Deanne Acres-LansAfter more than twelve months of the Express Entry system, many are still unable to figure out the full process, documents required, eligibility criteria and how a Provincial Nomination works. Please see below for a basic outline of how the Express Entry system works.
Step 1: Do I Qualify to Submit an Application Under Express Entry?
In order to be eligible to submit an application under Express Entry you need to meet the criteria of one of the four immigration programsbelow and be able to show the minimum amount of required settlement funds for your family size:
- Federal Skilled Worker
- You have one year or more of full time paid work experience in an O, A or B classified occupation and;
- You have achieved 67 points or higher on the Federal Skilled Worker Points System (this is based on age, education, language, work experience and adaptability. If you do not have any post secondary education you will not be likely to qualify)
- Federal Skilled Trades
- At least two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past 5 years and;
- Have a job offer from a Canadian employer of at least one year OR a Canadian skilled trade certificate or qualification
- Canadian Experience Class
- Have at least one year of full time paid skilled work experience in Canada
- Provincial Nominee
- You have been given a nomination certificate by one of the Canadian provinces or territories
- It is important to keep in mind that you can become a Provincial Nominee, but you first have to already be in the Express Entry pool under one of the other three categories if you do not already have an existing nomination.
Settlement Funds Requirements for all programs mentioned above:
| Number of Family Members |
Funds Required (in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,164 |
| 2 | $15,143 |
| 3 | $18,617 |
| 4 | $22,603 |
| 5 | $25,636 |
| 6 | $28,913 |
| 7 or more | $32,191 |
Step 2: Language Tests and Educational Credential Assessments
Once you know that you qualify under Step 1 you will want to write your language test and obtain your credential assessment, as these arethe two required documents to enter yourself into the Express Entry Pool. Be sure to do the General Version of the IELTS only. The CELPIP is only available to those living in Canada. If you do not achieve your required scores you will need to re-write the test.
Be sure to have your credentials assessed by one of the recognized agencies. You can use any of the approved agencies below.
- Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
- World Education Services
- International Qualifications Assessment Service
- International Credential Evaluation Service
If you are a doctor or a pharmacist you need to use the specified agencies below:
- Medical Council of Canada à For Doctors
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada à For Pharmacists
Step 3: Enter Express Entry
Follow the instructions on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website to create your Express Entry Profile online.
Step 4: Receive your Profile Number and Job Seeker Code
As long as you qualify as described above you will receive a message letting you know you have met the criteria and they will give you a Job Seeker Code and Profile Code number. If you did not meet the criteria you will receive an ineligible message. They will not explain why you were found ineligible.
At this stage you will also be issued your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on the information you have entered. This is the score that will be used when Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) selects people from the Express Entry Pool.
Step 5: Register for the Job Bank
Once you have received your eligibility message and your codes, you will then use these codes to register with the Job Bank, which will also be outlined in your introduction letter from MyCIC.
You will then receive another message on your account confirming your entry into Express Entry.
Please keep in mind that even if you receive a job offer, you will only earn 600 additional points for your CRS score if the employer obtains a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for you, the offer itself is not enough.
Step 6: Apply to Provinces for a Nomination
After you have been entered into the Express Entry Pool you can begin to apply to the Provinces, which have specific Provincial programs in place for Express Entry applicants.
If you are selected by a Canadian Province or Territory 600 points will be added to your CRS score. Just remember, you will be required to work and live in the province that has nominated you so ensure you are willing to comply with these requirements before applying to a province.
Step 7: Invitation to Apply
When a draw is done, if your score has been selected you will receive a message on your MyCIC account letting you know that you can proceed with your full application for Permanent Residency. You will have 60 days to complete this application, pay the required government fees and submit the application.
Your application will then go in for processing for Permanent Residency.