Last Updated on May 31, 2022 by Visa Journal
The Canada Express Entry Scheme is a point-based immigration system for people that want to immigrate to Canada permanently. It scores applicants based on skills, expertise, job status, and provincial/territorial candidacy. The more points you have, the more likely you will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for the Permanent Residency(PR) in Canada. PR applications received through this procedure are generally processed within 6-12 months. This article discusses Canadian immigration through Express Entry and also assists you in planning each phase of your immigration procedure.
Details of the Canada Express Entry Program
The Express Entry scheme has simplified the Canadian immigration procedure for applicants. Following some salient features
- It’s an online program with no application deadlines and is available throughout the year.
- Sub-categories managed through Express Entry include Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class Program.
- You must register an Expression of Interest by creating an Express Entry Profile.
- Your profile will be scored based on factors such as age, work experience, language ability, education, adaptability.
- Canadian provinces and employers will use this pool to identify profiles that meet their requirements under various Provincial Nomination Programs.
- The highest-scoring individuals receive an Invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
- The Annual Immigration Level Plan determines the number of ITAs to be issued in a year.
Express Entry Program Requirements
The Canada Express Entry Program evaluates applications using a points-based method, known as the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System). The primary goal of this approach is to identify candidates who have the best likelihood of economic success after migrating to Canada. The point’s measurement has a maximum score of 1200 and assesses you and your partner (if any) on the following criteria:
- Age
- Level of education
- Language ability (English or French)
- Work experience
- Arranged job in Canada
- Skill transferability factors
- Adaptability factors
What are the steps for Applying?
Initial Step: Obtain your ECA
If you completed your schooling outside of Canada, you should obtain an Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA. The ECA certifies that your educational credentials are comparable to those offered in Canada. In simple words its an official equivalence of your non-Canadian education to a comparable Canadian educational qualification.
Step 2: Finish your language ability assessments
You must sit for an approved language test for English or French language. Minimum requirement for each module is a score of Canadian language benchmark(CLB) 7. For those taking IELTS this is 6.0 bands. When applying, your exam scores should be less than two years old.
If you speak French, you will have an advantage over other candidates.
Step 3: Make an Express Entry profile
You must first set up an online Express Entry profile. Your age, work history, qualifications, language abilities, and so on should all be included in your description. Based on this information, you will be assigned CRS score.
Step 4: Determine your CRS score
Each profile is evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Score is determined by factors such as age, job skills, flexibility, and so on. Your profile is included in the Express Entry pool if you have the qualifying CRS score.
Step 5: Obtain your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Express entry draws are held several times a year by the Canadian Government in order to pick the top ranked candidates from the Express Entry pool. If you’re chosen from the Express Entry pool, you will receive an ITA from the Canadian government, following which you can begin the process of document collection and submission for your PR application.
Estimator OF EXPRESS ENTRY ELIGIBILITY POINTS:
The eligibility requirement is 67 points out of 100. You must score at least 67 points across multiple eligibility requirements to qualify for express entry. The Express Entry qualification point’s calculation takes into account the following factors:
Age: If you are between 18 and 35, you will receive the most points. Those over this age will receive fewer points.
Education: Your education at minimum must be equal to a Canadian high school diploma. With higher levels of education you will be awarded more points.
Work history: You must have a minimum of one year of work experience to meet the basic eligibility. You will earn more points if you have more years of experience.
Language skill: To be eligible to apply and achieve the minimum required points, you must have CLB 7 in each module of your language test result for Federal Skilled Worker Program. CLB 7 or CLB 5 is required for Canadian experience class depending on the type of profession. For Federal Skilled Trades Program the language requirement is CLB 5 in speaking and listening modules and CLB 4 in reading and writing. Better scores lead to higher points.
Adaptability: You can earn points for adaptability if you or your accompanying spouse has a sibling who lives in Canada as a PR or Canadian citizen.
Canadian Job Offer: If you have a job offer from a Canada based employer that can add points to your tally as well.
Advantages of the Express Entry System
The transparency of this immigration system is one of its benefits. Candidates will be aware of the CRS points required to be qualified for the Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
Applicants will be informed of the median score required to qualify for the ITA; if they do not meet the cutoff, they can always raise their CRS score or examine other CRS alternatives.
They can consider boosting their language test scores, acquiring extra job experience, studying in Canada, or applying for a provincial nomination.
Young applicants with a higher educational level, linguistic competence in English or French or both, or Canadian background (workers or students) have a better chance of being chosen through the Express Entry system.
Every Express Entry selection has a minimum threshold score based on the Express Entry scoring system. These draws are conducted regularly. COVID situation has delayed the routine pattern of the draws, but these draws will initiate soon. Candidates having a CRS score equal to or higher than the cutoff level will be sent an ITA. If more than an applicant has a score equivalent to the cutoff value, the applicant with the longest time in the Express Entry pool will be granted an ITA.