The Express Entry program is a government system that allows the Canadian federal government to recruit and screen potential immigrants into its skilled worker immigration streams. Applicants are then ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the highest-scoring candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
A good score can mean a faster processing time for immigration, and an immigration lawyer can help you maximize your Express Entry points to ensure you have a competitive profile and a better chance of being chosen by the federal government.
The first step to getting into an Express Entry program is to create an online profile. The profile will contain information about your skills, work experience, language ability and other relevant details. Depending on the type of program you’re applying under, your profile may also be required to include a job description and other documents.
NOC codes are used to determine your Express Entry points, so it’s important to choose the best one for your career path. An immigration lawyer can help you sort through the NOC matrix and find a code that accurately represents your experience and helps you maximize your Express Entry points.
IRCC research shows that immigrants who adapt well to life in Canada have a higher CRS score and are more likely to be offered a Canadian permanent residence visa. Therefore, it’s important to make sure your family and friends can support you while you’re in Canada, and that they’ll be willing to sponsor you for permanent residence once you’ve secured an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
If you’ve received a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, your Express Entry profile is automatically boosted by ten CRS points. The offer must be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), but there are some jobs that are exempt from the requirement.