Express Entry – Things You Need To Know

On April 8, 2014, Minister of Immigration, Regufees and Citizenship Canada announced that the new active recruitment model for economic immigration is officially called ” Express Entry”. As a major step in the transformation of Canada’s Immigration System into one that is fast, flexible and focused on meeting Canada’s real needs, this recruitment model is now set to launch as of January of 2015.

What is Express Entry?

“Express Entry” is a new immigration recruitment system that will allow more flexibility and better reactivity when dealing with local labour needs, and help fill job storage for which there are no available Canadian workers. Applicants who want to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency through the Economic Class will need to input their information into the Express Entry system. Canada will select the best candidates who are most likely to achieve success in Canada and send them an invitation. with the invitation, qualified candidates will be able to submit their immigration application to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Canadian employer will play key role in the Express Entry model

With “Express Entry,” employers will deeply involve in selecting economic immigrants and providing advice to the Government of Canada regarding the labour needs. Over the course of spring 2014, CIC worked with provincial and territorial governments to hold a series of cross-Canada information sessions to provide employers with more information about this exciting new system.

Select the Best Who Will Achieve Success in Canada

“Express Entry” candidates who receive a valid job offer or nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will be quickly invited to apply for permanent residency. In the meantime qualified applicants can expect faster processing times of six months or less when invited to come to Canada in four key economic streams: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the PNP.

How Express Entry Works?

Express Entry will manage Canada’s Permanent Residence applications under the following Economic Immigration Programs:

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

Provinces and territories will also be able to recruit candidates from the Express Entry system for a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs to meet local labour market needs. Other ways to involve your PNP application into your Express Entry Profile, see: Express Entry British Columbia and Saskatchewan Express Entry Sub-Category.

The Express Entry System has two steps:

Step 1 – Potential Candidates to Complete an Online Profile

• Complete a Language Test – In order to create a profile, candidates must provide their language test results from a recognized test – IELTS, CELPIP or TEF. Candidates cannot create a profile without having their individual test information.
• Have your Education Assessed – Candidates who completed their education overseas must have it assessed by a recognized education assessment body. Only those with at least one year of skilled Canadian Experience in the past three years, OR whose experience is in a skilled trade, are exempt from providing this report.
• Complete an Online Express Entry Profile – When candidates have their language test results and their education credential assessment (if required), they can now create an Express Entry Profile. This is a secure form that the candidates will use to provide information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education and other details that will help CIC to assess them. Those who meet the criteria of one of the immigration programs listed above will be accepted into a pool of candidates.

If a candidate does not already have a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) (if applicable), or a nomination from a province or territory, by the time of the submission of the Express Entry profile, the candidate will need to register with Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Job Bank. The Job Bank will help connect Express Entry candidates with qualified employers across Canada.

Step 2 – The Highest-Ranked Candidates in the Pool Will Be Invited to Apply for Permanent Residence

• Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) – A points-based system will be used to score and assess a candidate’s profile and rank them in the Express Entry Pool. Express Entry candidates will be given a score out of 1200, based on the four parts of the CRS formula:
  1. Skills and experience factors (key to economic success for immigrants once in Canada)
  2. Spouse factors (such as language skills and education)
  3. Skills transferability (including education and work experience – factors that when combined, result in better chances of being employed, and higher earnings)
  4. Additional points for those with a nomination from a province or territory or a valid job offer.

•  Invitation To Apply (ITA) – Candidates have 90 days to submit an online application for permanent residency after receiving the ITA.

What Happens if a Candidate Does Not Get an Invitation to Apply?

The Express Entry Profile can stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If candidates do not get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence within 12 months of submitting an Express Entry profile, they may submit a new profile. If they still meet the criteria, they will be eligible to re-enter the pool. This will prevent backlogs and ensure quick processing times.

Getting Ready For Express Entry

If you are wanting to apply under Canada’s new immigration recruitment system in the beginning of 2015, here are some suggestions to get ready for Express Entry.

• You will need to take a language test. According to the new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), candidates’ language ability will be one of the most important factors in order to rank higher in the pool. CIC will use your language test results to see whether you are eligible to immigrate to Canada under one of the immigration programs under the Express Entry. You will need to meet certain Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in order to gain more point in CRS. You can click here to see how CLB works
• If your education experience are from outside Canada, you may need to have your educational credentials assessed against Canadian Standards
• You will need to understand the Skill Type/Occupation of your work experience, as well as what do you plan to do in Canada. to find out the details of your skill type. Jobs in Canada are classified by what are called National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, which are divided by skill level and skill type.

Quick Facts to Know About Express Entry

• No Eligible Occupation List: As of January 1, 2015, the eligibility for Express Entry will not include a list of eligible occupations. Candidates will need to demonstrate that they have worked at least one year in a skilled occupation within the past 10 years.
• Fully Electronic Processing System: The entire Express Entry process, including steps one and two, will be conducted online.
• Language Proficiency required prior to entering the pool: Candidates will have to demonstrate proficiency in an official language of Canada, either English or French, in order to enter the Express Entry pool. Candidates will not be able to enter the Express Entry pool without submitting language test results that meet the eligibility requirements for one of the federal economic immigration programs.
• Profiles in the Express Entry Pool are editable: News showing that candidates can update their profiles in the pool. This means that candidates will be able to maneuver within the Comprehensive Ranking System if they gain additional points
• Invited applicants have 60 days to file a complete application: If an applicant gets an invitation to apply, but fails to submit a complete immigration application and all supporting documents, the applicant will not have a second opportunity to file the application under the same invitation to apply.

“Express Entry” candidates who receive a valid job offer or nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will be quickly invited to apply for permanent residency. In the meantime qualified applicants can expect faster processing times of six months or less when invited to come to Canada in four key economic streams: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the PNP.