Canada’s new immigration selection process called Express Entry is used to manage applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs:
Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry system through their Provincial Nominee Programs.
Applying to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry is a two step process.
Step 1. The potential condidate completes his Express Entry profile online. The online profile will have information about the candidate’s skills, work experience, language ability, education and other details that will help Canadian immigration authorities assess them. When a person who completes an express entry profile meets the criteria of one of the federal immigration programs listed above will be accepted into a pool of candidates.
First step will be completed when the applicant is placed in the pool of candidates. In order to complete the Step 1 stage, the candidate will be asked to register at Job Bank run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Registering in Job Bank is not mandatory but it will help Express Entry candidates to find jobs in Canada.
While waiting in the pool, a candidate might be offered a job with a valid job offer with a LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). The LMIA process ensures employers have made an effort to hire Canadians and permanent residents for available jobs.
Step 2. When a candidate in the pool is invited to apply for permanent residence, the Step 2 stage will be started. Only the highest-ranking candidates will be invited.
Candidates will be ranked against others in the pool using a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking Systsem. Points are awarded using the information in their profile.
Understandibly, candidates with the highest scores in the pool will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The points wil be awarded for a job offer, a nomination from a province and/or skills and experience factors.
A candidate can get additional points for a job offer supported by a LMIA or a nomination by a province.
These additional points will make a candidate rank high enough to be invited to apply at the next eligible round of invitations.
If someone is invited to apply, they will have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (IRCC) will process the majority of complete applications in six months or less.
All candidates can stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If they do not get an ITA 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 can re-enter the pool. This will prevent backlogs and ensure quick processing times.
If you are considering applying to express entry please first fill our Free Assessment Form on our website and provide us with your most updated resume. After assessing it we will get back to you.