What are the features of the Express Entry Program?
The Express Entry Program of Canada is a unique and fast-track immigration program based on points that facilitates the skilled workers to obtain Permanent Residency in Canada. The Government of Canada has adopted a progressive and unique approach for selecting skilled professionals and offering them entry to the nation as Permanent Residents. The system processes the applications of qualified immigrant applicants to migrate to Canada based on their Express Entry Points allocated for diverse factors such as experience, language proficiency, skills, and others.
Your chances of receiving the ITA – Invitation to Apply for Canada PR Visa increases as you score higher points. Normally, PR Visa applications through this program are processed within or lesser than 6 to 12 months.
The key features of the program are:
- It is an online program that is open all around the year with no cap on applicants.
- This program is applicable only for Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades, and Federal Skilled Worker Programs.
- You are required to submit an EOI – Expression of Interest and furnish application through any category of job specified in 0, A, and B Skill Levels.
- The evaluation of your profile will be based on your points score after which you will be admitted to the applicant pool.
- Employers and Provinces in Canada will access this pool and identify talents meeting their requirements.
- The candidates in the pool with the highest points are offered an ITA for PR Visa.
- The number of ITAs offered is determined by the Yearly Immigration Level.
How does the Canada Express Entry work?
Below are the major steps involved in the application process of Canada PR Visa through the Express Entry Program:
Step 1: Complete your Profile
The process of obtaining the PR Visa commences with the filling of the digital Express Entry form by furnishing crucial documents about Education, Experience, and other personal documents.
Step 2: Express Entry Pool
After the application is accepted into the pool, the candidate is provided a Job Seeker Validation Code and Express Entry Profile Number through which they can develop their resume in the Canada Job Bank.
Step 3: Invitation to Apply
Upon obtaining the Express Entry Points in line with the Canada Immigration Draw, the candidates are selected by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada for being offered the Invite to Apply.
How to apply for a Canada PR Visa Online?
The last step is furnishing the mandatory documents of the application to receive the status of Permanent Resident in Canada. Shortlisted candidates are given 60 days for submitting the complete application and documents and failure to comply results in the cancellation of the ITA – Invite to Apply.
The Express Entry accepts applications for the following Visa categories:
- Federal Skilled Trade Program
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class Program
Moreover, the Provinces and Territories in Canada also offer ITA to skilled immigrants in the Express Entry Pool through the Provincial Nominee Programs. Upon entering the pool, every applicant is allocated a score through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) out of 1200. The allocation of scores is based on diverse factors including Education, Work Experience, Age, Adaptability, Language Proficiency, and Employment Offer.
Applicants with the highest scores are periodically offered an ITA upon which they get 60 days for submitting the complete application for Canada PR Visa. Besides, candidates can also seek jobs in Canada by creating a Job Bank Account after the creation of a profile in Express Entry. They can continue with the process to search for jobs through the Job Bank even after arriving in Canada.
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What is Canada Skilled Occupation List?
The one factor apart from your CRS score that has a tremendous influence on your Canada PR Visa application is the Skilled Occupation List. IRCC identifies the Occupation in demand in Canada Labor Market and classifies these jobs under the NOC – National Occupational Classification. The jobs are divided into groups based on the duties of the job and the work done by the job holder.
For purpose of Canadian immigration, the chief categories of jobs are:
“0” Skill type: This category includes management jobs like:
- Mine Managers
- Restaurant Managers
- Shore Captains
- Dentists
- Doctors
- Architects
- Plumbers
- Chefs
- Electricians
- Long-haul truck drivers
- Industrial butchers
- Food and Beverage servers
- Cleaning staff
- Fruit pickers
- Oil field workers
“A” Skill Level: This category of jobs normally requires a University Degree:
“B” Skill Level: This category of jobs normally requires an Apprentice Training or College Diploma:
“C” Skill Level: This category of jobs normally requires Job specific training and High School education:
“D” Skill Level: This category of labor jobs normally requires OJT – On-the-job-training:
Canadian Immigration Express Entry Programs make use of the NOC to decide if a type of work experience or job fulfills their eligibility requirements. Jobs having NOC Skill Type B, A, or 0 are considered as skilled by the Express Entry Programs.
How does the Canada Express Entry Points Calculator work?
The Canada Express Entry Points Calculator offers a broad idea regarding the points to be scored by a candidate for qualifying to immigrate to Canada. The points are awarded through a CRS calculator based on many factors like language skills, work experience, educational qualification, age, etc. IRCC regularly conducts fortnightly draws for selecting candidates with maximum CRS scores. The chosen candidates are offered an ITA by IRCC for further application and processing of their PR Visa.
How to check your eligibility for Canada Express Entry?
You are required to answer several questions for assessing your eligibility through Express Entry to work in Canada as a skilled worker and settle permanently. There are 3 programs under this system as already stated and every program has distinct qualification requirements to be fulfilled. You will be asked queries based on the following:
- Age
- Work experience
- Education or Skills level
- Language capability
- Approved job offer
