Express Entry to Canada launched On January 1st, 2015

On January 1^st, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) launched a new electronic system called Express Entry that will facilitate faster processing of applications for permanent residence (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/express/express-entry.asp). Under the new system, applicants can expect their permanent residence applications to be processed within six months or less. Note that the Express Entry is not a new program but a new system that manages applications for permanent residence based on any one of the following existing immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who.asp
• Federal Skilled Trades Program http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/apply-who.asp
• Canadian Experience Class http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/apply-who.asp
• Provincial Nominee Program http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/provincial/apply-who.asp

How Does the Express Entry system work? (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/express-entry/index.asp)

CANDIDATE:

• A candidate who meets the qualifications of any one of the above-listed immigration programs creates an Express Entry profile and is thereafter placed into the Express Entry pool.
• A candidate will be assessed using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/express-entry/criteria-crs.asp) that ranks candidates based on several factors including the following:
• Skills
• Work experience
• Language ability
• Education
• Canadian job offer
• Provincial nomination
• Other factors that can contribute to becoming successful

Candidates with the highest scores will be invited and issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

• A candidate who receives an ITA will have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence.

EMPLOYER:

• Qualified employers can access the Express Entry pool and hire a candidate from the pool but only after exhausting all efforts to find a Canadian or permanent resident to fill a job vacancy. (http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home-eng.do?lang=eng)
• Employers who hire a candidate from the Express Entry pool need to comply with the requirements of a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or work with their province through a nominee program.

A clear understanding of the Express Entry is important to avail of and maximize the benefits that a candidate or an employer can get from the new system. Work Global Canada, through its in-house Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant can provide you with answers to your questions and guide you as you navigate through the complexities of the new Express Entry and the Canadian immigration system, in general.

Give us a call at 709-700-1983.