How Do I Get Express Entry to Canada? 

How Do I Get Express Entry to Canada? 

2022 is the year of Immigration!

But wait, what’s the rationale behind that?

As per reports, Canada has processed over 3.73 million temporary residence applications as of July 2022. Further, Canada is all set to welcome 430,000 immigrants in 2022. 

The country has not just broken its records by exceeding its immigration targets but also by increasing or expanding its immigration goals year after year. 

For people interested in applying for immigration to Canada, this is your chance RIGHT HERE!

The number of job openings in Canada will have exceeded 1 million by June 2022. As a result of this demand, Canadian immigration authorities are striving to increase the workforce, which presents a wonderful opportunity for immigrants who may be interested in a LMIA permit to work in Canada. 

With the Express Entry system, immigrants can get a chance to make their way into that 1 million.

If you are someone willing to immigrate to Canada on the express entry program, don’t miss out on the goldmines you will discover in this article that will speed up your Canadian express entry application process!

What is the Canada Express Entry System?

The Canada express entry system is an online system(not a program, as misunderstood by many people) launched in 2015 by IRCC. To reduce the processing time of immigration applicants and efficiently manage the applications of skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada and obtain permanent resident status. It is a simple system where people submit their profiles and gain points per a specialized calculator and rank according to the points they gain, and people with the highest points get an invitation to apply. 

Why should Applicants Apply for the Express Entry System?

Electronic and faster mode: Without the express entry system, the processing time of application ranged to even 5 years, but due to this new electronic system, an applicant can get their Canadian PR in as early as 6 months which gets a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee.

No discrimination or cheating: Due to the whole system being online and allied to the Canadian government and economy, there are only limited odds of discrimination or cheating in the application process.

Reduced comprehensive ranking system score: As the number of immigrants in Canada increases, they plan to reduce the CRS score, which is now 511 for the lowest ranked candidate, which tends to fall as more invitations are issued. 

What Documents Do You Need for the Canada Express entry visa?

Canada express entry visa requires some specific set of documents at different stages-

For submission of profile-

1. Travel documents and a valid passport.
2. Report of an educational credential assessment report or proof of Canadian education.
3. Results of language test
4. Proof of work experience, valid employment offer in writing
5. Evidence of financial funds

When applying for permanent resident application-

1. Reports of medical examination
2. Proof of funds to finance the stay in Canada. 
3. Police Clearance Certificate as proof of no criminal record. 
4. There is also a set of documents subject to certain conditions, namely the common law union form, representative form, and civil status documents such as birth certificates, marriage, adoption, death, etc. 

Preparing your documents correctly and on time can be challenging when applying independently for Immigration to Canada. For this reason, it’s a good idea to work with a licensed regulated Canadian immigration consultant, like Northern Connection Canadian Immigration. In addition to assisting you with the Canadian immigration process, we also provide free eligibility checks!

What is the Step-by-Step Process for the Canada Express Entry Visa?

The next question applicants ask is how I get express entry to Canada. Here’s the step-by-step guide that will tell you exactly what checklist you should follow when applying for express entry to Canada. 

Following is the comprehensive guide that consists of the necessary instructions:

1. The first step is to check the category of National Occupational Classification, verify the eligibility, and then the applicant would be granted express entry to Canada based on it.
2. Following this, applicants should receive their Educational Credential Assessment from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s approved ECA providers. 
3. Now, applicants must pass English and/or French language tests to score at least a minimum number of express entry points. 
4. It is crucial to be eligible under at least one of the express entry immigration programs. Applicants must find out the eligibility requirements and the details mentioned under them.  
5. To rank themselves in the express entry pool, applicants must know how to calculate the Comprehensive Ranking System score. 
6. The subsequent step is to create an express entry profile so that an applicant will be part of the pool of applicants. Before this, a verification must be carried out using the come to Canada tool.
7. Further, applicants become eligible for an Invitation to Apply only when they possess enough CRS points. Applicants are given 60 days to respond to the invitation and submit any necessary documents and additional forms. 
8. It is a prerequisite to fulfilling the document checklist, which requires uploading required documents in a prescribed format by specified people. 
9. Ensure to learn about the application’s approval procedure and the interpretation of updates from the acknowledgment of the receipt to the passport request. 
10. Lastly, prepare for your arrival in Canada.

If you’ve been following us till here, you are likely interested in applying for the express entry program. So, let us make it easier for you. 

What if we tell you that we have a DIY immigration course hub that provides a step-by-step guide on Immigration to Canada(no! this is no clickbait)?

In this comprehensive course, you can learn how to simplify your Canadian immigration application under the guidance of our lead immigration consultant.

What are the Immigration Programs Managed by Express Entry Canada?

Below mentioned are the three types of economic-class immigration programs:

1. Canadian Experience Class- The skilled workers are eligible only if they have gained 1-year (1,560 hours) of full-time Canadian Work experience in the three years preceding their application. A valid work permit is necessary while obtaining work experience. The other eligibility criteria that must be satisfied are-

• Intention to reside outside the province of Quebec.
• Fulfill the required Canadian language benchmark. 
• Necessary language level in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. 

