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Canada has been a popular destination for ex-pats for quite a long time. It is due to its strong economy, safe, multicultural society, and strong public service. Millions of foreign nationals immigrate to the country yearly for work purposes with a work visa.
Many visa programs help immigrants to migrate to Canada and gradually settle down as permanent residents. The Express Entry System is one of the main immigration programs that the Federal Government of Canada offers. Get to know more about the strengths and weaknesses of this program in the following sections.
What is Express Entry System?
The Express Entry System is a program that streamlines the immigration process in Canada. It aims to cut down the processing time and ensure easy access to immigrants. A highly efficient way to review candidates’ education, skills, work experience, and language ability. This is how an eligible candidate gets approved, depending on the country’s economic requirements.
Candidates ranked the highest receive an invitation letter from the Canadian government to continue their PR application through any of the Express Entry programs.
There are three programs under the Express Entry Canada Immigration System:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
How Does Express Entry Work?
Express Entry works simply and has two major phases. In the first phase, eligible candidates express their interest in getting PR status from the Canadian government.
And in the second phase, the Canadian government invites the highest ranking candidates to immigrate to the country.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the procedure on how to submit your profile and get a PR visa:
- Check the eligibility criteria and find out whether you are eligible
- Complete your language test and get an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)
- Submit your profile to the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada)
- Wait for an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for PR from the IRCC
- Upon receiving an ITA, submit a duly filled Application for Permanent Residence to the IRCC and pay the required fee. Include your police clearance certificate and medical test certificate as well. After submitting, you will get an acknowledgement of receipt.
- Once you get a notification from the IRCC for biometrics, submit it
After completing the above procedure, wait six months to know whether the application gets approved. You will get a COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) and a PR visa if shortlisted.
Pros of Express Entry System
The key strengths of the Express Entry System are:
High Chances of Selection for Talented People
If you have the right background and skills, you can easily get selected from the Express Entry pool of candidates. For instance, you will get more points if you have high educational credentials, vast work experience, adaptability factors (like a sibling living in Canada), and good French and/or English language skills.
- Reside Anywhere in Canada
You can reside in any territory or province in Canada once you get your Permanent Resident (PR) status through the Express Entry programs.
- No Requirement for Job Offer
The best part of the Express Entry program is that you can apply for a visa even though you don’t have a job offer from a Canadian organization. However, you may need one in case you don’t have adequate funds to support yourself or your family members accompanying you.
- Quick Processing Time
Most of the Express Entry pool applications process within 4-6 months. So you can get your visa soon.
Cons of Express Entry System
The weaknesses of the Express Entry System are:
- Limited Programs
There are just three programs under Express Entry, so a limited option when considering immigrating under this system. Further, several 1,000 people apply under this system, making it highly competitive. It means chances of getting approved are slim.
- Not Favorable for Those Without Job Offers
In the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System), the majority of the points given to applicants with a job offer. It means this system is unfavourable for those applicants without a job offer.
- No Pre-Established Criteria for the Draw
There are no criteria pre-set for the Express Entry draw. So there is no certainty about the approval of the application.
So, these are the strengths of weaknesses of the Express Entry System. This immigration system is more favourable for skilled people with a good background. It does not follow a ‘first come, first serve’ basis, so a few applications may never get processed if the applicants don’t have a good rank. For professional assistance in improving your CRS score, you can seek the help of an immigration consultant.
