Express Entry — An Introduction
You can immigrate to Canada through Express Entry. These six-part series will help you understand how Express Entry works, if you qualify for it and how you can apply for residency through Express Entry. We hope you will enjoy it.
This first article will explain the Express Entry program by answering these 5 questions: What is Express Entry? How does it work? How do I know I qualify? What documents do I need? How do I apply for permanent residence?
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an online system that is used to manage applications for permanent residence in Canada from skilled workers around the world based on a points score with the maximum score been 1200. You can check how the points are graded here: https://bit.ly/2u1obnF. These points are based on the following criteria: nationality, age, language ability, family members in your home country and in Canada, education, work experience and details on any job offer from Canada.
How does it work?
There are 3 immigration programs under Express Entry, and each has different requirements. The programs are Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. Follow this link to compare them.
If you have not worked previously in Canada you cannot use the Canadian Experience Class route; and if you do not currently have a valid job offer from a Canadian company, you are also not qualified for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Your best choice if you have no job offer and have not worked in Canada previously would be the Federal Skilled Worker Program. So the type of Express Entry our article will explain in-depth is the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
How do I know I qualify for Express Entry?
To check if you qualify, you need to take a free online questionnaire and also undertake an online evaluation that will assess your eligibility and your points total. You can check your score to know how you rank against the highest score of 1200 points. Give yourself up to 30 minutes to complete the score check and questionnaire.
What documents do I need?
To apply for Express entry you will need a/an:
a. Passport
b. Birth certificate
c. Marriage certificate (if married)
d. School certificate
e. Educational credential assessment
f. English and/or French language test scores
g. Curriculum vitae
h. The amount of money you will have in your bank account when you decide to apply for the visa or travel to Canada.
We will explain later the specific requirements of some of these documents.
Once you have applied for Express Entry, your details are added to a pool of other applicants from all over the world and those with the top scores are selected and invited to apply for permanent residency. The Canadian immigration authorities do not release which scores will be picked and at what period they will be picked, but as at 2017 these were the scores for people https://bit.ly/2JBddyk (kindly scroll to the bottom of this link). You can check the scores for people in the pool as at January 18, 2021 here. You are advised to update your Express Entry profile if your circumstances change or you have any information that will increase your points total.
You have 60 days to complete and submit your Express Entry profile from the day you created your online profile. Otherwise, you’ll have to start again. We advise that you get all the above documents before creating the Express Entry profile especially the certificate assessment and language test scores because those 2 results take some time to come in. Once you’ve filled out your profile, you can submit it online. Canada’s IRCC-Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will themselves figure out which immigration program you’re eligible for under Express Entry based on your answers.
How do I apply for permanent residence?
You will be invited by IRCC through an official email to apply to be a permanent resident of Canada (if you’re one of the top candidates). This is an online application only and so all documents needed to apply for the visa will need to be scanned and uploaded. Aside the documents earlier listed, you will have to add additional documents such as
i. Bank statements
j. Medical reports (for yourself, spouse and children)
k. Police certificates (for yourself, spouse and children)
l. Provincial nomination certificate (if you have it)
m. Written job offer from a Canadian firm (if any)
The application fee costs CAD$1325 for you, another CAD$1325 for your spouse/partner if any and CAD$225 per child, if any. You can check for updated fees, under the heading Permanent Residence (Economic Immigration, including Express Entry). Remember to budget additional charges for the medical reports, police certificate, biometrics fee, educational credentials assessment, the English language test and of course the charges by an immigration consultant (like Travel Abroad) to process your visa successfully.
Parts 2, 3, 4 and 5s of our article on Express Entry will explain the process in depth including our 10 steps in applying for the permanent residence visa.
If you need us to help you with the process, then visit Travel Abroad.
Call 0312295363, 0557563434, 0545576003.
WhatsApp +233204652595.
Email: info@travelabroadgroup.com
