Express Entry is a Canadian immigration selection system that manages applications for permanent residence under the following programs:

• the Federal Skilled Worker Program,
• the Federal Skilled Trades Program,
• the Canadian Experience Class,
• some Provincial Nominee Programs (Express Entry streams)

There are three main steps to the Express Entry system:

1) Determine your eligibility for one of the Express Entry qualifying programs, each of which has a different set of criteria;

2) Complete an online application to enter the Express Entry pool;

Invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence;

With the information in your Express Entry profile, the Express Entry system will rank you in comparison to other candidates in the pool using a complex points-based grid called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). IRCC does not issue an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to all candidates in the Express Entry pool. It issues ITAs usually twice per month during an Express Entry draw to candidates who have a given minimum number of CRS points. This minimum score varies from one round of invitations to the other.

You may update your Express Entry profile after you create it. Ways of getting additional points include:

1. Improving language test scores.
2. obtaining a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
3. obtaining a nomination from a province or territory
4. graduating from a higher level of schooling;
5. reaching an additional year of Canadian work experience;
6. obtaining a certificate of qualification.

If you are invited to apply, you will have 60 days to submit a detailed application for permanent residence online, accompanied by all supporting documents.

To know more about the requirements of Express Entry or any of its qualifying programs, the steps in the application process, or if your application has been refused, please contact us to schedule a legal consultation.