With effect from 1st January 2015, Canadian Government has introduced a new process for selection of skilled professionals and tradespersons wishing to immigrate to Canada and live and work in Canada as a permanent Resident.
The new Canada skilled immigration selection process introduced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and called Express Entry to Canada has generated a lot of excitement and rightfully so. Thankfully, with announcement of Express Entry Points System and Express entry application process, the applicants can start filing their applications to be filed under Federal Skilled worker Class for immigration to Canada.
Here are key features of the Canada Express Entry Program:
- The FSW Express entry program to Canada is just changing in selection process and not selection criteria for migrants wanting to settle down in Canada as a skilled worker. So now, the applicants can apply for immigration to Canada only after they are invited to apply under federal skilled worker program by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
- Invitation is easy to come by for qualified Candidates and will have an additional stage called Express Entry Pool. The application will stay in the pool for one year after which it will be remove and candidate will need to re-enter if continues to be interested.
- There will be a Canada express entry comprehensive Ranking system (CRS)which will be points based on which application will be filed in the pool. Under the CRS, it will be beneficial (in case of married applicants) for both the spouses to offer their IELTS and WES report summaries. Candidate filing the on-line express entry form will be asked to provide information related to his qualifications, experience, occupation, Language skills, Canadian Education, Canadian Experience, Spousal language skills as also presence of any blood relations in Canada. The on-line express entry form will also ask queries related to their preference as regards the province in which they wish to settle down.
- Regular draws will be taken from the pool and Candidates appearing higher in the ranking in the pool will be selected. While those having confirmed job offers will appear higher in ranking and hence may be first to be amongst those selected under Canada FSW express entry program, it is NOT A MUST that a candidate has a confirmed job offer from a Canadian Employer to be eligible to get an invite to apply for PR visa.
- Express entry draws will be a highly transparent process and instructions that will be followed to pick out applicants from the express entry pool will be posted on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The announced instructions will confirm the date of draw as also number of candidates who will be picked out of pool in the specific draw and finally specific Canadian immigration program for which draw from the pool will ne conducted. The basis for selection from the express entry pool will be comprehensive Ranking system (CRS).
- Candidates having confirmed job offer are not expected to be many and hence chances for express entry applications filed in the pool, which are without job offer are likely to be extremely bright. What is more, it can happen that after the application is filed in the pool and in the Canada job Bank, the candidate is chosen by a Canadian employer and given a job offer. In such a situation, the details filed in the Express entry pool through comprehensive Ranking system (CRS) can be updated and thereby immediately move higher in Pool rankings. In the next draw, chances of being picked up from the pool will thereby increase.
- Also once you file your application under the express entry pool, chances of you as a provincial nomination increase! Even a provincial nominee, you will get additional points under the comprehensive Ranking system (CRS) , thereby improving chances of moving up in rankings in the pool. In the next draw, chances of being picked up from the pool will thereby increase.
- Under Express entry program is that almost all occupations are now eligible for filing the application under the federal skilled worker program. Click here to check the complete list of eligible express entry occupations. This is a marked shift from Canadian Skilled Immigration policy of recent years whereby limited number of occupations was opened for applications every year. In addition, there used to be quotas’ attached to number of applications that could be filed under each of the permitted occupation under federal skilled worker program. All that has changed under the Canada Express Entry. There are no per occupation quotas’ to deal with – only annual quotas for skilled category is what you need to watch out for!
- Candidates who are chosen form the express entry pool must also ensure that they meet the federal points based selection criteria and its requirements. He will then be asked to indicate which of the economic class migrant programs he is making the application under – Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, Canada Foreign Tradesperson class.
- It has been indicated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that permanent residence applications of candidates picked up from the pool will be processed within six months of being lodged in for Federal stage. In addition, even federal stage will be an on-line application process unless the candidate suffers from some kind of physical disability.
Effective 01 January, 2015, following occupation are eligible to apply under the new Express Entry Program.
