Canadian Express Entry Immigration
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    Express Entry Services

    The Express Entry system allows foreign skilled workers to apply for permanent residence in Canada. The categories of applications that fall within the Express Entry include the Federal Skilled Worker Category, the Federal Skilled Trades Category, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Provincial Nominee Programs. In order to apply under these categories, qualified foreign applicants must first register an expression of interest with the Express Entry then wait to see if they are invited to apply for permanent residence. 

    There is no requirement to have a job offer in Canada to apply under the Express Entry, the applicant’s qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada, including their education, skilled work experience, and ability to speak English or French, among other factors.

     

    Express Entry Canadian Experience Class

    Canadian Experience Class

    The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a type of application for permanent residence for foreign workers living in Canada.

    To qualify under this category, you must have obtained the equivalent of at least one year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years. You must also show English or French language abilities commensurate with the skill level of your work experience. To apply under the CEC, you must register through the Express Entry system and wait to be invited to apply for permanent residence.

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    Express Entry Foreign Skilled Worker Class

    Federal Skilled Workers Class

    The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) allows those who have at least one year of skilled work experience to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Under this program, applicants must meet minimum levels of education, skilled work experience, and language skills. Applicants are also assessed based on their age, adaptability to settle in Canada, and whether they have a valid job offer.

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    Provincial Nomination Program

    Each of Canada’s ten provinces have their own small immigration program with each province or territory having their own criteria.

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    Express Entry - Federal Skilled Trades Class

    Federal Skilled Trades Class

    Allows skilled workers in the construction and manufacturing sectors to work in Canada and to settle under permanent resident visas.

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    See if you are qualified for Express Entry Immigration

    Calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score by filling out our FREE Express Entry CRS
    calculator.

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    How Does Express Entry Work?

    The Express Entry program allows for the submission of expressions of interest in immigrating to Canada for certain types of economic programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Category, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Category. The Provincial Nominee Programs can also draw applicants from this system.

    After applying for Express Entry, you are placed in a pool with all the other applicants. Immigration candidates are ranked against each other, and the immigration authorities will periodically draw from the pool. Those with the highest scores will then receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.

    You do not need a job offer in Canada in order to apply under the Express Entry. Rather, the immigration authorities will look at a range of qualifications to decide who will be selected for immigration to Canada, including the applicant’s age, level of education, language ability, and work experience, among other factors.

    Step 1: Create an Express Entry Profile

    Express Entry Create Profile

    Express Entry consists of a 2-step process. First, you create an Express Entry profile, providing information on your education, work experience, language, and other skills. Once you submit your profile, you will be placed in a pool of candidates. Candidates are ranked through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and top-ranking candidates are regularly invited to apply for permanent residence. Our Canada Express Entry Calculator can help you determine how many points you would likely receive.

    Step 2: Invitation To Apply (ITA)

    Candidates within the Express Entry system are ranked against each other based on a point system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS measures factors such as age, work experience, language skills, valid job offers and education, among other factors. Your score is calculated by assigning points to the above factors. It is possible to earn additional points for thing such as receiving a provincial nomination. The total amount of points available, and thus the highest CRS score one can obtain, is 1200.

    Every few weeks, those with the highest CRS scores will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Previous rounds of invitations (express entry draws), and the score needed to get an ITA can be viewed here. The score required to receive an ITA depends on the number of people in the pool, the qualifications of those people, and the number of invitations being given out. Once you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence. Once received, the immigration authorities try to process these applications for permanent residence within six months.

    Calculate Your CRS Score
    Express Entry CRS Calculator

    Express entry draws take place regularly, usually every two weeks or so. Each draw is accompanied by Minister’s Instructions, a document that includes the date and time of the draw, the number of candidates that will be drawn, and which specific program(s) will be included in the draw. After each draw, they publish what was the lowest score accepted.

    If you continue to qualify under one of the above-mentioned immigration streams, and you are still interested in permanent residence, you can re-apply to the Express Entry pool.

    We Can Help You Get Permanent Residence

    Here’s how we can help you:

    The Law Office of Matthew Jeffery has years of experience assisting clients with Express Entry applications. If you are qualified and would like assistance in applying for Express Entry, or have received an ITA and would like assistance submitting an application for permanent residence, please contact us for further information. You can also complete our FREE Express Entry Calculator to see if you are qualified to apply under the Express Entry.

    Common Refusal Reasons for Express Entry Applications

    One common scenario that leads to Express Entry refusal is when you fail to provide your work experience properly. Your application may also be refused if you do not attach the right supporting documents. You may also face a refusal if the immigration officer is unsure about certain elements in your application such as your job duties.

    Another scenario is when you have inconsistencies or mistakes such as adding a work experience that you had not included 5 years ago in previous applications. Immigration officers check the slightest details so you must ensure that there are no inconsistencies. Lack of proper supporting documentation can also lead to refusal. The Immigration Law Firm of Matthew Jeffery has years of experience in skilled workers cases with high success rate and we can assist you with your application.