2. Federal Skilled Trades program- This program is open to skilled workers qualified in a specified skilled trade for at least two years within the last five years. There are 6 major and minor groups for this program under the group national occupational classification, including electrical, industrial, construction, maintenance trades, etc. The applicant has to prove that they have performed the duties set out in the lead statement in the NOC. 

The prerequisites for the federal skilled trades program express entry program are: 

• Certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial authority or Valid job offer of full-time employment for a minimum 1 year
• Plan to live outside the province of Quebec.
• Pass the minimum language requirements. 

3. Federal Skilled worker program- This immigration program provides multiple entries to live and settle in 5 years. Here, the skilled immigrant must meet these criteria-

• An applicant must hold a Canadian High School Diploma or a degree.
• The applicant should exceed the language threshold of CLB 7 with test results from the IRCC-designated language testing organization. 
• An applicant must have relevant foreign skilled work experience of a minimum of 1 year in the last 10 years. 
• The experience must be in a skilled occupation listed in TEER type 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the national occupation classification. 

• TEER 0: Managerial jobs like restaurant managers etc.
• TEER 1: Professional level jobs like engineers, doctors, accountants
• TEER 2 &3: Technical professionals like electricians, welders, gas utility operators, etc. 

• The applicant has a minimum points requirement of 67 points. 
• The applicant has enough funds to meet their financial needs. 
• An applicant lives outside the province of Quebec.    

4. Provincial Nominee program- One of the prominent routes through which provinces and territories select immigrants if they fulfill the financial requirement of their territory. A skilled worker can utilize provincial nomination to increase their CRS score and become entitled to permanent residence in Canada. The Provincial Nominee program provides certain advantages to applicants: 

• Candidates who do not meet the CRS points are eligible to get an invitation to apply. 
• Immigrants who cannot satisfy the minimum criteria qualify for Canadian permanent residence.    

What is the Processing fee for Canada Express Entry?

It costs 2300 CAD to immigrate to Canada through Canada express entry. The different elements considered while calculating this overall cost are- 

1. Approved language exam – 300 CAD
2. Medical examination – 250 CAD
3. Biometrics- 85 CAD
4. Application Processing fee- 850 CAD
5. Right of Permanent residence- 515 CAD
6. Educational Credential Assessment-200 CAD
7. Miscellaneous fee includes the cost of courier, police clearance certificate, and notary- 100 CAD

The other notable factor is the Provincial nomination which costs around 250-1500 CAD based on the province. However, this is an additional cost as candidates use it to increase their chances only when the CRS score is low. 

5 myths about Express Entry System that applicants should not believe

1. Applicants must have a job offer in Canada to apply for Express Entry: A job offer is not mandatory while filing for express entry, but it can surely boost your CRS score. 
2. Applicants can’t update their Express Entry profile once they submit it: There are two parts to this statement, applicants can update their profile prior to being selected from the pool but profiles are locked to editing after selection.
3. Applicants can check their rankings in the Express Entry pool: Candidates are not aware of their ranking with the express entry pool. However, they know their CRS score and can get an idea about their ranking through last year’s rankings. 
4. Applicants proficient in French/English do not need to take a Language test: It is mandatory to take an English/french language test, get minimum test results, and include them in your express entry profile. 
5. The express entry system relies on a lottery system: No, applicants are not selected randomly but according to a comprehensive ranking system. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How are Express Entry points calculated?

Express Entry points follow a point-based system known as the Comprehensive Ranking Score. Some relevant factors considered while assessing the application are education, language skills, age, work experience, valid job offer, etc. Therefore, high CRS points lead to increased chances of Canadian Immigration via express entry. 

Can I submit my Express Entry profile before 1-year of experience?

If the applicant has less than 1 year of experience, they are not eligible to complete or submit their express entry profile. However, one can only become eligible if one meets the minimum criteria for the express entry pool. 

What is the Processing Time for Express Entry?

Usually, the processing time for Canada express entry applications is 6 months or less after receiving the completed application. 

What is the difference between the federal skilled worker program and CRS scores?

The FSW points determine whether an applicant is eligible to apply for a Canadian PR visa. On the other hand, CRS deals with ranking procedures and the chances of selecting in the express entry pool. The former considers age, education, job experience, etc., whereas the latter considers a spouse, human capital, and transferability.

What is the timeline for the Express entry system?

Express entry applications are processed for candidates who receive invitations to apply within six to eight months. 

Is work experience as a student considered in the express entry system?

It depends. Part-time work can be considered under work experience as long as the student is not enrolled as a full-time student and has gained experience equivalent to a person who has worked at least 1560 hours or 1 year.

Conclusion

There is no better and more straightforward process than any other immigration process of immigrating to Canada. However, express entry candidates still make mistakes about not being updated with IRCC rules, creating their express entry profile before receiving their educational credentials assessment, not re-submitting their profile post making the changes, and many more!

Despite checking everything off and ticking all the eligibility requirements, it can be heartbreaking for applicants to not qualify for their dream country. Canada. 

In light of this, it is highly recommended that applicants have an experienced regulated Canadian immigration consultant assisting them, who can make a well-informed decision for them and increase their chances of getting selected to immigrate to Canada on an express entry system!

The Team at Northern Connections Canada