The Government of Canada plans an intake of 330,000 immigrants in 2019 and 340,000 immigrants in 2020 in keeping with its policy of being an immigrant-friendly nation. The Express Entry program is a part of the Immigrant Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department’s processes. It has been designed keeping the goal of a more targeted, simple process in mind. Launched in January 2015, this program is part of several measures that were taken to reduce application backlogs and improve the overall client experience for applicants.
Entering The Express Entry Pool
Candidates who apply for the Express Entry can do so under one of these categories:
- Federal Skilled Worker
- Federal Skilled Trades
- Canadian Experienced Class
Before applying for the program candidates have to first check their eligibility.
They must create an online Express Entry profile based on their age, whether accompanied by spouse/partner, educational qualifications, work experience and language abilities. Other information includes whether they have a sibling who is a permanent resident in Canada, Canadian educational qualifications, French language skills, provincial nomination, a valid job offer in Canada etc.
While uploading the profile, candidates have to submit documents in support of educational qualifications and language abilities (based on test scores). Other aspects are self-declared, but supporting documents will have to be submitted at the application stage. Based on the information provided on your profile, you will have to submit documentary proof of each one of the items. It’s important to know what these documents are and keep them ready early on. This profile is valid for one year.
After submitting your profile and if it meets the eligibility conditions, you will be allotted a rank under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This is an automated process and is based on the total points scored according to the items in your profile. It is a comparative rank and your position depends on the other candidates in your pool. This rank is crucial because it determines whether you get an Invitation To Apply (ITA) or not.
What Is The ITA?
Once your profile is ranked in the Express Entry pool, the next step is to wait for the ITA. This is an auto-generated correspondence format conveyed to the candidates in the Express Entry pool via their online accounts.
The candidate is also provided with a chart that gives the CRS points awarded according to the information submitted.
There is a draw from the pool once every fortnight and only the highest ranks are eligible to receive the ITA. This is a dynamic system and the cut-off scores and ranks tend to fluctuate often. The IRCC releases regular notices about the number of ITAs to be released every month and the minimum number of points required for that particular round.
The ITA is part of the demand-driven process of Express Entry and offers an invitation-based format to candidates. It enables those who have submitted their profiles, entered the pool and been ranked according to the CRS to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Candidates with a high ranking/valid job offer and/or provincial nomination stand a very good chance of getting an ITA. In case you don’t get an ITA during the one year of your profile’s validity, you can withdraw it and submit a fresh one for the next year.
Once you receive an ITA, you will also be informed about which class of Express Entry you have been admitted to. You need to file your acceptance within 90 days along with all the required documentation and fees. In case you fail to respond within the allotted time period, the ITA becomes invalid.
Some candidates may require more time to get their documentation in order. In that case, they can decline the invitation. Their profile is returned to the Express Entry pool (if it is a valid one) and will be eligible for further draws.
In case circumstances change after you receive an ITA that could impact your CRS scores, get advice and assistance from a trustworthy and experienced immigration consultant.
If your application is successful, you will get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and/or Permanent Residence visa within six months.
Can Chances of Receiving an ITA be Improved?
Getting an ITA depends entirely on your CRS ranking and scores. That is why it’s important to work meticulously on your initial Express Entry profile. You can start working on getting a valid job offer and/or provincial nomination early on in the process. Improving your language skills, getting a higher score on the IELTS and TEF tests, getting more relevant educational qualifications and work experience can boost your CRS points and in turn your opportunity to be ranked higher in the Express Entry pool.