What is Express Entry Visa Program?

The Canadian Express Entry system is an immigration procedure that allows skilled workers from around the world to move to Canada. Introduced in 2015, it's now one of the main ways that economic immigrants and their families become Canadian permanent residents. Given its importance, there are naturally many questions surrounding Express Entry – how it works, what the requirements are, how to improve chances of success, and so on.

Express Entry Visa Program is an immigration process that helps skilled workers get picked to work in Canada under the State’s Federal Economic Programs. Candidate should submit their internet profile to the Canada Express Entry Pool. The provincial GOVT and Canadian companies look for the best applicants who’re picked by the Canadian Federal GOVT to apply for permanent residency.

Provincial GOVTs look to choose applicants from the Express Entry Visa Program through provincial PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) to full fill the labor needs of local marketplaces.

There’re 3 types of Federal economic immigration visa programs:

Canadian Express Class
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program

There’re 2 main steps in applying for Express Entry Visa Program:

Online Express Entry Visa Program profile

Interested applicants need to fill an internet profile. It’s a secure way of offering data regarding their job experience, language ability, and education, skills, and couples other vital details that’ll help the Canadian immigration officials access them. An applicant who meets the criteria of one of the aforementioned Federal immigration visa programs will get picked into a pool of potential applicants, if an applicant does not have a job letter in hand which is recognized by the Labor market impact assessment, then it’s vital to register with the ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada's) Job bank.

This is applicable for a candidate who does not possess a nomination from a region or a province in Canada. Job banks assist applicants’ links with potential companies in the country.

Invitation for Permanent residence

There’s a point-based system named CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) that ranks applicants against each other. Points are given to them according to the data mentioned in their online profile. The applicants with the highest points in the pool are invited to apply for permanent residence.

An applicant is awarded marks for the experience of a job offer, skills, and provincial nomination. Once picked, an applicant gets 2 months to fill internet application for permanent residence; applicants can remain in the pool for up to thirteen months. If they do not receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence during that period, they might submit a new online profile.

Eligibility

The Express Entry Visa Program does not have any pre-defined skill list the candidates can present their credentials irrespective of what experience they’ve worked in. For the language eligibility, you have to meet the minimum level of CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) and have to pass the test conducted by CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) with the compulsory level of writing, reading, and speaking skills.

Minimum points required to be eligible for Express Entry Visa Program

The minimum marks to qualify for Express Entry Visa Program differ according to the various programs. For the Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trade Class, no minimum marks are needed. The immigration to Canada under the FSWC (Federal Skilled Worker Class), you have to score 67 points out of a hundred to be eligible for a Canada PR visa program under Express Entry.

These marks are calculated on several factors which include work experience, education, language skills, age, adaptability, etc.

Minimum Requirements to apply for permanent or temporary residence in Canada through Express Entry Visa Program

You should have at least two years of experience
You should qualify for at least 1 under Express Entry Visa Program
You should score at least six on the IELTS test
You should have enough funds in your bank to manage your stay in the county
You should meet every health requirement of the state

How can apply for the Canadian PR Express Entry Visa Program?

You can apply by following the easy steps given below:

First, check if you’re eligible for the Express Entry Visa Program
Collect whole the needed documents
Create your Express Entry program online file and submit
The applicants are picked on their Comprehensive Ranking System scores
The candidate with the highest marks get ITA (initiation to apply)
After that, the applicant has to apply within 2 months for permanent residence
If picked, you’ve to submit additional required documents
After verification, you can get PR Express Entry in Canada

The following list of frequently asked questions (and their answers) aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Express Entry system, its associated processes, and some common queries potential immigrants might have. As immigration rules can change and everyone's circumstances are unique, it's always a good idea to consult with immigration professionals or official government resources for the most current and personalized advice.

Q: What is Express Entry? A: Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for Canadian permanent residence through certain economic immigration programs. It aims to speed up the process and make it more efficient.
Q: Who is eligible for Express Entry? A: Eligibility for Express Entry is based on factors such as skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other details that contribute to economic success in Canada. The system is used to manage applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
Q: How does the Express Entry system work? A: Applicants create an online profile where they provide their personal information, including skills, language ability, education, work experience, and other relevant details. If they meet the criteria, they're entered into a pool of candidates. The Canadian government periodically issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranking candidates in the pool, who can then apply for permanent residence.
Q: How are points awarded in the Express Entry system? A: Points are awarded based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which takes into account factors such as age, education, language proficiency in English and/or French, work experience (both in Canada and internationally), and other factors. A job offer from a Canadian employer or a nomination from a Canadian province or territory can also increase an applicant's points.
Q: How long does it take to process applications under Express Entry? A: While processing times can vary, the Canadian government aims to process most Express Entry applications in six months or less.
Q: Can I bring my family under the Express Entry system? A: Yes, you can include your spouse or common-law partner, as well as dependent children, in your application for permanent residence.
Q: What if I don’t have a job offer? Can I still apply through Express Entry? A: Yes, a job offer is not required to enter or be selected from the Express Entry pool, although it can earn you additional points in the ranking system.
Can I have more than one Express Entry profile? No, you cannot have more than one Express Entry profile at the same time. It's against the rules and the Canadian government could refuse your application if you create more than one profile. If you're ineligible for one program, you may still be eligible for others, so you should consider all possible options under Express Entry. In your profile, you can show your eligibility for multiple programs. If you're not eligible for one program, the system will check if you're eligible for other programs within the Express Entry. If circumstances change or if you find errors after submission, you can update your current profile rather than creating a new one. It's important to provide truthful, accurate information in your profile to avoid potential penalties, which can include being barred from applying to immigrate to Canada for five years.
Q: What is the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to be invited to apply for permanent residence? A: The minimum score varies with each draw, depending on the number of candidates in the pool and the Canadian government's immigration targets. There is no set minimum score. You can check the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to see the minimum scores for recent draws.
Q: What is a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and how does it relate to Express Entry? A: A Provincial Nominee Program allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and are interested in settling in a particular province. Some PNPs have an Express Entry-linked process. Candidates in the Express Entry pool who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their CRS score, which essentially guarantees an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Q: Can I update my Express Entry profile after I have submitted it? A: Yes, you can update your Express Entry profile at any time while you are in the pool, except for the information that was used to deem you eligible. This includes updates for language test scores, work experience, education, or other factors.
Q: What happens if my Express Entry profile expires while I am still in the pool? A: Profiles in the Express Entry pool expire after 12 months. If you do not receive an invitation to apply during that time, and you still wish to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, you will need to complete and submit a new profile.
Q: What is an Invitation to Apply (ITA)? A: An ITA is an invitation that is issued to candidates in the Express Entry pool who have a high enough CRS score during a round of invitations. If you receive an ITA, it means you can submit an application for Canadian permanent residence.

Remember, this is a general overview and individual circumstances can vary. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult with immigration professionals or official government resources.