Canada’s Express Entry strives to make the process of immigration faster and simpler. While Express Entry is not a migration program, it is a system that controls applications of migration for its programs such as CEC – (Canadian Experience Class), and FSWP – (Federal Skilled worker Program). May you be qualified for both of the programs at the same time but you are not able to choose one of them to receive an invitation to apply through IRCC.
The reason behind that is that IRCC issue invitation to applicants which is based on the given order:
- CEC
- FSWP
- FSTP
So, if any candidate is qualified for all three programs, then they will get an invitation to CEC. If any candidate is qualified for CEC and FSWP then they are invited to CEC. If a candidate qualified for FSWP and FSTP and they will get invited for FSWP. As you see the CEC goes first, the reason behind this is these applicants are not required to demonstrate proof of settlement fund.
According to the statistical data, most candidates who apply for the CEC are within Canada and mostly foreign candidates are applied for the FSWP.
A comparison of each program’s eligibility is given below:
| Eligibility criteria | CEC | FSWP |
| Education | Not required | Secondary education is required. You are able to get more selection standard (FSW) points for your post-secondary education |
| Point grid | Not needed | Required |
| Valid Job offer | Not needed | Not required but you have to show FSW points if you have a job offer |
| Language | CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A CLB 5 for NOC B | |
| Evidence of settlement fund | Not required | Required for candidates without having a job valid offer. |
| Work experience type | Need Canadian Experience in NOC 0, A, or B. | Canadian and Foreign Experience. |
| Amount of work experience | Applicants required one year of experience in Canada in the past 3 years. | In the previous ten years, applicants had to have one year of Canadian experience. |
Eligibility criteria for CEC
The CEC Canadian Experience Class is a category for those Skilled workers who have a minimum of one year of work experience in Canada. This program is supervised under the system of Express Entry.
To become qualified for this program candidates, have to complete 1 year as a full-time worker. If you have volunteer experience then it will not be counted as your work experience. Candidates should be paid workers as well as had a legal work status in Canada.
Candidates must be qualified for the minimum level of language in English or French. Candidates have to take the approved language test which is based on the factors of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The validity duration of this test is only 2 years after the date of the result.
Eligibility for FSWP
Unlike the candidates of CEC, FSWP (Federal Skilled workers Programs) does not need work experience in Canada. Instead, FSWP candidates have to fulfill the requirement which is based on factors of work experience as skilled workers, education, and language ability.
The Skilled work Experience of candidates should be completed in the last 10 years. Also, candidates are required to meet a minimum of 1560 hours which can be calculated as:
- If you have full-time experience at one job: 30 hours per week for 12 months is equal to 1560 hours or one-year full-time experience.
- If you have part-time work experience: 15 hours per week for 24 months which is equal to 1-year full time (1560).
- If you hold full-time experience in more than one job: 30 hours per week for 12 months at a job which is equal to 1 year and completed 1560 hours.
The factors of language test ability depend on writing, reading, listening, and speaking as well as candidates have to score at least CLB 7 in English and French. Candidates have to be qualified for the minimum education requirements by showing that they have a high school diploma in Canada or other equivalent certificates. If any candidate completed their studies outside of Canada, then they must have an Educational Credential Assessment.
To meet the requirement candidates have to score 67 out of 100, this point grid is set by the IRCC for FSWP. The point grid is based on six factors that are work experience, a valid job offer in Canada, age, language skills in English & French, education, and adaptability.
According to IRCC weighing of each factor is given below:
- Education contains up to 25 points.
- Work experience contains up to 15 points.
- Language skills contain up to 28 points.
- Age contains up to 10 points.
- Adaptability contains up to 10 points.
- Valid employment contains up to 10 points.
This point grid is only used by the FSWP program.
The express entry draws for FSWP and CEC applications have started again.
Due to COVID-19, Canada has suspended Express Entry draws for CEC and FSWP applicants. After a pause of 18 months, IRCC conducted a full-fledged program express entry draw on 6 July. There are 1500 applicants who have scored a minimum of 557 were received the invitation.
In addition, the processing time for all new applications of express entry programs will fall back to the standard six months. Now the express entry draws the application of FSWP and CEC candidates will proceed in six months.
While we don’t have any idea about what the next express entry will look like, the IRCC will have to continue with all program draws to achieve its Express Entry goals on the immigration level plan for upcoming years.
