On January 1, 2015, the Canadian Government and Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduced a new express entry system for processing applications for permanent residency. Canadian immigration lawyers realize that this not really a new immigration program, but rather an expedited process for choosing candidates through existing programs. People seeking residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class Program now have the option to submit their application through the express entry system, with or without the aid of a Canadian immigration lawyer, and a specific express entry points system will determine their candidacy.
So how effective is this new program? According to the first permanent resident to gain status through the program, it can run quite smoothly if you are chosen. Within several days of its launch, Irish citizen Emma Hughes applied for express entry. She was drawn from the pool of applicants on January 31, submitted her full application on February 5, and was granted permanent resident status on March 26. Hughes, a chemist who works for a company producing renewable bio-fuels, had a score of 1094.
While this result is promising, Canadian immigration lawyers note that it is still very dependent on the points system that grades candidacy, and in particular, the Applicant’s ability to either have an LMIA approved job offer or a provincial nomination (to be granted 600 out of 1200 points). Applicants are awarded points out of a total of 1,200, for meeting criteria in employable skills, work experience, language proficiency, age, education, and marital status (which simply affects how many points are given for other criteria). However, in order to obtain 600 of the 1200 points, applicants must also have been accepted for a job approved by the Labour Market Impact Assessment or a provincial nomination through one of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Like any new system, express entry has both positive and negative impacts, according to Canadian immigration lawyers. While wait times for approval have been significantly shortened, the odds of approval are also significantly decreased. Besides the points system, it appears that there is an element of luck. Canadian immigration lawyers recommend that before you consider taking the express entry route, you make sure that you meet all of the qualifications, using available data on the ranking system to ensure that you meet the proper criteria.
If you are considering applying for permanent residency for the express entry program, don’t hesitate to enlist the aid of a Canadian immigration lawyer. They have the expertise necessary to help you submit your candidacy and help you navigate every step of the process for the best possible results.
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.