Are you a person with education and some working experience, who wants to migrate to Canada? That dream could easily become a reality thanks to the Express Entry system. But one might get lost or seem overwhelmed on how to begin the process at a glance.
This article aims at providing a clear elaboration of Express Entry in a clear language with an easy to understand approach, since it’s a relatively complicated system. This post will discuss whether you are eligible to apply, how the candidates are selected or ranked, the documents that you need for Canadian permanent residency, and some of the ways that can help you get an invitation to become a new permanent resident of Canada. This means that with some preparation and the right strategies used, the way to create the future that one wants in Canada may be quite obvious.
The Express Entry Application Process Explained
Express Entry is responsible for intake for three economic programs, for professional, skilled foreign workers who wish to gain entry into Canada. So, without further ado, let’s discuss how it operates and how you can sign up for it.
Step 1: Check Your Qualification
The first step is to use the free Come to Canada self-assessment tool to see if you potentially qualify for any of these economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – For persons who are especially knowledgeable with prior work experience abroad.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – This is a program for skilled workers who are engaged in the trade occupations.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – This class of visa is for the skilled worker who has worked in Canada before.
This tool will determine whether or not you pass the requirements such as educational standards, having the relevant working experience, fluency in both the English and French languages, and bank balance to prove that one can be self-reliant in the first couple of months in Canada.
Step 2: Make Sure You Have All Documents Required
If you’re eligible, you’ll need to gather a full set of paperwork and information like:
- Confidential English/French language proficiency assessment
- Documentation and authentication of educational qualifications
- Current employment records and employment reference letters
- Police clearance certificates
- A Proof of funds document
- Travel documents such as passports
- Provincial nominations or job offers, if applicable
If necessary you should make sure that all the materials provided in these documents are translated into English and or French by a professional translator.
Step 3: Get Your Canada Express Entry Profile
Once all the documents are ready, the next phase is to create an Express Entry profile online and the application costs. This enables you to be placed in the Express Entry pool where you can be compared with other competitors.
Step 4: Get Your Complete Ranking Points
Every single profile of the Express Entry is assigned an accountable CRS or Comprehensive Ranking System score approximately out of 1200 total points. This assesses key human capital factors like:
- Age
- Level of education
- Qualifying work experience
- Language test results
- Job offers/nominations
- Spouse’s skills
Grading mostly follows a net-gain method, where fewer points are given with older age, less formal education, shorter periods of skilled work experience, lower language test results, no arranged employment, and spouses with lower education levels or skill credentials.
Step 5: Search for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Candidates with the best score in the Express Entry system will be offered an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency on a regular basis, approximately every two weeks. This means whether you get an ITA depends on the relative rank of your score amongst the candidates in that draw.
The number of ITAs that are offered follows the target and intake that is provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on an annual basis.
Step 6: Applying for Permanent Residence
In case you receive an ITA, you will be required to submit a full online application for permanent residence within 60 days. This implies submitting updated copies of the documents that you had attached during the profile creation process, getting some medical tests and a background check.
Ways to Boost Your Express Entry Rank
The following are some of the ways through which the chances of a high CRS score and ITA can be maximized. Some of them include the following:
- It is advisable to take an approved English or French test and try to obtain the highest scores possible, as the language taken is given significant consideration.
- Another important recommended criterion is the additional years of skilled foreign work experience in the core occupation
- Consider higher education credentials such as a master’s degree as more of an investment
- Your spouse can sit for a language test, and his or her credentials will be evaluated for spousal points
- It is recommended to consider the provincial job offer or nomination as each of these offers would consequently improve the overall score by big numbers.
- Temporarily, it is better to move to Canada because Canadian education and work experience are valued.
The Express Entry system is based on the merit point system and in order to increase your score, it is advisable to concentrate on your human capital factors. Remember to update the information you provide every time your circumstances change and, depending on your situation, it might take a year or so to get an ITA. In fact, with the right approach, you will be in a good place to make your Canada immigration dreams come through!