The top Express Entry Myths will enable aspiring PR applicants to get a better understanding of the working process of Express Entry.
The Express Entry pathway makes up more than fifty percent of Canadian Permanent Residence eligible for Canadian immigration. It is by far the most pre-dominant pathway because of its assurance to expedite the procedure, along with the increased immigration targets. Additionally, the path to permanent residence becomes more convenient than other immigration programs.
Moreover, those individuals who seek to permanently settle in this country will require to fulfill the eligibility criteria under any of its economic immigration streams. Even before its profile creation, it is a must to become well-acquainted with its eligibility requirements, application procedure, and program criteria to avoid inaccuracy.
Here are a few top Express Entry Myths that you must avoid multiplying your chances of Canadian immigration.
Myth 1- Canadian Express Entry is available for anyone to apply
Canada’s flexible and convenient immigration policies often encourage people to prefer Canada as their first choice when determining to settle abroad. Additionally, Express Entry’s easy application process also makes it one of the fast-track pathways. However, this doesn’t imply that just any individual can proceed to apply for it.
What this simply means is that Express Entry applicants are supposed to fulfill all essential requirements of at least one economic immigration stream.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires the aspiring candidate to meet specific requirements concerning their professional experience, language abilities, and educational qualification.
As far as professional experience is concerned, the foreign national will require to present continuous work experience of one year. This should be paid work and must be at least 1,560 hours within the last ten years. Besides this, work experience in a specific highly skilled occupation is crucial. Moreover, this must stand equivalent to an occupation under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Additionally, to demonstrate their language proficiency, they must take an approved language test in either French or English. They must show a CLB score of 7 or above that.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program
The foreign national must be able to display paid work experience of around two years, accounting for approx. 3,120 hours. Also, this work experience must be in a specific trade within the previous five years.
Besides this, a Canadian authority must issue a trade certificate or qualification concerning a trade. They must also possess an employment offer from an employer in Canada. The next requirement is language skills, demanding a CLB score of 5 under an approved French or English language test.
The Canadian Experience Class
Candidates must present one year of paid work experience in a skilled profession and a valid work permit. This implies that they will have to show their work experience for up to 1,560 hours. The minimum language proficiency requirement is mandatory for such applicants. They must ensure that they show the outcome of an approved French or English language test. This will apply to NOC.
Myth 2- All those applying for Canadian PR through Express Entry will obtain it
Countless people apply for Canadian Permanent Residence through Express Entry. However, this doesn’t indicate that all of them get their PR approval. Fulfilling the eligibility conditions of Express Entry immigration streams (any one of them) will only open your eligibility gateway to Express Entry’s profile creation. Creating this profile will only make you exist in the Express Entry pool. However, it doesn’t mean that submission of the Express Entry profile will be equivalent to applying for Canadian Permanent Residence.
The Express Entry profile comprises specific essential details including education, NOC code, work experience duration, language test outcomes, age, and a lot more.
Once an individual submits their Express Entry profile, the information they enter will help in the calculation of the CRS score. Furthermore, the candidate will receive a unique ranking based on their profile. Hereafter, in the following Express Entry draws, IRCC will provide a standard cut-off under the Comprehensive Ranking System. These draws usually take place once every two weeks.
IRCC analyzes whether their CRS score is equivalent to the cut-off or above it. In both these cases, candidates will receive an ITA for Canadian PR. Only top-scoring candidates receive higher these invitations to apply.
Myth 3- Express Entry is the only pathway for a successful Canadian PR
Several potential newcomers stand by the belief that being disqualified for Express Entry indicates their inability to acquire Canadian Permanent Residence.
Although Express Entry is a prominent pathway with its three primary economic streams, yet 50 percent of individuals who obtain Canadian PR use other immigration programs or pathways.
They’re as follows:
- PNP– Provincial Nominee Programs enable Canadian provinces to choose new immigrants based on numerous factors. These range from essential skills, experience, and qualifications to bridge the urgent labor force needs.
- Atlantic Immigration Program– Foreign skilled workers and international graduates will potentially settle in any of the Atlantic Canadian provinces. These include New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
- The Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers program will enable eligible foreign skilled workers to settle in Quebec permanently.
- Family Sponsorship– The Family Sponsorship program enables spouses, partners, parents, and grandparents of those holding Canadian PR to access PR sponsorship under it.
- RNIP– The Rural Northern Immigration Pilot program motivates new immigrants to permanently reside in the Canadian participating communities.
- Start-Up Visa– Entrepreneurs can begin their own venture using the Start-Up Visa program. They might even invest in or purchase a larger business to become eligible for Canadian PR.
Top Express Entry myths- It is mandatory to possess a Canadian employment offer for Express Entry eligibility
To gain eligibility for Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker program or Canadian Experience Class, you don’t necessarily need to have a work offer from a Canadian business. You must have a job offer from a Canadian employer or certification from a federal, provincial, or territorial regulatory body gain eligibility to apply under the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
A legitimate employment offer from a Canadian business, however, is worth between 50 and 200 CRS points. These extra points might considerably increase your chances of being eligible for permanent residence because the Express Entry program bears a tough competency level. Also, arriving in Canada with a job in hand can facilitate settling into your new residence.
Myth 5- Express Entry doesn’t necessarily require the language scores
To demonstrate their ability in at least one of Canada’s official languages—French or English—all Express Entry candidates must show up for a language exam that has been approved. Even though it is common knowledge that language proficiency is a criterion, many candidates are unaware of how their language proficiency may impact their ability to obtain permanent residency.
