EXPRESS ENTRY
The Express Entry is a management system for some of Canada’s most popular immigration programs. Through Express Entry, eligible candidates are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). After being ranked, the can be invited to apply for Permanent Residency. From time to time, normally every month, Canada immigration authorities launch an invitation round.
For Express Entry management system, all applicants must qualify for at least one of these three programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP). Also, some streams of certain Provincial Nominee Programs go under the Express Entry management system.
Moreover, it is important to know that just getting into the Express Entry pool doesn’t mean that you will be automatically invited to apply. But the higher the score, the better are the chances to receive an invitation. For scoring in the CRS, various factors are taken into consideration. The factors are related to education, age, professional experience, language certificates, valid job offer, spouse or common-law partner skills (if applicable), etc.
In addition, extra points can be given to provincial nomination, arranged employment, post-secondary education in Canada, good level of French as a second language and having siblings in living Canada as permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
Have in mind that taking a language test exam before applying is a must. As a bilingual country, Canada accepts both English or French language tests for the Express Entry. However, it only accepts specific language tests and requires a minimum score in each one of them.
For English, the tests are CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program – General or IELTS: International English Language Testing System – General Training. For the French language, candidates must take TEF: Test d’évaluation de Français.
And if the candidate was educated outside Canada, he or she should get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) before applying. This document is not obligatory if he or she has at least one year of recent work experience in Canada or a work experience in a skilled trade (skilled manual work). But even if it is not obligatory, it can give some extra points and increase the chances of being invited to apply.
Also, if the candidate has a spouse or common-law partner, he or she can apply as a couple. In this case, the spouse or common-law partner educational and professional skills will also count points on the application. The decision to apply single or as a couple must be taken before applying.
You can always count on Mercan Group to make your application process simple and efficient. We have the expertise to guide you through all the steps of this journey towards Canada Permanent Residency. But have in mind that candidates will have to present the following documents or information to successfully submit the application.
- Identity information (including passport number)
- Language skills (including test results, if applicable)
- Contact information
- Educational background
- Work experience
- Family members who’d come with you to Canada (dependants)
- National Occupation Classification (NOC) of your job title and code
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) result (if applicable)
- Copy of your provincial nomination (if you have one)
- Personal reference code from the Come to Canada tool (if you have one)
- Copy of your written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one)
If meeting the criteria, the candidate will be accepted and ranked into the Express Entry pool. The IRCC has regular rounds to invite the top-ranked candidates in the pool to apply for Permanent Residency.
Candidates must remember to always keep information updated. Any new language tests, marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a child or other important changes related to family, study or work status should be reported. And if the passport expires within six months from the day you apply, the candidate should renew it. Then, update the passport information as well.
Finally, if invited, the candidate has 90 days to finish the application for Canadian Permanent Residency and provide copies of all supporting documents required, like police certificates, medical exams, and pay the fees. Then after submitting for Permanent Residency application through Express Entry, the applicant will probably receive the Permanent Residency document in six months or less.