Questions and Answers Express Entry

Q&As Express Entry

In this article, I will address detailed questions and answers for the popular Express Entry program that many foreign nationals apply to. This article is created in order for you to further understand what the Express Entry program entails. Express Entry is intended for foreign nationals who would like to obtain permanent residency in Canada and qualify under specific federal economic immigration programs. It is essentially intended to assist foreign nationals to enter Canada permanently on factors that will ultimately benefit the Canadian economy and labour market. If you feel as though you would be eligible to apply for Express Entry, I suggest you read our article on Express Entry steps before reading this question and answer article. This article is intended to clarify any misunderstanding or confusion with regards to the Express Entry program.

Q: If I come from a country where the official languages are English and French, just like Canada, will I obtain additional CRS points for French knowledge?

A: Any Express Entry candidate that has proven French ability can obtain additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for French knowledge. Thankfully, the additional points were recognized and implemented as of June 6, 2017. However, it is very important to note that in order for your French knowledge to be recognized, you must take the Test d’Evaluation de Francais (TEF). Therefore, if you have successfully completed the TEF examination to prove your French ability, you may receive additional points. The following is the requirements in order to obtain the additional points.

If you score French Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher + English CLB 4 or below (or no proven English ability), you will receive 15 additional CRS points. On the other hand, if you score French CLB 7 or higher + English CLB 5 or higher, then you will receive 30 additional CRS points.

Q: Do Provinces and Territories use the Express Entry program? If so, how?

A: Provinces and Territories use the Express Entry program specifically through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The purpose of the Provincial and Territorial Nominee Program (PNP) is to adequately satisfy immigration and labour market needs within their local communities and provinces/territories. If you are nominated to apply for permanent residency by a Province or Territory, you will then receive additional CRS points that would count towards your Express Entry application. At that point, if you have sufficient points, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in the next round of invitations. The criteria used to determine whether a candidate is qualified for the PNP is ultimately administered and determined by the province or territory. In order to be nominated by a province or territory, the candidate must meet the required criteria for a minimum of one of the federal economic immigration programs under the Express Entry program, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, in order to enter the pool of candidates.

Q: Is it possible to create multiple Express Entry profiles using different National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for a better chance of being invited?

A: Unfortunately, no it is not possible to create multiple Express Entry profiles. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that individuals can only create one Express Entry profile at any given time which is enforced by Canadian immigration law. Therefore, it is not wise to create multiple Express Entry profiles if you would like the opportunity to be invited for permanent residency.

Q: I thought I was going to get additional points for a valid job offer in Express Entry? Why didn’t I get the additional points?

A: In order to adequately obtain additional CRS points for a valid job offer in Express Entry, the Canadian employer will also need to acquire a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Therefore, you must only say you have a valid job offer in Canada if your Canadian employer has offered you a full-time, permanent position for at least one year or more; the job offer is duly supported by an LMIA; or the job is exempt from obtaining an LMIA.

As a result, if your valid job offer from your Canadian employer is not supported by an LMIA and they are not exempt from requiring one, then you must answer no to this question. This is most likely the reason why you did not obtain your additional CRS points.

Q: How do I know if my job offer is valid or fake?

A: This is a very important question to ask. In order to determine whether your job offer is valid or fake, you can do the following:

• Research the Canadian company that is offering you the job. – If the company does not have a website, then you can assume it is fake. – However, if the company does have a website and has contact information, you can search whether the information is valid by calling or searching online.
• Look at the e-mail address of the individual who contacted you for the job – Most of the time, these individuals will have corporate e-mails from the company itself – If they do not send you an e-mail from a corporate e-mail, you can assume it is fake.
• Were there any costs requested by the employer or recruiter? – If the employer or recruiter requests a payment upfront for a deposit, money to cover costs of the work permit or a training fee, this may be a scam.
• Did you attend an interview, whether on the phone or in person? – Almost all Canadian employers will conduct an interview prior to hiring. – If the employer or recruiter has only communicated via e-mail and they would not like to speak face-to-face, then you can assume it is fake.

Contact Akrami & Associates

Should you have any further questions or feel confused or worried about applying through the Express Entry program, it is important to discuss your questions and concerns. By talking to and asking immigration professionals about your questions and concerns, this will hopefully ease your worries and assist with the Express Entry application process. Keep in mind, many immigration applications are difficult to pursue on your own, especially if you are unfamiliar, and it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients gain permanent residency in Canada through the Express Entry program. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply through the Express Entry program, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!