published on 9 November 2016 @ 5:58 pm · COMMENT

Immigration to Canada Interest Grows Exponentially in Wake of US Election Results: How to Move to Canada and Become a Canadian Citizen

There are approximately 100 different immigration options available to applicants wishing to immigrate to Canada, including both federal and provincial based immigration programs. One of the most popular immigration options is through the Express Entry (EE) system.

The EE system is an online application management process used for all applicants who qualify for permanent residence under the following application categories: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skills Trades (FST) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Some Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants are also being processed through the EE system.

In most cases, to qualify under one of the above-noted application categories, an applicant must have obtained at least one year of full-time, or part-time equivalent, paid work experience in a skilled occupation. Applicants must also meet minimum proficiency levels in the English or French language.

In order to apply under the EE system, an applicant must meet the eligibility criteria of one of the application categories listed above. Once an applicant has been deemed eligible to apply, they must prepare and submit an online Profile, which is used to determine the applicant’s likelihood of success.

Under the EE system, not every qualified applicant is selected to apply for permanent resident status. The government of Canada selects applicants based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The stronger the score – the higher likelihood of being selected.

An applicant’s CRS score is determined by the information provided in online Profile. Applicants are awarded points for various factors, such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. The federal government hosts draws on a regular basis (typically twice per month) in order to select the strongest CRS scores.

Applicants must wait until they have been selected before they can submit an application for permanent residence in Canada. However, if selected, most applications are processed within approximately 6 months.

While the EE system may appear innocuous, without extensive immigration planning, applicants may find themselves disqualified from the initial application process, or rejected after filing the application for permanent residence. In addition, the information requested in the Profile will be subject to a full documentation audit during the application for permanent residence stage. Any inconsistencies in information could render the applicant subject to a 5 year ban from Canada, if determined as ‘misrepresentation’ by the government.

The EE system is neither transparent nor facile. It is a complex system which requires a thorough assessment of an applicant’s eligibility, as well as their likelihood of success.

For more information about Express Entry system, and/or to assess your qualifications under the current requirements, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.

Firm News:

• BartLAW wins the prestigious award from The Lawyer International – Legal 100 – 2016 in the category of Law Firm of the Year – Immigration Law – Canada.

• BartLAW also wins the Lawyer Monthly Private Client Award 2017 in the category of Immigration Law – Law Firm of the Year – Canada.

filed under: IMMIGRATION NEWS