With the new Express Entry system in place, Ottawa immigration lawyers can now compare and contrast this new system with the previous Canadian Experience Class.

Prior to the release of the Express Entry system, Citizenship and Immigration Canada provided multiple assurances that Express Entry would in no way change the Canadian Experience Class. The announcements reiterated that the Express Entry will be simply a faster electronic way to process these applications, and will not change the program requirements:

“Express Entry is not a new immigration program; it is a new way for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to manage economic immigration applications online.” (Source)

“Will Express Entry change immigration program requirements?
No. Express Entry will not change immigration program requirements. Express Entry is not a new program. It is a new way for Citizenship and Immigration Canada to manage the intake of economic immigration applications online.” (Source)

The chart below sets out in some detail the requirements pertaining to the two systems, illustrating the significant differences between the two systems.

Canadian Experience Class vs. Express Entry Canadian Experience Class: A Comparison Chart

  Canadian Experience Class Express Entry
Objective To provide individuals with Canadian experience an opportunity to remain in Canada permanently To provide a fast processing for CEC applicants, based on a 1,200 points system
Points No point system 1,200 points:
  •  600 for Provincial Nomination or an LMIA approved job offer
  • 600 points for education, experience, adaptability age etc.
Minimum points Not applicable CIC has had 4 draws, with the lowest invitation being issued to an individual with 735 points (meaning they were either nominated by a province or had an LMIA approved job offer)
  •  It is unknown whether any future draws will go below the 600 point mark, allowing individuals without a job offer or a PNP nomination to qualify
Minimum requirements
  • have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before you apply,
  • have gained your experience in Canada with the proper authorization,
  • meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing and listening),
  • plan to live outside the province of Quebec.
  • have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before you apply,
  • have gained your experience in Canada with the proper authorization,
  • meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing and listening),
  • plan to live outside the province of Quebec.
Skilled work The Applicant must have experience in skilled categories NOC 0, A or B The Applicant must have experience in skilled categories NOC 0, A or B
Canadian education Not required Helps earn additional points
Age Not relevant Candidates earn points based on their age
Job offer Not required An LMIA approved job offer or a provincial nomination is required to reach at least half of the necessary points
Cost Regular application fees apply Regular application fees +cost of LMIA for employer (about $2000) or cost of PNP application (Usually between $1,500 and $2,000)
Who pays the cost Applicant is responsible for paying his fees Applicant is responsible for paying his fees and either employer is responsible for paying LMIA costs, or applicant is responsible for paying his or hers PNP fees
Processing times 12 months 6 months or less
Will CIC contact me? CIC would contact both positive and negative applicants CIC will only contact positive applicants and will remove the applications that were not selected from its data base after 12 months
Predictability of outcome High, if the applicant met all the requirements of the program, and was not ineligible in any other way, most of the time he would be offered permanent residence. Low, there is no guarantee which applicants will be selected or when they would be selected.

If you require assistance in applying for this new permanent residency category, be sure to contact your Ottawa immigration lawyers.

 

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