Guidelines on the new Express Entry immigration system have finally been released By Zaynah Marani December 3, 2014 On Nov. 30, 2014, the long-awaited guidelines on the dramatic overhaul to the Canadian Immigration system were finally released. The new system, called Express Entry, is expected to launch at noon EST on Jan. 1, 2015. Express Entry will be an electronic system to manage applications for permanent residence in Canada. The process to apply for permanent residence will now require two separate steps, and applicants will no longer be able to simply submit their applications once they meet the specific eligibility criteria. Going forward, applicants will only be able to apply if they receive an “invitation to apply” by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, details of which are outlined below. How Express Entry will work The two-step process for applying under Express Entry will be as follows: Step 1: Potential applicants under the following economic classes will be required to upload a profile online and receive an invitation by the government prior to submitting an application for permanent residence in Canada: federal skilled workers Canadian experience class federal skilled trades Step 2: Upon submission of their online profiles, applicants will be placed in a pool with the other candidates where they will be ranked against one another according to the factors outlined below. Those who are ranked highest will receive an Invitation to Apply and those who are not selected will remain in the pool for the next draw. Applicants with labour market impact assessments and provincial nominations will be selected first. In relation to the provincial nominee programs, provinces and territories will be able to nominate foreign nationals through the Express Entry system to fill their local labour market shortages. Each province / territory will still be able to set their own criteria for nomination. Express Entry applicants will be able to either complete their online profile first and then be nominated by a province/territory; or they can be nominated by the province/territory first and then enter the pool. Candidates will be able to remain in the pool for up to 12 months from the date of submission of their online profile and if they are not invited to apply for permanent residence within that time frame, they will be allowed to submit a new profile and re-enter the pool, provided they still meet the eligibility criteria. Express Entry selection criteria The selection criteria for Express Entry will be a points system, based on the following factors: core human capital factors (specifically age, level of education, official language proficiency and Canadian work experience) accompanying spouse or common-law partner factors (specifically the spouse’s level of education, official language proficiency and Canadian work experience) skill transferability factors (specifically level of education; foreign work experience and certificate of qualification in a trade occupation) factors relating to a provincial nomination or a qualifying offer of arranged employment When you get an invitation to apply Upon receipt of an invitation, applicants will have 60 days to submit their electronic application online for permanent residence to Citizenship and Immigration Canada online. Processing times are estimated to take six months from the date of submission of the entire application and backlogs are expected to decrease dramatically. Express Entry will also have a matching tool, which will be launched later in the year, whereby employers can hire Express Entry candidates to meet their labour needs when they are unable to find Canadians or permanent residents to fill job vacancies through the Employer Liaison Network. The first invitations to apply are expected to be issued within a few weeks of the launch of the new program. Invitations will then be issued on a regular basis throughout the year.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 03:35:37 +0000
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