Express Entry
As of January 2nd, 2015, Canada immigration has started a new program called Express Entry. As a result, applicants cannot file applications under Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trade Worker, or Canada Experience Class directly. These classes of applications are processes as part of Express Entry, which enables skilled workers to receive the permanent residency within 6 months or less from the time of receiving Invitation To Apply (ITA).
Applicant still needs to qualify in one of the existing following Federal Immigration Programs first:
Canadian Experience Class Program
The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
To be eligible to apply for permanent resident status through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
-You must have at least 12 months of full-time or an equal amount in part-time skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before you apply and you must have acquired your experience while you had the proper work permits or authorizations.
-You must also meet the minimum language requirement for your job in one of Canada’s two official languages.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
As of January 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has a new electronic system called Express Entry to accept applications for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Trades program.
In order to qualify to apply under this program, you must:
-must meet the minimum threshold in English or French-Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing,
-have at least two years of full-time experience in a skilled trade within the last five years preceding your application,
-meet the job requirement for the skilled trades as set out in National occupation classification, except for needing a certificate or qualification, and
-have offers of full-time employment from up to two employers in Canada of at least one-year duration OR a Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial body.
Federal Skilled Workers Program
1) Potential candidates complete an online Express Entry profile:
Potential candidates will complete an online Express Entry profile. Those who meet the criteria of one of the federal immigration programs listed above will be accepted into a pool of candidates.
2) The highest-ranking candidates in the pool will be invited to apply for permanent residence:
Candidates will be ranked against others in the pool using a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System. Points are awarded using the information in their profile. Candidates with the highest scores in the pool will be issued an Invitation to Apply.
If someone is invited to apply, they will have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will process the majority of complete applications (meaning those with all the necessary supporting documents) in six months or less.
Candidates can stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If they do not get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence within 12 months of submitting an Express Entry profile, they may submit a new profile. If they still meet the criteria, they can re-enter the pool. This will prevent backlogs and ensure quick processing times.
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