mdc

Canada Proceeds with the Express Entry Draw

February 9, 2021

|

  • Robynn Farrell

The Express Entry system just held its sixth draw of 2020, it was the second and somewhat unexpected draw for March. There are two things to take away from this. The first is how serious Canada is about immigration; even amidst a global pandemic, the Canadian immigration department is able to function and focus on their goal of bolstering their economy with skilled people from all over the world. The second is that the cut off score was the highest ever, with only 668 invitations being issued to applicants to apply for permanent residency in Canada. What this should mean given Canada’s immigration targets for 2020 is that once the world has COVID-19 under control and regular procedures resume, there will be a massive amount of invitations to apply for permanent residency issued through the Express Entry program.    The reason for the low number of invitations is as we mentioned, the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut off was set at 720 points, essentially only extending invitations to those applicants who had a Provincial Nomination. To understand the value of a Provincial Nomination have a look at our breakdown of ways to boost your CRS score below. If you’re considering immigrating to Canada, now is the time to act.  

Express Entry

Express-Entry-CANADA The Express Entry System is an immigration stream that was created in 2015 with the goal of fast tracking the immigration process for skilled and experienced foreigners who wish to immigrate to and settle in Canada permanently. To be eligible for Express Entry you must fall into one of the following categories:  
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class
  If you meet the requirements of one of the above programs, you may be eligible for Express Entry and must create an Express Entry profile. You will be required to enter all your information regarding your age, educational qualifications, experience, language ability, skills transferability, background information and the same for your spouse or common law partner if you have one. All these factors will be tallied to determine your CRS score. There are ways to boost your CRS score and push you to the top of the pool which we will look at now.  

Boost Your Comprehensive Ranking Score

If you have a sibling who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada  15 Points
Score 7 or higher on the NCLC French Language skills test 15-30 Points
If you have a post secondary qualification from a Canadian institution 15-30 Points
Get a valid job offer  50-200 Points
Obtain a provincial or territorial nomination through the PNP 600 Points
As you can see, the best way to guarantee an invitation is to earn a provincial nomination.  

Provincial Nomination Program

Provincial-Nomination-Visa-CANADA When you create your Express Entry profile, there are two ways to obtain a provincial nomination. The first option is to simply create an expression of interest in the province you are interested in settling and working in. If your skills or qualifications match up with their in demand labour requirements, they may contact you and issue you a nomination. The second option is to obtain a valid job offer, then contact the province where you will be working directly and apply for a permanent residency through the PNP. Each province has different PNP streams and based on their economic requirements through which you can apply. You will still obtain permanent residency through the Express Entry System.   If you have a job offer and receive a provincial nomination, the PNP can assist you in obtaining a work permit on an expedited basis while your application for permanent residency is being processed through the Express Entry system.  

Getting Your Express Entry Profile Up and Running

Immigrate-To-Canada During these trying and confusing times, it is understandable to be anxious about taking on life changing choices. Consider however the number of people who will be looking to immigrate to countries like Canada when the pandemic is over. The three most important things you can do is make sure you don’t miss a single thing that can contribute to your CRS, that your information is all submitted on time and correctly and that you beat the rush. Any mistakes can result in your application being denied which will cost you time and money. By using our accredited Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) you will not only improve your chances of success in the visa application process, but you will get expert advice on which program is best for your specific needs. Our RCICs are highly qualified and are granted permission by the ICCRC to assist you with your eligibility evaluation, review all your documents and application forms and submit them to the Canadian government for you.   Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for up to date information and interesting blog posts on Canadian Immigration.