Looking to work in Canada? Take The Express Entry

Canada is one of the most accommodating countries for foreigners. It may not match its cousin United States in size and opportunities but it surely presents a lucrative option for willing immigrants who value stability, peace of mind and a good quality of life. Canada is one of the most preferred destinations for Indians with around 25,000-30,000 Indians migrating to Canada every year.

To work in Canada, you either need a Permanent residency or a temporary work permit. To obtain a work permit it is safe to assume that you would need a job offer from a Canadian employer. In most cases this job offer must be an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) approved job offer. An LMIA is necessary to prove that a foreign worker is being offered the job on in the scenario when there isn’t a Canadian citizen or resident available to fulfill the requirement. It can really be a tough ask to get an LMIA approved job offer, as it requires the employer to go through a lot of legal requirements such as posting a job on job portals and wait for a certain period to receive applications, short-list and determine to be certain that they haven’t found a suitable match. If however, a work permit is granted it is a shorter route to visit Canada and work there.

On the other hand a Permanent Residency offers you an opportunity to visit Canada, settle there as a resident and look for an opportunity to work. While having a job in advance increases your chances of getting the PR status, it is not a mandatory requirement.

Earlier, to get a PR status in Canada used to take years with huge waiting periods on first-come first-served basis. However, the Canadian government introduced the Express Entry system in 2014 to grant the PR status to deserving candidates within six months.

How Express Entry System in Canada Works?

The Express Entry System manages applications for PR under the following federal economic immigration programs

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who.asp)
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/apply-who.asp)
• The Canadian Experience Class (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/apply-who.asp)

Immigration through the Express Entry Program is a 2 step process

Step 1: – Complete an online Express Entry Profile

You are required to complete an online profile through which you provide the Canadian government information on your

• Skills
• Work Experience
• Language Ability
• Education and
• Any other detail that can help them assess your eligibility

If you meet the criterial you would be accepted as a candidate into something called an Express Entry Pool. Please note that acceptance to the Express Entry Pool doesn’t mean that you have been accepted as a PR applicant. When you are accepted in the Express Entry Pool you also get a score on your profile.  If you don’t already have an LMIA approved job offer you must also register with Employment and Social Development Canada’s job bank. Job bank helps candidates connect with eligible employers in Canada, hence offering you a better chance at successfully settling as an Immigrant.

Step 2 – Invitation to Apply

Candidates in the Express Entry pool receive points / score based on their profiles using a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System; and the highest ranking candidates in the pool get an invite to apply for the PR in one of the categories for which she or he is eligible. The candidates get 60 days from the Invitation date to complete the online application and submit all documents to apply for the PR status.

The candidates can remain in the pool for a period of 12 months and if they don’t get an invite within that period they must re-enter the pool by creating a new profile.

The Comprehensive Ranking System

Candidates receive points based on various factors. Any candidate can receive a maximum of 1200 points. Single candidates receive points just based on their own profiles but married candidates’ points are co-earned based on their own and their spouse’s profile. The maximum points for various criteria is as followed

Additional Factors:

• Arranged Employment with positive LMIA – 600
• Provincial Nomination – 600

As you can see a person with a job offer or a Provincial nomination has a clear edge as she gets an additional 600 points. To take a look at the detailed Point System visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/express-entry/grid-crs.asp#a1

Document Checklist

Once you receive an Invitation to apply under the Express Entry System, you have 60 days to complete the application and submit the documents as requested by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. However, some of the documents can take longer than expected to arrange, e.g. Police Clearance Certificate and Medical Reports etc. While every individual receives a personalized checklist of documents based on the category he or she has been invited under, some of the commonly requested documents that you should keep prepared are as follows:

1. Copy of passport/travel document bio data page:

• A clear and legible copy of the bio data page must be available

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner
• Their accompanying dependent children

2. Proof of work experience:

• a reference or experience letter from the employer
  • should be an official document printed on company letterhead (must include the applicant’s name, the company’s contact information [address, telephone number and e-mail address], and the name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor or personnel officer at the company);
  • should indicate all positions held while employed at the company and must include the following details: job title, duties and responsibilities, job status (if current job), dates worked for the company, number of work hours per week and annual salary plus benefits.
• if the work experience is in Canada, proof may include copies of T4 tax information slips, Notices of Assessment (NOA) and Option C printouts issued by the Canada Revenue Agency – This document can be obtained by calling (free-of-charge) Revenue Canada at 1-800-959-8281. Only applicable if you have filed taxes in Canada. (the time period for these documents should reflect the work experience timeframe, e.g., work experience from 2006 to 2008 requires only documents from those calendar years).
• if the applicant is self-employed, articles of incorporation or other evidence of business ownership, evidence of self-employment income, and documentation from third-party individuals indicating the service provided along with payment details (self-declared main duties or affidavits are not acceptable proof of self-employed work experience).

