candidate if you have a university or college degree along with skilled work experience. You should also showcase moderate proficiency in English and/or French as this helps your candidacy.
In addition, you can also submit your application under the Express Entry program if you qualify for any of the designated programs such as Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program.

Do I need a job offer for Express Entry?

No, a job offer is not a requirement for Express Entry. In fact, the majority of selected candidates for Express Entry do not have a formal job offer from Canada. However, you can get an additional 50 to 200 points on your Express Entry application if you have a job offer for a skilled, full-time position. A compulsory requirement for these points to get awarded is a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). You should not mention an informal job offer in your application since it will not award any additional points to your Express Entry profile.

What are the requirements for Express Entry?

The general requirements for applying to Express Entry as a skilled worker involves the following:

  • You must have a continuous full-time (or part-time) work experience of at least a year, in the last 10 years, as a skilled worker
  • You should demonstrate Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of seven (minimum) on an approved language test in either English or French
  • You should have completed post-secondary education with an Educational Credential Assessment that has been assessed against Canadian standards

Please note that fulfilling these requirements doesnโ€™t guarantee your invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence since candidates with stronger profiles usually get selected over the ones that simply meet the minimum requirement.

How do I qualify for Express Entry?

Before you apply for Express Entry, you will need to go through a point-based selection process that assesses and assigns a score (out of 100) to applicants interested in Express Entry. For example, in order to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, your score should be over 67 points.

How many points are required for Express Entry?

Language Skills (28 points) If you are fluent in English or French it will help you in the Canadian job market since it is crucial to be able to communicate in either or both of the official languages
Education (25 points) You must have a certificate, degree or diploma from a Canadian school if you have studied in Canada
Work experience (15 points) You can get points for full-time paid work (30 hours per week minimum) or equivalent part-time work (15 hours per week for a year) at skill type 0 or skill levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification
Age (12 points) These are allotted on the day you submit your application
Arranged Employment in Canada (10 points) You will get points if you have a job offer from a Canadian employer before applying for any of the programs
Adaptability (10 points) These are awarded to you and your common-law partner or spouse by combining elements that assess how well you will settle in Canada

How much does Express Entry cost?

  • Language tests: CAD 300
  • Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): CAD 200
  • Biometrics: CAD 85/person
  • Government fees: CAD 1,325 adults &CAD 225 for children
  • Medical examination fees: CAD 450 for adults & CAD 250 for children
  • Police clearance certificate: CAD 100

You do not have to pay any government fees for your initial Express Entry profile. You will only be requested to pay the fees when you receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. If nominated for a PNP program, you might have to pay provincial immigration fees with the government processing fees.
Make sure you have appropriate proof to demonstrate sufficient funds that will support your settlement in Canada. You will not have to submit this proof if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class program or have an employment offer. These are not the fees that need to be paid to the government but funds that you are required to furnish for your permanent residence visa approval.

How long does Express Entry take?

The entire process right from submission of your Express Entry profile to the issuance of your permanent resident visa might ideally take as little as six months. Your profile remains active in the candidatesโ€™ pool for up to 12 months if not invited to apply, but, if you do not get selected within that period, you can easily resubmit your profile and remain in the pool. Simply put, if you receive the ITA, you will have to submit the full requested application of documents within 90 days after which you will hear back with your results within 6 months.

How Can I Apply for Express Entry?

  • Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile

    Initially, you will create an online Express Entry profile for yourself that should include details such as age, work experience, education, language skills, etc. Based on these details, you will be allotted points that will qualify you to submit your profile which will be included in the Express Entry pool.

  • Step 2: Complete your ECA

    If you have completed your education outside Canada, collect your Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) that serves as proof that your educational qualifications are equivalent to the ones recognized in the Canadian educational system.

  • Step 3: Complete your language ability tests

    Next, you are required to complete English language proficiency tests with a minimum score of Band 6 in IELTS that is equivalent to CLB 7. Make sure your test score is less than 2 years old when submitting your application. Being fluent in French gives you an edge over other applicants. You may attempt a French language test like the Test d'รฉvaluation de Franรงais (TEF) as proof of your proficiency in the language.

  • Step 4: Calculate your CRS score

    Once your profile reaches the Express Entry pool it will be ranked with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. It is determined based on your age, work experience, adaptability, etc. Once you have the required CRS score, your profile will make it to the Express Entry pool.

  • Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)

    The Canadian government will send you an ITA if your profile gets selected from the Express Entry pool. You can start the documentation for your PR once you receive it.

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FAQs

There are some essential aspects you need to consider in both cases. Firstly, for most PNPs, you are required to submit an Express Entry profile and since you can create one for free, you donโ€™t stand to lose anything.ย 

Secondly, for the majority of PNP programs, you are required to have a specific regional connection. That means a PNP program would be beneficial if you are working or studying in a Canadian province. However, if you lack any specific regional connections in Canada, your best bet would be the general Express Entry pathway to Canadian permanent residence.

If your CRS score is equal to, or above, the minimum cut-off required for recent Express Entry draws, your profile will mostly be competitive in the Express Entry system. However, the prediction of any future fluctuations in the CRS score is impossible.

Please note that lawyers or consultants wonโ€™t be able to guarantee your chance of success in receiving permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

No, two Express Entry applications are not allowed for the same applicant during the same time unless you are married. In that case, an additional application can be submitted under your spouse depending on their eligibility. Therefore, one person cannot have two applications but you can have two profiles from the same family, based on some circumstances.

There is no bar on the maximum age of applicants for Express Entry. But you should note that applicants between the ages of 20-29 receive the highest age-based points. If you are significantly over 35, but also carry a high level of education or Canadian connections, you can easily overcome points that you lose out due to age.

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