Canadian Express Entry
Using the Express Entry Program is one of the quickest ways to become a Canadian permanent resident, find out more about how American citizens can be eligible.
Our lawyers can assist you with your Express Entry application, get in touch today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about our services.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the system that is used to manage applications for Canadian permanent residence from skilled workers around the globe.
There are several types of programs that are part of Express Entry, these programs are some of the most popular routes that US citizens use when moving to Canada from the USA as they allow you to obtain Canadian permanent residence much quicker than any other immigration program.
Applicant’s who have their profile accepted by the Express Entry system will be invited to apply for permanent residence. If you are successfully granted permanent residence then you will have the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely.
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How can US citizens be eligible for Express Entry?
The eligibility requirements for Express Entry vary depending on the type of program you are applying under. Generally, US citizens could be eligible for Express Entry if they can be classed as a skilled worker who can contribute to the economy of Canada.
The minimum requirements that US citizens must meet to be eligible for Express Entry include:
- Having skilled work experience – this must be at least 1 year of continuous work within the last 10 years.
- Being proficient in English, French or both – you must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for this requirement.
- Hold a college degree, diploma of higher education certificate – you will need an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) to prove that you meet the Canadian education standards.
When you enter the Express Entry pool you will be given a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score. Having a high CRS score makes you more eligible for Express Entry and the highest scorers will be more likely to be invited to apply for permanent residence. The CRS will assess your skills, education, language ability, work experience and other factors that can make you an ideal Express Entry Candidate.
Types of Express Entry Programs
The Express Entry system manages the applications for the Canadian economic immigration programs. The immigration programs that are part of the Express Entry system include:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) – this is for skilled workers with foreign work experience. You must have had at least 1 year of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in a managerial, professional or technical occupation in the last 10 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST) – this is for workers who are qualified in a skilled trade. You must have had at least 2 years of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years and have a valid job offer of full-time employment.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – this is for skilled workers for have Canadian work experience. You must have had at least 1 year of full-time or equivalent part-time skilled work experience in Canada within the past 3 years.
Certain provinces and territories have also launched Express Entry streams called Provincial Nominee Programs. The Provincial Nominee Programs are for skilled workers who wish to move to a certain province of Canada, the eligibility requirements vary depending on the labour market needs of Canada’s provinces. Applicants who are granted provincial nominations are awarded 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, making it one of the easiest routes to be offered an invitation to apply for permanent residency.
How to apply for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry?
The Express Entry system is managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to apply online from the USA you will need to create an IRCC account. Once you have made your account, the application process is then split into two key steps.
Step 1 – You must first submit your Express Entry profile. To do this you must complete an online form with information about yourself and your skills, education, language ability, work experience and other details. If you are eligible for an immigration program under Express Entry then you will be entered into the Express Entry pool with other eligible candidates. You will be then be ranked by the points-based system.
Step 2 – The Canadian government will send an invitation to apply for permanent residence to the highest-scoring candidates. Once you have received your invitation you will have 60 days to apply to become a permanent resident. To apply you must fill out the online form and scan and upload all the required documents.
Once you have completed your application it will usually be processed within 6 months or less.
Required documents
When applying for Express Entry you will need to submit a substantial number of documents as both part of your Express Entry Profile and your application for permanent residence.
The documents that you will need for your profile include:
- A valid passport or travel document
- Your language test results
- An educational credential assessment report if you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Workers Program or wish to receive points for education you have completed outside of Canada.
- Your provincial nomination certificate if you have one
- A written job offer from a Canadian employer if you have one
- Proof of work experience
- A certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory if you have one
- proof of funds to support yourself in Canada
When applying to become a permanent resident you will need to submit the following documents:
- Police certificates
- Medical exams
- Proof of funds
You will also need to submit birth certificates if you are declaring any dependent children, if your dependent child is adopted you must also provide the adoption certificate. You may also be required to submit marriage, divorce or death certificates of spouses depending on your marital status.
How can Total Law help?
If you want to immigrate to Canada from the USA then our immigration lawyers can help you with your permanent residence application. The Express Entry process can be complex, but our lawyers will be there to support you throughout your application.
We can assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria for any of the economic immigration programs that fall under the Express Entry system. If you are eligible then we will help you to gather all of the documents required for your application and will assist you with completing your portfolio and permanent residence application form. Our lawyers will give you the best chance of success by ensuring your application is completed to the highest standard.
If you wish to move to Canada but you are not eligible for Express Entry then our lawyers can still help you. We also offer assistance with applications for a Canadian work permit, study permit, family sponsorship and more. For more information contact us today on +1 844 290 6312.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To qualify for express entry you must have at least 1 year of relevant work experience, be fluent in either English or French and have studied at a higher education level. As well as this, you must score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points for your profile. You will then need to obtain a high CRS score to be invited to apply for permanent residence. The maximum number of CRS points you can get is 1200 and generally, you will need to score over 450 to be invited to apply.
The Express Entry Pool is what eligible candidates are entered into if they meet the minimum requirements for Express Entry. Candidates are then selected from this pool and invited to apply to become a permanent resident of Canada. If entered into the pool you will be ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and only applicants with the highest scores are selected from the pool.
Having a good CRS score will increase your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency. Your CRS score is based on your skills, education, work experience, language ability and other factors. Just a few ways that you can increase your CRS score is by:
- Gaining more work experience in your chosen field
- Complete a relevant educational qualification
- Get a job offer from a Canadian employer
- Apply for express entry through a Provincial Nominee Program
Express Entry is one of the quickest ways to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Generally, your application will be processed within 6 months. The time it takes to submit an application varies from case to case. It’s important to remember that if you are invited to apply for permanent residency then you only have 60 days to submit your application.
A Canadian permanent resident holds similar rights to Canadian citizens. This includes the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely. Permanent residents can also apply to become a Canadian citizen after living in the country for a certain period of time.