Individuals who must submit this documentation:

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner (if work experience in Canada is claimed)

3. Proof of funds:

• Official letter(s) from financial institution(s) which list all current bank and investment accounts, as well as outstanding debts such as credit cards and loans.
  • The letter(s) must be printed on the letterhead of the financial institution and must include applicant’s name, the contact information of the financial institution (address, telephone number and e-mail address), the account numbers, dates of when each account was opened and the current balance of each account as well as the average balance in the past six months.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant

4. Copy of birth certificate or other equivalent document

• This document is required only if the applicant identifies dependent children.
• The document must be one of the following:
  • birth certificate;
  • equivalent document from birth country; or
  • letter of explanation (where no birth certificate is available in the country).

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• All the dependent children, including non-accompanying

5. Proof of studies

• proof of having completed a Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational program; orobtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) along with proof of the foreign educational credentials for which points are being claimed.
• Proof of completed Canadian or foreign educational credentials can include copies of
  • secondary or post-secondary education documents (certificates, diplomas or degrees); and
  • transcripts for successfully completed secondary or post-secondary studies, if available.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner

6. Provincial or territorial certificate of qualification

• This document is only requested if the applicant indicates they have a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification.
• A copy of the certificate of qualification is required.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner

7. Letter of offer from the employer

• This document is only required if the applicant claims to have a qualifying offer of arranged employment.
• A letter from the employer(s) offering the job in Canada is required:
  • the letter must be printed on company letterhead and include applicant’s name, the company’s contact information (address, telephone number and email address), the name, title and signature of the applicant’s proposed immediate supervisor or personnel officer;
  • the letter must include the following details: expected start date, commitment that the applicant will be employed on a permanent, full-time (non-seasonal) basis, job title, duties and responsibilities, current job status (if current job), number of work hours per week and annual salary plus benefits.
• The associated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)number is requested as part of the application.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant

8. Evidence of common-law union and cohabitation

• This documentation is only requested when marital status is listed as common-law.
• The applicant must submit a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Unionform [IMM 5409 (PDF, 647.96 KB)] and evidence of cohabitation for a period of at least 12 continuous months.

• Evidence of cohabitation includes but is not limited to
  • copies of joint bank account statements;
  • copies of leases;
  • utility bills.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant

9. Marriage certificate

• This document is only requested when marital status is listed as married.
• The marriage must be valid under the law of the country where it took place and under Canadian law.
  • A marriage performed in an embassy or consulate must comply with the law of the host country where it took place, not the country of nationality of the embassy or consulate.
• If the applicant married in Canada, a copy of the marriage certificate issued by the province or territory where the marriage took place must be provided.
• If the applicant married outside Canada, a copy of a legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the marriage took place must be provided.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant

10. Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement

• The divorce certificate is only requested when marital status is listed as divorced.
• If the applicant divorced in Canada, a copy of the divorce order or certificate of divorce issued by the province or territory where the divorce took place must be provided.
• If the applicant divorced outside Canada, a copy of a legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the divorce took place must be provided.
• A copy of the legal separation agreement must be provided, if available.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner

11. Death certificate

• This document is only requested when marital status is listed as widowed.
• A copy of a death certificate, executorships or other legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the death occurred must be provided.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant

12. Adoption certificate

• This document is only requested when dependent child status is listed as adopted.
• A copy of the adoption certificate, legal adoption papers, and/or other relevant documents issued by the country, the territory or the region that formalized the adoption must be provided.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The dependent children, including non-accompanying

13. Other documents

Proof of relationship to relative in Canada, status of relative in Canada, and residence status of relative in Canada

• This documentations is required if the applicant indicates that they, or their spouse or common-law partner, have a family member in Canada who is a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen.
• A copy of bothsides of the family member’s Canadian citizenship document, Canadian birth certificate and/or permanent resident card must be provided.
• Evidence that the family member currently resides in Canada must be provided through documents such as a residential lease, mortgage documents, utility bills, etc.
  • The documents should be current to the six months prior to submission.
• Proof of the relationship of the applicant or the spouse or common-law partner to the family member must also be provided through documents such as a birth certificate, an official document naming the applicant as a parent, a copy of the inside back cover of the relative’s passport showing the relative’s parents.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner

14. Digital photos

• Digital photos meeting CIC’s permanent resident card photo specifications (PDF, 3.25 MB)must be provided.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner
• Their dependent children, including non-accompanying

15. Other name

• This documentation is requested if the applicant indicates having used another name (e.g., a maiden name).
• The applicant must provide information and/or documentation on the use of this other name (e.g., through a letter of explanation, legal documents of a name change).

