What factors to take under consideration when applying for Canada Express Entry?

A scheme called Express Entry allows experienced and skilled employees to apply for permanent residency.

In 2023, there have been significant changes to the Express Entry draws held by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In order to better focus on Canada's economic needs and labor shortages, IRCC recently held a consultation meeting with members of the public and stakeholders.

What other things do you need to consider apart from the CRS score while applying for Express Entry?

Instead of just relying on a high CRS score, IRCC now intends to choose applicants by developing Express Entry categories that focus on important characteristics like educational background, professional experience, or fluency in an official language.

According to the IRCC, it is considering inviting Express Entry applicants based on their professional experience, industries in need of employees, whether they have previously lived in Canada as foreign individuals with work permits or international students, and their level of French Proficiency.

A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is assigned to applicants who submit an Express Entry application for permanent residency based on factors like their qualifications, age, and employment history. The highest scorers are shared Invitation to Apply (ITA).

What classifications are possible?

• The IRCC is thinking about adding a category for work experience in some professions that have a persistent labor shortage. Supervisors of food services, administrative assistants, financial auditors and accountants, retail sales supervisors, software engineers, designers, etc. are a few of these professions.
• According to the IRCC, an Express Entry selection category for overseas student graduates may be able to more effectively address pressing shortages. As a result, they think about giving overseas graduates permanent residency.
• The IRCC is thinking about establishing a category that would allow more temporary foreign employees to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry. Stakeholders expressed concern throughout the consultation that the supply of temporary foreign workers who can meet Canada's long-term labor demands is not keeping up with the current permanent residency pathways.
• The IRCC is also thinking about inviting individuals based on their French language proficiency. This can involve sending invites to candidates who speak French and those who are bilingual.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program are the three immigration channels via which skilled workers may apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system.