Express Entry Defined

Express Entry is an online system offered by the Canadian government to process applications from immigrants. If you are a skilled worker aspiring to move to Canada, this system is your best bet for acquiring Canadian permanent residence status.

The Express Entry system includes three primary federal economic programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
2. Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
3. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Process of Applying For Express Entry

Express Entry application involves the submission of your profile with a set of documents. These include:

• Passport or travel document
• Education credentials
• Language test results

On submission of these documents, you will be invited by the government to apply for permanent residence. You will have to provide more documents during this stage, such as identity papers, clearance from the police, medical test results, and reference letters.

Eligibility

The ideal Express Entry candidates are individuals with college degrees and skilled in some work. They must also speak English or French with moderate proficiency. 

Basic Requirements for Express Entry

To be eligible to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker, you must have the following:

• At least one year of full-time or equivalent part-time employment in the last ten years in a skilled occupation
• A minimum score of seven Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in either English or French
• Post-secondary education assessed against Canadian standards 

Merely meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates with more robust profiles get preference over others.

The Costs Involved

The Express Entry system for immigrating to Canada will cost CAD 2,300 for an individual applicant and CAD 4,500 for a couple. You will have to pay only after receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

You must also show proof of having sufficient funds to support the cost of migration and resettlement. 

Is A Job Offer Needed To Apply For Express Entry?

No, you don’t need to carry any proof of job offer with your Express Entry application. However, having a valid Canadian job offer is a definite advantage as it helps add up to 200 valuable points to the CRS score, thus improving the chances of getting approved.

Time Taken For Express Entry Processing

Time taken can vary from one individual to another. It may take six months for the authorities to process your application, but in most cases, it may take more time. Your profile in the pool of candidates remains active for 12 months. If no invitation is received after 12 months, you must submit your profile again to stay active in the candidates’ pool.

Calculation of Express Entry Points

Canada uses the CRS or Comprehensive Ranking System to allocate points to candidates. Candidates are ranked based on 

• Age
• Qualifications
• Language proficiency
• Work experience
• Spouse factors
• Connections to Canada

The Ideal Express Entry Candidate

There is no one-size-fits-all profile or a perfect candidate for Express Entry eligibility. All candidates entering the pool receive a CRS score. Those with a higher rank are more likely to receive an invitation to apply. Age, work experience, qualification, and language expertise are some of the factors that influence the score and hence the selection.

The Minimum Score For Express Entry

The minimum CRS score needed to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence keeps changing with every draw. That’s why taking the proper steps to improve your ranking in the pool of candidates is crucial.

Can The Express Entry Score Be Zero?

A zero score in Express Entry indicates an ineligible profile that does not meet the eligibility requirements completely. Some common reasons for a profile to become ineligible are

• Expiry of language result term
• Missing the minimum settlement fund requirements
• Missing work experience requirements 
• Having less than one year of work experience in the primary NOC code

Reasons For High CRS Cut-Off 

The high CRS cut-off for Express Entry draws is because of the additional points some candidates earn with a nomination on their profile. When candidates receive a provincial nomination, they can add an impressive 600 points to their CRS score.

What Is An Express Entry Profile?

An Express Entry profile is a form submitted electronically by eligible candidates. It has details of their age, qualification, work experience, language proficiency, family details, and Canadian connections. These profiles are entered into the pool, and the ones with the best profiles are picked for receiving a provincial invitation.

Checking The Status Of An Express Entry Profile

Aspiring applicants must log into their IRCC account and click on the ‘View the applications you submitted’ tab and the ‘Express Entry profile status.’ It will take them to the ‘View your profile’ page.

An Express Entry profile is generally effective for 12 months. However, if you become ineligible for Express Entry while in the pool, your profile may be removed even before the 12 months.

Invitation to Apply

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an invitation sent out by the Canadian government to eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence. You must submit a complete permanent residence application within 60 days of receiving this invitation. If you miss the deadline for submission, your ITA will be removed, and you may not receive another invitation.

Express Entry Draw

The Canadian government issues a round of invitations to eligible candidates with their profiles in the Express Pool once every two weeks. The draws are usually held on Wednesdays.

The Maximum Age For Express Entry

There is no maximum age for Express Entry applicants. However, it is pertinent to note that candidates in the 20-29 age group gain the highest points for age. An elder candidate of around 35 years of age but with a higher qualification and better Canadian connection can overcome the points lost due to the age factor.

Applicants 20-29 receive the highest points for age. If you are significantly older than 35 but have a high education level or connections in Canada, these can easily overcome points lost for age.

Avoid Misrepresentation

Deliberately providing false information in the immigration application can have profound implications. Candidates charged with misrepresentation may face a five-year ban. They are not allowed to submit applications for Canadian immigration for that period.

You need the guidance and support of a reliable Canadian immigration consultant to improve your chances of success in achieving your Canadian citizenship goal. Contact us now to know how we can help you achieve success through the Express Entry route.