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner
• Their dependent children, including non-accompanying

16. Medical examination confirmation

• Either the information printout sheet or the Upfront Medical Reportform [IMM 1017B], whichever the panel physician provides upon completion of the medical examination.

• Click on link, below, and enter your country/province/state for a list of medical practitioners in your area. Please contact their office for an appointment and request for a list of documents they will require to perform your immigration medical examinations. You will be required to pay a fee for their services.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/pp-md/pp-list.aspx

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner
• Their dependent children, including non-accompanying

17. Police certificates

• As part of a complete application, applicants, their spouse or common-law partner and their dependent children 18 years of age or older (including non-accompanying dependants) must submit a valid PC for all countries or territories (except Canada) in which they have lived consecutively for six months or more, since the age of 18.

Note: This includes the requirement to provide a PC for countries in which the individual has traveled for six months or more, whether or not the individual had an established residential address during this time.

Please click on link, below, for country specific instructions in applying for police clearances.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp

• For the applicant’s current country of residence, the PC must be issued no more than six months before submission of the e-APR.
• For countries in which the applicant no longer resides, the PC must be issued later than the departure date of the last time the client resided in that country for more than six months.
• In some circumstances, CIC must ask for the PC on behalf of the applicant. In some circumstances (e.g., New Zealand), a client must complete a consent form to initiate a PC. There are specific documents required of the applicant for such requests and they must be submitted as part of the complete application.

PCs are typically valid for one year from the date they are issued.

For the applicant’s current country of residence, the PC must be issued no more than six months before submission of the e-APR.

For countries in which the applicant no longer resides, the PC must be issued later than the departure date of the last time the client resided in that country for more than six months.

Exceptional circumstances

Some countries require that the applicant complete a consent form to initiate a PC. For example, an applicant from New Zealand must download and complete the Consent to Disclosure of Information (NZ) form available on the CIC website. The form is then uploaded (with any other PCs the applicant may provide) as part of the e-APR. If the application is not rejected as incomplete, the processing office will assess the consent form and electronic file and initiate the PC.

The officer’s discretion may be required in assessing whether PCs that do not fall within standard CIC parameters may still be required to process the application. For instance, the war in Syria has made it extremely difficult for former residents to obtain a PC; officers may need to use discretion on how to best fulfill this admissibility requirement.

Some countries will not issue PCs to applicants, and instead will only communicate directly with the relevant Canadian authorities. In such cases, existing CIC procedures to obtain documentation should be followed.

In exceptional circumstances, some applicants may experience delays in obtaining PCs within the 60-calendar-day timeframe allocated to submit a complete e-APR. In such situations, applicants should submit a letter of explanation as part of their application and include proof of having requested a PC (e.g., a copy of the receipt obtained when they requested the PC from the prescribed authority). The officer’s discretion may be required in assessing whether PCs that do not fall within these time limits are valid and reliable for the purpose of evaluating admissibility.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner
• Their dependent children 18 years of age or older, including non-accompanying

18. Translation of documents

If a supporting document is in a language other than English or French, the applicant must provide CIC with a copy of the original document as well as a version translated by a certified translator.

It is always better to be prepared in advance and the above detailed document checklist for Canadian Express Entry should cover most of the documents requested by CIC. The documents that usually take more time to get are: Police Certificates, Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) and Medical Certificates.

Process of Immigrating and trying to settle into a new country can be overwhelming. The especially tough part is to get accustomed to the new culture and find a meaningful career. It always helps to do a short-term educational course from a Canadian Institute to get a decent job. Best is to get a job offer even before getting the PR. With the advent of technology and practically everything online, you shouldn’t leave any stone unturned in your efforts to build your connections and do your research even before you land as an immigrant. If the prospect of working abroad excites you, keep checking this space as we’ll soon come up with details on working in another Career destination. If you have any queries regarding Working in Canada, do leave a comment and we would definitely try to resolve it to best of our abilities.