Express Entry to Canada Video Series

We have shared clips from our CPD seminar on the topic of applying for permanent residence to Canada through Express Entry. This seminar was presented on September 19, 2015 by immigration lawyer Roxanne Israel.

The complete recording of the CPD event is available to purchase until December 18, 2015. We have also created a free overview of Express Entry course using these videos together with short quizzes to test your knowledge.

Express Entry is Canada's new intake management system introduced at the beginning of 2015 for economic immigrants to Canada. The bold promise by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that they will process all complete applications in 6 months or less makes Express Entry a desirable choice for those looking for a fast-track route to permanent residence. This video series will introduce you to Express Entry and provide valuable information to Immigration Practitioners as well as those embarking on the process themselves.

Contents

1. Introduction – Seminar Trailer
2. Part 1 – What is Express Entry?
3. Part 2 – Creating an Express Entry Profile
4. Part 3 – Explaining the Comprehensive Ranking System
5. Part 4 – Invitations to Apply
6. Part 5 – Filing an e-Application

Introduction | Seminar Trailer

Part 1 | What is Express Entry

SUMMARY

Express Entry is an intake management system that came into effect in January 2015. It applies to the three primary economic streams for permanent residents to Canada (categories are listed in the order of their priority):

• the Federal Skilled Worker Program;
• the Federal Skilled Trade Program;
• the Canadian Experience Class, and
• a percentage of the Provincial Nominee allocations.

Express Entry was created to allow more flexibility in the application process, shorten the processing time and improve the outcomes for the economic immigrants. It also removes any limitation on the applications apart from the immigration parameters set by the Canadian Parliament. Moreover, employers are currently more likely to support the Permanent Residency application due to the changes in work permits’ and inter-company transfers’ regulations.

Successful applicants are entered into the Express Entry pool and participate in invitation rounds. The application process and review takes, on average, 8-10 months. If the candidates qualify under more than one economic stream, they will receive the letter of invitation based on the categories' priority. After receiving the letter of invitation to apply, candidates can begin to complete their Permanent Resident application.

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to download a complete recap of Part 1, “What is Express Entry?”

VIDEO

Watch Part 1 of the series below.

Part 2 | Creating an Express Entry Profile

SUMMARY

The first step of the application is the creation of the Express Entry profile. This allows CIC to evaluate an applicant's eligibility for the specific program they are applying for, and to assign them a comprehensive ranking score.

The applicant is required to provide basic biographic information about themselves and their spouse (if applicable), Language Proficiency Test results and (if applying for the Skilled Worker Program) the Education Credential Assessment. It is also necessary to provide employment history; however, at this stage, the applicant should limit the employment history to the experiences relevant to qualify for points in the comprehensive ranking system. After finishing the initial application, the candidate has 30 days to register in the job bank. The registration is a mandatory part of the application, especially if the applicant does not have an offer of arranged employment.

The candidates who meet the minimum entry criteria are admitted into the Express Entry pool. The highest-ranking candidates during the invitation rounds receive an electronic invitation letter, after which they have 60 days to submit an application for PR.

Currently, the Express Entry pool has skilled workers in Canada who have arranged employment, a provincial nomination certificate or Canadian work experience. The pool will also include skilled workers outside of Canada with arranged employment; a job bank registration and language proficiency assessment; or a job offer. Although the job-matching between the candidates’ profiles in the job bank and the employers is not currently available, it should be fully functioning by the end of 2015.

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to download a complete recap of Part 2, “Creating an Express Entry Profile”

VIDEO

Watch Part 2 of the series below.

Part 3 | Explaining the Comprehensive Ranking System

SUMMARY

The Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a point-based system used to rank candidates in an Express Entry pool. The CRS has a maximum score of 1200, with the majority of candidates in an Express Entry pool currently ranking between 350 and 450 points.

A CRS score is assigned based on a candidate’s online profile and should be maintained up until receiving the invitation letter. The score has three main parts. The first part of the score is based on the applicant’s Skills and Experience, including age, education, language proficiency score and Canadian work experience. This part is worth a maximum of 500 points, including the spouse or common law factors.

The second part of the CRS is the Skills Transferability Factor, which includes a combination of education with the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Canadian work experience; or a combination of foreign work experience with CLB or Canadian work experience.

The third part of the CRS is a bonus of 600 points for the applicants with the offer of arranged employment (supported by a LMIA), or the ones nominated by the province.

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to download a complete recap of Part 3, “Explaining the Comprehensive Ranking System”

VIDEO

Watch Part 3 of the series below.

Part 4 | Invitations to Apply

SUMMARY

CIC invites candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply on a regular basis by issuing auto generated invitations to apply. As of July 6, 2015 CIC had issued 12,928 invitations, with a minimum CRS score of 453. 70% of invitations have been issued to applicants with a CRS score of 600 or higher, either based on an LMIA or provincial nomination certificate.
The initial invitation rounds had higher cut-off scores, with each round issuing invitations to approximately 1500 people. Although a large number of applicants have scored just below 450, cut-off scores now hover between 450 and 470.

Each round of the invitations is governed by specific ministerial instructions, with the ministerial instructions released on the same day as the draws (usually Fridays). The information contained in those instructions includes the minimum score for the draw, the effective date and the number of invitations issued during that round. The invitation is valid for 60 days, meaning applicants have 60 days to gather the rest of their documents required for the second stage, and complete and submit the online application.

Applicants can also choose to decline the invitation to apply if they decide they are not ready to apply, or their circumstances have changed and they no longer meet that comprehensive ranking score. If applicants do decline a specific invitation, their profile goes back into the pool and they are considered eligible for potential future draws – but there's no guarantee that they will be selected again.

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to download a complete recap of Part 4, “Invitations to Apply”

VIDEO

Watch Part 4 of the series below.

Part 5 | Filing an e-Application

SUMMARY

Approximately one-fifth of Express Entry applications are rejected now due to missing documents or incomplete information. The application and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically within 60 days of the invitation to apply.

Applications are assessed for completeness upfront. An application found to be incomplete will be rejected.

A complete application includes the following:

• the e-application
• the cost recovery fees;
• all supporting documentation

A personalized document checklist is produced for each applicant when they submit their Express Entry profile. The personalized checklist identifies the specific supporting documents required from each family member included on the application, but the Express Entry portal has experienced glitches and it is recommended that applicants carefully review this checklist in order to ensure the list is accurate for their personal situation. Applicants should also take screenshots of their personalized document checklist before submitting their application in case they are rejected by CIC.

If a supporting document is in a language other than English or French, the applicant must provide CIC with a copy of the original document as well as a version translated by a certified translator.

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to download a complete recap of Part 5, “Filing an e-Application”

VIDEO

Watch Part 5 of the series below.