    Factors In The CRS Scoring

    Education

    Applicants are awarded points based on their highest level of education, ranging from 5 points for a secondary school credential to 25 points for a Ph.D. If your formal education was conducted outside of Canada, you will also need to submit a Canadian equivalency assessment report from an approved agency.

    Language Proficiency

    Applicants under the Skilled Worker category must prove their language proficiency in English and/or French in order to obtain these points. This requires you to provide the results of an approved language test as part of your application. You will be tested and separately scored on your speaking, reading, writing, and listening abilities. To be valid, you must have taken your language test within the last two years of applying.

    Work Experience

    Skilled Worker applicants receive additional points for each year that they have worked, for up to six years. The work experience must be in what is considered a skilled job, and must be equivalent to full-time experience. You can check whether your work experience is considered a skilled job in the NOC listing

    Arranged Employment

    If the Skilled Worker applicant is in Canada with a work permit that was obtained on the basis of a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and the applicant’s employer is willing to employ them on a permanent basis, then the applicant will obtain points for having arranged employment in Canada. If the applicant is not working in Canada but has an offer of employment based on an LMIA, then points will also be awarded.

    Age

    Applicants between the ages of 18 and 35 receive the full amount of points allowed for this category. Applicants lose one point per year that they are above the age of 35. For example, if you are 40 years old, you will have 5 points deducted from your age score.

    Adaptability

    Applicants can also receive additional points for adaptability. These points are awarded for things like having arranged employment, work or study experience in Canada by the applicant or their spouse, or having a close relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada.

    Common Questions About Express Entry Program

    Once the Express Entry application has been submitted, processing times can take about one year, depending on the workload and priorities of the immigration authorities. Those who wish to remain working in Canada while the application is being processed may be able to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

    Previous rounds of invitations (express entry draws), and the score needed to get an ITA can be viewed here. The score required to receive an ITA depends on the number of people in the pool, the qualifications of those people, and the number of invitations being given out.

    For example, September 14, 2021 round of invitations, 2000 invitations were issued for the Canadian Experience Class. The lowest ranking candidate invited had a CRS score of 462. In the January 5, 2022 round of invitations, 392 invitations were issued for the Provincial Nominee Program. The lowest ranking candidate invited had a CRS score of 808.

    There may be several ways for you to improve your score. You can even improve your score while waiting in the pool and updating your profile with your new information.

    » Learn on how to improve your CRS score.

    “Full-time” employment is defined as at least 30 hours per week. These hours can be met through a single full-time position, or through multiple part time work. For example, working 30 hours a week for one year, or working 15 hours a week for two years, will both count as one year of full-time experience. However, the one year of full-time experience must be achieved within a three-year time frame.

    Your work experience must be skilled. Occupations that fall under Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), are considered to be skilled by the immigration authorities. Generally speaking, skilled work is work that requires some level of education or special training in order to perform. The work experience can be in any skilled occupation. The experience can be with multiple jobs and/or with multiple employers and does not need to be continuous, as long as it adds up to the required one year of skilled experience within three years.

    No. Unfortunately, the required work experience cannot have been earned through self-employment, even if the self-employment was skilled and documented. All applicants are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their work experience, including the fact that they were in an employer-employee relationship during their period of qualifying work experience.

    No. Unfortunately, the required work experience cannot have been earned while you were a student. Only work experience gained after the completion of the course of study can be considered. Full-time students who have completed a course of study at a Designated Learning Institute in Canada may be able to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A PGWP allows you to work for any employer willing to hire you. After working for one year in a skilled occupation on a PGWP, you may be eligible to apply for Express Entry under the CEC stream.

    Another requirement for Express Entry is that the applicant must be either moderately or highly proficient in English or French. All applicants must complete a language test to prove their abilities, regardless of whether they come from an English or French speaking country.

    What is Express Entry?

    In 2015, Express Entry system was introduced in Canada and it allowed all skilled workers or tradesmen persons who are interested in immigrating to Canada to have their applications processed faster than ever. Watch this video that briefly gives a quick overview on how the Express Entry program works.

    Express Entry Success Stories

    Google Review - Brett Power

    Matthew Jeffery and his team were instrumental in assisting me with my Express Entry application and then with my Permanent Residency Application. From the moment I met with them in their Toronto office until the time my Permanent Residency Application was approved everything was done smoothly and well within the timeframes. Matthew and his staff were always available and kept me updated on my application progress. I would highly recommend Matthew Jeffery as a competent, professional and caring Immigration Lawyer for all of your Canadian Immigration needs!
    » View on Google

    Brett P

    Google Review

    My friend who immigrated to Canada in 2015 suggested me to talk to Matthew. I called him over the skype and we discussed my options, he suggested Express Entry program, helped me collect all documents. I came to Canada 6 months after. Thank you Matthew Jeffery for helping me!
    » View on Google

    Ruslan E

    Google Review
    Google Review - Kirill Nikolaev

    Had a great experience working with Mr. Jeffery. Got help with LMIA, work permit, express entry and permanent resident applications. Everything was done in the most professional and fast way. Got answers to all the questions, all paperwork was done in very organized manner, met all the deadlines. Strongly recommend the office, they're doing great job.
    » View on Google

    Kirill N

    Google Review