1) A candidate must make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada. If the candidate is eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programs, their application will be put in the Express Entry pool.
Language proficiency required
Candidates eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program will have to undergo an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
2) Invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residency will be given to some of the applications in the pool.
Once candidates have been selected from the pool they will need to complete the immigration process, which includes health and security checks. Applications will be processed in six months or less.
Highlights of the Express Entry System:
Eligible occupations lists will no longer be used
There will not be separate pools for specific programs, therefore all eligible candidates enter the same pool
The entire process comprising step one and two above will be done online
Candidates' profiles as ranked by the CRS can be updated by working to remove deficiencies while the candidate's application is in the Express Entry pool.
Severe penalties will be imposed on the application for any misrepresentation
Applicants will have only 60 days to file a complete application after an invitation to apply for immigration is received
No second opportunity will be given to file an application if an applicant fails to submit a complete application and provide all supporting documents after accepting an invitation to apply
If an applicant declines the invitation to apply within the 60-day period, the remaining portion of the original one-year period of their inclusion in the Express Entry pool of candidates continues to apply. However, there is no guarantee of being issued another invitation to apply.
Candidates may hire an immigration lawyer or consultant registered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) to represent them throughout the Express Entry process.
Skilled Workers – Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Note: This Line of immigration is eligible for Express Entry as of January 1, 2015
Many candidates interested in immigrating to Canada still qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program category. There are two ways to fit into this line:
You should either have at least one year of work experience in a qualified occupations*.
You should have in hand an arranged permanent employment offer from a Canadian employer in Canada from the list of qualified occupations*
(*Note - The list of qualified occupations has been updated by CIC, May 1, 2014 - find more info online.)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Note: Some candidates for this Line of immigration are eligible for Express Entry.
Canada encourages applications for permanent residence from people with abilities, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provincial governments to choose immigrants according to the economic needs of the province. Each province establishes its own standards and processes by which it chooses its nominees and tries to nominate those candidates who would be most likely to settle effectively into the economic and social life of the region.
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
1. Employer Driven Stream
Skilled Worker Category (NOC 0, A, B) applicant should have a permanent, full time job offer from a Canadian employer.
2. International Graduate
Applicant should (be); Graduated from a minimum 2 year undergraduate program or 1 year graduate program, have valid open-work permit, related to the program of study and have a 6 months of full time work experience with the same employer under the post graduate work permit.
3. Semi-Skilled Worker Category (NOC C, D)
Only five industries & some jobs are eligible to apply under this category.
4. SRS - Strategic Recruitment Stream
Compulsory and Optional Trade; applicant should have an AIT - Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training certificate, currently working in his/her trade with an Alberta employer or have at least have had worked six months within the past two years with an Alberta employer.
Engineering Occupations; Applicant should be an engineer, designer or drafter with Alberta work experience.
Self Employed Farmer Stream; Applicant who needs to come to Alberta to establish or purchase a farming business.
For additional information about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, see the Alberta Canada website.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Note: This Line of immigration is eligible for Express Entry.
Landing temporary foreign workers (TFW) or foreign students with skilled work experience in Canada can apply for permanent residency in Canada. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) has been created to help people like this take part in the Canadian economy.
Applicants should meet the following requirements to apply under CEC;
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 applying (Note: Full-time work means at least 30 hours of paid work per week.)
have gained experience in Canada with proper authorization
meet the required language levels needed for job for each language ability ( reading, speaking, writing, and listening)
Skilled work experience - According to the NOC, skilled work experience means:
Managerial jobs (NOC skill type 0)
Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)
Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)
LMIA Labour Market Impact Assessment & Worker Permits*
Live-In Caregiver Visa or PR Permanent Residency
*Note: The Government of Canada has revised the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) through a balanced set of reforms to ensure that employers put Canadian workers first. For more information about the TFWP, see the Government of Canada Employment and Social Development website.
Parents & Grandparents Super Visa
Visas + Permits Extension & Restoration
Applications for Permanent Resident Cards
Citizenship Applications
Bill C-6, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act and make consequential amendments to another Act, received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017.
Key changes include:
Reducing the physically present in Canada requirement from four out of six years, to three out of five years; Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before applying for citizenship.
Removing the requirement that applicants must demonstrate that they intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship; Applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship.
Allowing applicants to partially count days spent in Canada, prior to becoming a permanent resident. Applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
Some of the changes will take immediate effect, while others will take effect at later dates to ensure a smooth transition for applicants.