They must attain the minimum qualifying Comprehensive Language Benchmark (CLB) score necessary for your program to be eligible for Express Entry. For the FSTP, a minimum language score of CLB 5 for reading and writing and CLB 4 for speaking and hearing are acceptable. For the FSWP, they must have a minimum CLB 7 across all four language abilities. CLB 5 or 7, depending on the language, is the minimum-score requirement for CEC.
Language proficiency scores, however, go beyond being a mere requirement. If their language score exceeds the minimum threshold, they can also earn extra CRS points. Consequently, this will increase their likelihood of being invited to submit a PR application. You can always repeat the language test if your first score is low to raise your CLB level. Furthermore, it would increase your chances of PR eligibility.
Myth 6- A reduced CRS score has zero improvement chances
One of the most common myths related to Express Entry is that people often feel that they can’t improve their CRS score. They believe that acquiring a low CRS score will remain the same and they won’t be able to enhance it after their profile submission. Contrarily, after submitting the profile, it stays relevant for one year. Therefore, during this period, individuals can make amendments to their profiles and even update new information.
A few ways to improve the CRS score include obtaining an employment letter from a Canadian employer, receiving a provincial nomination, and ECA submission, along with approved French or English language outcomes.
The government’s CRS calculator will be able to provide you with a predictable score. This is even before the Express Entry profile creation. Moreover, this will also provide candidates with an authentic evaluation of their opportunities to qualify for Permanent Residence. Besides this, they will also acquire more time to enhance their CRS scores over time.
If there’s no urgency concerning the PR application process, individuals can also opt for other pathways. These could include temporarily pursuing Canadian education to enhance their CRS score.
Myth 7- Express Entry offers a lottery system
There is a misconception among some immigrants that candidates from the Express Entry pool are chosen for PR at random or through a lottery. This is not the situation in Canada. After their Express Entry profile submission, the data in their profile determines their CRS score.
Every two weeks, an invitation round, often referred to as a draw, is conducted to determine the minimum CRS cut-off required for an ITA for PR. The number of applicants within the Express Entry pool, their test results, and the quantity of ITAs to be distributed in the draw are some of the variables that affect the cut-off. Moreover, they will receive an invitation to submit a PR application if their score is above the cutoff.
The candidates earning an ITA are chosen using a tie-breaking mechanism when many candidates have a score exactly equal to the cut-off. Even then, a random drawing is not used to decide the tiebreaker. Instead, candidates with prior profile submissions before a particular date and time gain priority.
Myth 8- Express Entry profile update is not possible after submission
Numerous PR applicants have no idea about the fact that they can still update their profiles even after submission. While an Express Entry profile is still active, candidates can update their profile with relevant information. This applies to the period until their profile is valid and they are yet to receive an ITA.
Moreover, IRCC demands the candidates keep their profiles updated throughout. In the case of any personal changes, they must update the information. Furthermore, this change could be related to higher education level, another language test, marital status, or a job change.
However, if IRCC considers you ineligible, you will not be able to modify the profile. The same applies in case of an invalid profile or after receiving an invitation to apply for PR.
Top Express Entry myths- Express Entry application is present just for one month (myth- 9)
If an applicant applied for Express Entry in the past but failed to attain an ITA, they can still proceed to apply for it again. The only condition will be that they must fulfill all essential criteria. Also, there is no standard limitation on the number of times an applicant can submit their Express Entry application. One doesn’t have to pay for an Express Entry profile submission.
However, applicants must ensure that their CRS score is higher than the standard cut-off because this will eventually lead them to receive an ITA for PR.
Once they receive a lower CRS score, they must work toward improving their score. Additionally, applicants must remember that once they turn 29+ years, their age points will keep declining every year. The candidates who are 45 years old or beyond will get zero points for their age factor. Supposedly, if their remaining factors remain constant, their CRS score will decline automatically.
Myth 10- Providing false information on your Express Entry to gain eligibility is fine
A serious offense, lying or making false statements on your Express Entry application can result in your expulsion from Canada or a ban on entry.
Although you only need to include the bare minimum of information in your Express Entry profile, once you receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to submit all necessary supporting documentation, such as your academic records and credentials, letters attesting to your work experience, the results of your language tests, and bank statements. The candidate information and the legitimacy of your papers are both thoroughly verified by the IRCC.
Your application will be denied and you risk being barred from entering Canada for several years if your information or documentation is false or fraudulent. You won’t qualify for Canadian permanent residency. Also, there will be a permanent mention of the occurrence in your immigration file. People may have their PR status revoked and face deportation from Canada in the rare instances where a falsehood is discovered after an immigration application is approved.
Top Express Entry myths- new PRs require to submit their settlement funds to the Canadian government
Potential newcomers have another misconception related to Express Entry. Many of them believe that they will have to pay yet another Express Entry fee in the form of settlement funds to IRCC. In reality, this isn’t true because settlement funds are supposed to be with the applicant only. Conversely, the Canadian government is only interested in knowing whether the applicants are capable enough to financially assist their accompanying family members and themselves. They must be able to assist themselves and afford Canadian living expenditures.
Overall, Canada’s low-income cut-off determines the minimum requirement of settlement funds. Moreover, this calculation applies to the six months in one year. The key factors like the city you will be residing in and the kind of lifestyle you will be living will lead you to understand the additional expenditure.
Conclusion
You might be confused about the immigration procedure or have questions about the Express Entry system as a potential new immigrant to Canada. To increase your possibilities of selection and make sure you satisfy all requirements for permanent residence in Canada, it is crucial to do your homework and educate yourself about the immigration program you are interested in before applying.