NOC O Group Occupation List
Management occupations
(Skill level A)
011 Administrative services managers
012 Managers in financial and business services
013 Managers in communication (except broadcasting)
021 Managers in engineering, architecture, science and information systems
031 Managers in health care
041 Managers in public administration
042 Managers in education and social and community services
043 Managers in public protection services
051 Managers in art, culture, recreation and sport
060 Corporate sales managers
062 Retail and wholesale trade managers
063 Managers in food service and accommodation
065 Managers in customer and personal services, n.e.c.
071 Managers in construction and facility operation and maintenance
073 Managers in transportation
081 Managers in natural resources production and fishing
082 Managers in agriculture, horticulture and aquacultureure
091 Managers in manufacturing and utilities
NOC A Group Occupation List
(Occupations usually require university education.)
111 Auditors, accountants and investment professionals
112 Human resources and business service professionals
211 Physical science professionals
212 Life science professionals
213 Civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers
214 Other engineers
215 Architects, urban planners and land surveyors
216 Mathemati- cians, statisticians and actuaries
217 Computer and information systems professionals
311 Physicians, dentists and veterinarians
312 Optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals
313 Pharmacists, dietitians and nutritionists
314 Therapy and assessment professionals
411 Judges, lawyers and Quebec notaries
415 Social and community service professionals
416 Policy and program researchers, consultants and officers
511 Librarians, archivists, conservators and curators
512 Writing, translating and related communications professionals
513 Creative and performing artists
NOC B Group Occupation List
(Occupations usually require college education or apprenticeship training.)
121 Administrative services supervisors
122 Administrative and regulatory occupations
124 Office administrative assistants - general, legal and medical
125 Court reporters, transcriptionists, records management technicians and statistical officers
131 Finance, insurance and related business administrative occupations
221 Technical occupations in physical sciences
222 Technical occupations in life sciences
223 Technical occupations in civil, mechanical and industrial engineering
224 Technical occupations in electronics and electrical engineering
225 Technical occupations in architecture, drafting, surveying, geomatics and meteorology
226 Other technical inspectors and regulatory officers
227 Transportation officers and controllers
228 Technical occupations in computer and information systems
321 Medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
322 Technical occupations in dental health care
323 Other technical occupations in health care
421 Parapro- fessional occupations in legal, social, community and education services
431 Occupations in front-line public protection services
521 Technical occupations in libraries, public archives, museums and art galleries
522 Photogra- phers, graphic arts technicians and technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
523 Announcers and other performers, n.e.c.
524 Creative designers and craftspersons
525 Athletes, coaches, referees and related occupations
621 Retail sales supervisors
622 Technical sales specialists in wholesale trade and retail and wholesale buyers
623 Insurance, real estate and financial sales occupations
631 Service supervisors
632 Chefs and cooks
633 Butchers and bakers
634 Specialized occupations in personal and customer services
720 Contractors and supervisors, industrial, electrical and construction trades and related workers
723 Machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades
724 Electrical trades and electrical power line and telecommunications workers
725 Plumbers, pipefitters and gas fitters
727 Carpenters and cabinetmakers
728 Masonry and plastering trades
729 Other construction trades
730 Contractors and supervisors, maintenance trades and heavy equipment and transport operators
731 Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicle)
732 Automotive service technicians
733 Other mechanics and related repairers
736 Train crew operating occupations
737 Crane operators, drillers and blasters
738 Printing press operators and other trades and related occupations, n.e.c.
821 Supervisors, logging and forestry
822 Contractors and supervisors, mining, oil and gas
823 Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related occupations
824 Logging machinery operators
825 Contractors and supervisors, agriculture, horticulture and related operations and services
826 Fishing vessel masters and fishermen/women
921 Supervisors, processing and manufacturing occupations
922 Supervisors, assembly and fabrication
923 Central control and process operators in processing and manufacturing
924 Utilities equipment operators and controllers
