The Express Entry System is the big door to enter Canada!
The Government of Canada is removing barriers and has invited more candidates in the latest Express Entry 2023 draw, in fact, on its most recent date, August 3, IRCC issued invitations to apply to 1500 candidates based on specific categories. On August 2, a category-based draw was held for candidates with proficiency in French, issuing 800 ITAs to those eligible for the category, with a minimum CRS score of 435 and on Monday, August 1, the first draw was announced targeting candidates with experience in trade professions, including carpenters, plumbers, welders and will continue to bring in more construction workers.
Undoubtedly, now there are more facilities to apply for permanent residence and enter the country, with which I would enjoy the same rights and duties as a Canadian, except for the right to vote and the passport, which is obtained after years of being a resident in the country.
In this article, we share valuable information to help you prepare your immigration plan with the Express Entry System.
There are two ways to travel to Canada, one is as a permanent resident and the other as a temporary resident through work or study visas, which have an expiration date, even if the future goal is to become a permanent resident.
If your academic profile is good and you still do not have the ability to apply through the study route because it is costly or because your career does not have a more open entry to Canada such as regulated charge, or your country does not have a work agreement with Canada, then your best option is the Express Entry System.
What is required to apply for the Express Entry System?
The following are the steps to follow and the elements required for direct entry into Canada.
- Meet English and French language requirements:
- You need to have an advanced level of English. For this you must take the IELTS or CELPIP test and score the highest possible score, that is 8 points minimum in all bands, in reality, you can score a little less, but it is preferable to estimate the highest value.
- The level of French you need is intermediate. Proficiency in French is important because it gives you double points. If your academic profile is good but you can raise it a bit more, then French will give you the double score you need to get into Canada on the fast track. If you already speak English, it is recommended that you continue to raise your profile and learn French and then apply for the French Evaluation Test (TEF), which is the officially recognized test in Canada....
- Show a high level of education. Please note that the document that proves your level of studies is not the diploma you obtained in your country, since the government will require a comparison of it with the Canadian studies through a plan called ECA, that is to say, the equivalence report of your studies obtained abroad; in this way, your level can be equated with that of a diploma, a master's degree or a pHD.
The higher the educational level, the better your Express Entry application will work.
- At a minimum, you must have a bachelor's degree, as a degree below this will make the process more complicated. If you already have a master's degree, then you only need to submit the ECA.
- Demonstrate work experience in your field of study. The work experience must be at least one year. Keep in mind that the more experience you have in your home country, the more points you will get.
- Match your level of education and language proficiency to that of your partner (if you have one): if you are married or cohabiting for more than 12 months, both of you must have the same academic level, as this process works as a "mirror" and your partner's points will add points to you, so if your partner does not speak English or French, he/she will subtract points from you.
At Immiland, we recommend that both members of the couple dedicate themselves to studying English and French intensively, in case they need to, and if the couple is studying at university, then it is preferable that they complete their degree so that together they can achieve the score for their studies.
- Create your Express Entry application profile, as long as you already have all the elements mentioned above: be very careful not to create your application profile out of curiosity and submit data with score levels you do not yet have because, although all the information you provide will be displayed in the electronic application, if Canada invites you to apply for permanent residency based on that fictitious score, you may have a problem called misrepresentation or misrepresentation.
What professions apply for the Express Entry System?
All professions!
Express Entry does not focus on specific professions, any profession applies, anthropologists, accountants, engineers, all are welcome and, moreover, they do not need to have Canadian work experience. Even doctors can apply, since, on September 23, 2022, IRCC Minister Sean Fraser announced that they will now receive an exemption that will allow them to apply for Express Entry, this exemption was not valid for them, since many work on a fee-for-service model. The processing time for this profession is six months.
What are Express Entry System invitation rounds and how do they work?
Invitation rounds are opening processes offered by Canada throughout the year to support identified economic targets in the country that can apply to the Express Entry System. In this sense, the government classifies the candidates through a scoring system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and then proceeds to:
- Choose the type of round to be held.
- Decide on the number of candidates you need to invite.
- Identify the highest-ranking candidates in the group who are eligible for the type of round chosen.
- Invite such candidates to apply for permanent residency.
These rounds are divided into general, specific and category-based rounds.
In the general rounds, the highest-ranking eligible candidates are invited for one of the three immigration programs administered by the Express Entry System. These are: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class.
In specific rounds, the highest ranking candidates eligible for a specific Express Entry program are invited, e.g., a round for the Provincial Applicant Program will invite only those candidates eligible for that program.
Finally, category-based rounds join the general and specific rounds of the program and invite high-ranking candidates who are eligible to contribute to the achievement of the specific economic objectives set by the government.
More detailed information about the Express Entry invitation rounds is available by clicking on this link https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/ministerial-instructions/express-entry-rounds.html.
In conclusion, we recommend that you take the language tests, obtain the minimum necessary work experience in your home country and, after you have all these elements in place, create your profile in the Express Entry system to apply for permanent residency.
If you need assistance with your Express Entry application, make your appointment with us at Immiland Canada by clicking on the link.
If you wish to take English classes in our academy, Planeta Immiland Education, click here https://www.planeta-immiland-education.com/
With love,
Immiland
Note: This article does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion from an attorney. Rather, it is provided solely to inform readers about certain aspects related to the details of the law in legal matters.