Express Entry Selection Process

How to Become Permanent Resident of Canada?

Are you looking to become a permanent resident of Canada? Heard about Express Entry, but confused on what it is? Express Entry is a fairly new system adopted by Canada to manage specific permanent residence applications.

Who Can Apply for Express Entry?

Express Entry is only used for specific federal economic applications. There are three main immigration programs that are considered when it comes to Express Entry. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. The Express Entry system also is merged with the Provincial Nominee Program, in the sense that candidates from the Express Entry system can be chosen for the Provincial Nominee Program.

How Does Express Entry Work?

There are two steps to Express Entry. Before applying, the individual should consider using the Come to Canada tool available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (cic.gc.ca). This will inform them on their eligibility to apply for the Express Entry pool. In the first step, the individual would have to complete an online profile on the MyCiC Account. This profile will contain information regarding their skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other details they may be asked about. When applying, you would want to make sure your information is accurate. If stating previous work experience, refer to the Canadian classification system called NOC – National Occupational Classification. Furthermore, you will need to ensure that you have completed a language test and converted your foreign education to the Canadian credentials equivalent (unless you are exempt due to specific Canadian work experience). In terms of job prospects, you will need to provide information on the job offer you may have (including the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)). If you do not have one, you will need to register with Job Bank. Ensure that you do so within 30 days of creating your Express Entry profile, or else your profile will expire. After opening your profile and submitting it, you will be considered for the Express Entry Pool. A message will appear in your online account to notify you of this, so ensure that you are frequently checking it. In the second step of the Express Entry system, your profile will be judged based on a ranking system, which is developed from factors that have led to successful immigrants in the past. If your score from this system is among the top scorers, you will be invited to join the Express Entry Pool.

What is the Express Entry Ranking System?

The ranking system used for the Express Entry program is called the Comprehensive Ranking System. The system ranks you based on the information already provided in your profile. This is a point-based system; the more points you have, the higher you will score. The main factors considered in the Comprehensive Ranking System are: skills, work experience, language ability, and education. However, other factors may be considered depending on the circumstances and your overall application. These factors have had a previous history of playing a role in economic success for immigrants to Canada. There is also a specific formula for the Comprehensive Ranking system. There are four components to it:

1. Skills and Experience factors
2. Spouse or common-law partner factors
3. Skills transferability
4. Additional points (for provincial nominees or job offers)

In total, your profile will be given a score out of 1200. There is a difference in the weighing of each factor for single candidates and candidates with spouses/common-law partners.

How is a Single Candidate Ranked for the Express Entry?

Since you cannot be ranked on spouse/common-law partner factors, your other factors will be worth more points. The Skills and Experience Factors will have a maximum allotted points of 500. This category deals more with core/human capital factors. This includes things such as your age (up to 110 points), level of education (up to 150 points), official languages proficiency (up to 160 points) and Canadian work experience (up to 80 points). Given that you are a single candidate, youwill not have a Spouse or common-law partner factors category. Your Skill Transferability factors will have a maximum number of points of 100. This examines sub-factors of your education, with each sub-factor being worth 50 points. This involves language proficiency, post-secondary degree, Canadian work experience, as well as the equivalent in foreign work experience. Furthermore, if you are in a trade occupation, your certificate of qualification will be considered (again, for a maximum points of 50). Finally, you have the Additional Points category. Factors such as previously arranged employment with a LMIA as well as a provincial nomination will be considered for a maximum of 600 points. Note that these are not mandatory, but (as evidenced by the high point value) will greatly increase your profile.

How is a Spouse/Common-Law Partner Ranked on the Express Entry Route?

The main difference between you and a single candidate lies in the existence of the Spouse/Common-Law Partner factor as well as the Skills and Experience factors. In the skills and experiencefactor, you are still assessed on the same sub-factors; however, they are worth less. Age is worth a maximum of 100; education is worth a maximum of 140, language proficiency is worth a maximum of 150, and work experience is worth a maximum on 70. To make up for those points, your Spouse/Common-Law Partnerwill also be assessed. This is based on their level of education, for a maximum of 10 points; their language proficiency, for a maximum of 20 points, and their Canadian work experience, for a maximum of 10 points.

How is each sub-factor Assessed under the Express Entry?

Each sub-factor has maximum allotted points. However, they are each assessed differently according to the characteristics of the specific sub-factor. For example, the age sub-factor under the Skills and Experience category is assessed based on specific age; the closer you are to the target age, the more points you will get. The favoured age range is 20-29, for which you could get 100 points or 110 points (depending on whether you are single or with a spouse/common-law partner). This does not mean that you will get 0 points for any other age range; each range has its own value. For example, 19 year olds will receive 95 or 105 points (again depending on the relationship status of the individual. Some ages also mean you will get 0 points, which is the category of 17 or younger and 45 or older. Similarly, with the education sub-factor, the more education you have, the more points you will receive. These pre-determined points per factor are based on the success of previous immigrants. For more information on other specific point allocations for sub-factors, refer to Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website (cic.gc.ca).

How Long does it take to Process Express Entry Application?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada aims to complete frequent rounds of sifting through the Express Entry Pool. Generally, the applications are processed within six months or less. Your application, if accepted, will stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If you do not receive an Invitation to Apply within this time, you may re-apply after the 12-month time period.

What Happens if I am Selected for Express Entry Route?

After you have been accepted to the Express Entry Pool and ranked, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will assess your application. If you are one of the high-ranking candidates and have submitted a strong application with all of the necessary supplementary documents, you will be issues an Invitation to Apply. This invitation allows you to apply for Permanent Residence. If you receive an Invitation to Apply (which will be found in your online account), you will have 60 days to respond by submitting an application for Permanent Residence.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you are interested in applying for Express Entry, or have any further questions, feel free to call Akrami and Associates. Our dedicated team will be happy to assist you. With Akrami and Associates, there is always a way!