How does the express entry program work?
Tags: Crs Points Calculator, Canada Pr Visa, Immigration

The Express Entry form of immigration is Canada’s primary source of skilled foreign workers. It was first introduced in 2015 and helps Canada choose skilled workers based on their skills and ability to contribute to its economy. Express Entry manages applications for three economic immigration programs:

● Federal Skilled Worker Program

● Federal Skilled Trades Program

● Canadian Experience Class

Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry pool through the Provincial Nominee Program to meet local labour market needs.

It is the most widely used form of immigration used by migrants to make themselves permanent residents of Canada, under this program the applicants selected can live and work anywhere in Canada except Quebec who have a special program to manage their workforce.

Eligible candidates are issued scores under the Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System(CRS), which awards points for factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French.

Having a job offer is not necessary under this program but there are extra credits given to applicants who have a job offer with a canadian employer.

Canada’s first Express Entry draw of 2020 has issued 3,400 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an invitation in the January 8 draw was 473

There is a minimum requirement of CRS required for a candidate to be eligible for applying immigration through Express entry, then again there varying minimum eligibility one must have for three different immigration programs offered under express entry.

The Express Entry Program accepts applications under three federal programs: Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). You need to be eligible for any one of three programs to be able to set foot into the Express Entry group of applicants, where each applicant is assigned a CRS score.

● FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM (FSWP)

The minimum requirements for this program are as follows:

● skilled work experience

● language ability

● education

If the candidate meets all the above requirements then he is judged upon the following factors

● Age

● Education

● Work Experience

● Valid Job Offers

● English and or French proficiency

● Adaptability

The above mentioned factors make a hundred point grid on which the applicants are judged

● FEDERAL SKILLED TRADERS PROGRAM (FSTP)

To be eligible under this program the candidate must meet the following requirements

1. language levels for each language ability

● Writing

● Reading

● Listening

● Speaking

2. He/She must have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply

3. Meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification

4. He/She also must have either a valid job offer of full time employment for a total period of at least 1 year OR have a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade by a Canadian Provincial ,territorial or federal authority

● CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS (CEC)

The Canadian Experience Class is for those skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents (PR)

The minimum requirement for applying under this program are as follows:

● meet the required language level needed for your job for each language ability

○ writing

○ reading

○ listening

○ speaking

● have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work experience must be:

○ full-time or

○ an equal amount in part-time

● have gained your work experience by working in Canada legally.

Steps to apply for the Express Entry Program

Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile

First and foremost step is to create your own Express Entry profile. This profile should include your age, education, work experience, language proficiency, etc. You will be given a score based on these details.

Step 2: Complete your ECA

Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA is provided to people who have done their education outside Canada. It should be with immigrants applying for the Express Entry Program. ECA proves that a foreigner’s educational qualifications are equivalent to those recognised in the Canadian educational system.

Step 3: Finish your language ability tests

The next step is finishing the required language proficiency tests. The minimum score is 6 bands in IELTS which is equivalent to CLB 7. Your test score should be less than 2 years at the time of application.

Step 4: Calculate your CRS score

If your profile gets selected in the Express Entry pool, it is ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Certain factors like age, work experience, education, etc determine your CRS score. Your profile is included in the Express Entry pool only if you have the required CRS score.

Step 5: Acquire your Invitation to Apply

If your profile makes it to the Express Entry pool, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the federal government after which you can commence the documentation for your PR visa.