Introduction to Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry Express Entry is one of the best options for qualified permanent immigrants. Here is a complete guide
Introduction to Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry
Express Entry is one of the best options for qualified permanent immigrants. Here is a complete guide on how to obtain Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry. This pathway, known as Canada PR Express Entry, is very popular as it is an online system and the fastest way to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry.
Applying to Express Entry is just 2 step process. The 1st step is to submit your profile which requires the following documents:
- Language test results
- Educational Credential Assessment report
- Passport or Travel document
Once you submit your profile and receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to provide a detailed application. This includes a letter of reference, additional identification, police clearance certificates, and medical examination results.
Canada’s Express Entry system is the primary route for eligible workers to immigrate to Canada. Although it is not the sole immigration program, it manages the acceptance of applications for three federal programs and some of the State Candidate Programs (PNPs).
To submit a profile through the Express Entry system, the candidate must also meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three federal programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The basic requirements are different for each of the three programs. However, meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply (ITA). Instead, the Express Entry system is designed to select the highest-scoring candidates based on a variety of factors, including language proficiency, age, job vacancies, work history, and educational background.
Express Entry for a skilled worker, requirements:
- At least one year of uninterrupted full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a qualified occupation in the last ten years.
- Be able to demonstrate at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French on any accredited language test.
- Completed post-secondary education assessed against Canadian standards using the Education Credential Assessment.
These are the minimum requirements to apply to the Canada Express Entry System as a skilled worker. Meeting these requirements does not mean that you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Canada. Applicants with a higher profile than those who meet only the minimum requirements are always selected.
You do not need to pay a government fee to submit the initial Express Entry Profile. The government only charges fees if they invite you to apply for permanent residency in Canada. Additionally, if you apply through the PNP, you may need to pay provincial processing fees along with state immigration fees.
You must also demonstrate that you have enough funds to support your resettlement in Canada unless you apply through the Canadian Experience Class Program or have a valid job offer. Remember, these settlement funds are not government fees, but you must have access to them to get approved for a permanent visa.
What to do when the CRS score goes down?
We cannot predict how CRS scores will evolve in the future. No attorney or adviser can predict this, nor can they guarantee that they will be able to obtain permanent residency through the Express Entry system. Furthermore, as more states select profiles from the Express Entry Pool, the candidate’s CRS scores are less relevant. Instead, state nominee programs look for candidates who can fill local job gaps and demographic gaps. This means that candidates with in-demand skills and work experience, even with low CRS scores, can succeed in the Express Entry pool.
The Government of Canada has also indicated a move to occupation-based Express Entry lotteries that could render CRS scores obsolete.
The Express Entry process takes just six months from submitting your Express Entry profile to issuing your Permanent Resident visa. However, not all cases expire immediately. If you do not receive an application invitation, your Express Entry profile will remain active in the candidate pool for 12 months. If you haven’t received an invitation after 12 months, please resubmit your profile to stay in the pool.
- Your profile will be valid for 12 months in the Express Entry Pool.
- Once your ITA is issued, you have 60 days to submit the complete application documents required.
- For Permanent Resident visas, the IRCC will take approximately 6 months to process your application.
Difference between CRS score points and Express Entry Eligibility?
To apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), candidates must first achieve a minimum of 67 points on the FSW points grid. Once an FSW or other Express Entry candidate is accepted into the Express Entry pool, they will be given a CRS score. Canada will use the CRS score to rank all candidates within the Express Entry pool against each other. Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government conducts an Express Entry draw that sets the floor for the CRS. Those in the pool with a CRS score above the cutoff will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
