Everything You Need To Know About The Express Entry System

We have set out to create the most comprehensive and practical guide on Canada’s Express Entry System. If you have any questions about the Express Entry process, chances are you will find the answers here. We will cover everything about Canada’s most popular immigration system, from how it works to how you can apply and improve your chances of being selected.

What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry System is Canada’s premier immigration vehicle. Made up of three federal immigration programs the system enables skilled individuals and their families to move to Canada as residents in as little as six months. The system was introduced in 2015 and has been increasing the number of applications it processes every year.

It is safe to say no one could have predicted a global pandemic in the year following his statement and how that target will be adjusted remains to be seen. The incredible thing is this; by 30 June 2020, just over 45,000 people had already been invited to apply for permanent residence. So, by the end of the year one of Canada’s immigration programs, amidst a pandemic, will likely have achieved its target of issuing 90,000 ITAs.

If you want to immigrate to Canada permanently, the Express Visa is your first step. Express Visa is a government process that allows applicants to apply for their Canadian visa from within the United States. It’s quick, easy and convenient for you to complete your Canadian application at home!

How Does It Work?

Determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration by identifying whether you are eligible for the express visa in Canada. The first step is to determine whether or not you have a criminal record or any other medical conditions that would exclude you from receiving health care.

If you answered no to both of those questions, we can proceed with the federal immigration programs that make up the Express Entry System:

The Federal Skilled Worker Program considers you as an applicant if you have qualifications and at least one year of foreign work experience in a managerial or professional occupation. You will need to meet minimum requirements with regards to skilled work experience, language ability and education not only be eligible for the program but also to be competitive in your pool of applicants.

Canada urgently needs skilled trades workers and the Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed to meet this need. Candidates must be red seal certified and have full journeyman status. With two-thirds of current job opportunities requiring post-secondary education or a certificate, meeting this requirement can be challenging. Securing an employment offer or being certified by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority can help you speed up the process.

The express visa Canada program is a fast-track process that allows you to be eligible for permanent residency in Canada. The program is reserved for applicants who would fall into one of the above two programs, but already have at least one year of experience working in Canada in their respective skilled occupations. The applicants in this pool are given preference due to the fact that they have demonstrated that they can live, work, and competently function as members of Canadian society.

1. Create an Express Entry profile online

If you are eligible for one of the programs listed above, you will be required to create a personal online profile. You will answer questions regarding your age, qualifications, work experience, marital status and English or French language abilities. Your answers will be used to calculate a Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) for your profile. You may be required to submit supporting documentation for some of your claims but usually, this comes in the following stage.

Your CRS score is a result of factors that include your profile. To increase your chances of being selected, we recommend creating a profile on the Canada Job Bank recruitment portal. By transferring any job offers you have identified there to your Express Entry profile, you will be able to boost your CRS score and potentially be selected more quickly.

2. Express Entry Requirements

There are three important documents that you’ll need to get in order to create your Express Entry profile. The documents do not need to be uploaded during this step, however, you’ll need the information on the documents to accurately complete your profile. Here’s what they are:

If you are applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you may take one of the following tests in French to demonstrate your proficiency:’

1. Language test scores are used when candidates submit their profiles. In order to do this, they must take an approved language test and use the test scores when submitting their profile. A language test assesses candidates’ speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities and the minimum required scores for each language category vary between the three Express Entry-aligned programs.
2. The educational credential assessment (ECA) report is used to verify that your foreign certificate, diploma or degree is valid and equal to a Canadian one. Although education is only a requirement for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) it will benefit all Express Entry candidates with credentials to complete an ECA report since education plays a major part in your final CRS score.
3. If you are applying with your spouse or common-law partner you must decide which one of you will be the principal applicant ahead of time. It’s important to note that the vast majority of the CRS score will be based on the principal applicants’ credentials. You can use our CRS Assessment Grid to compare your credentials before you create your profile.

The process of applying for a visitor visa Canada can be overwhelming and stressful. With strict deadlines, procedures and requirements, it’s easy to get caught up in the details—especially if you don’t know where to start. With one of our knowledgeable Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) by your side, you can rest assured that every step of the way will be handled with care and precision.