For those skilled workers who have work experience in Canada and want to transition to permanent residence, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) has provided an immigration route since 2008.
After a temporary pause from September 2021, the Express Entry Invitation Rounds for CEC candidates are going to start again in July.
CEC (Canadian Experience Class) program is managed through the Express Entry system. Those applicants who will fulfill all the requirements for this program will get CRS score points. Every two weeks CEC programs will be held by the IRCC. Applicants who get a high score in the pool are invited for migrating to Canada.
The step-by-step guide is given below on how can you apply for Canadian PR through CEC.
Step 1: fulfill the eligibility criteria for CEC
Those who want to be eligible for the CEC then you must fulfill the following requirement:
- Applicants must have a minimum of one year’s technical or professional work experience in Canada.
- Applicants must be under the benchmark of Canadian Language (CLB) 5 or CLB 7 for NOC job B,0, or A levels.
- Those applicants who have Quebec work Experience and planning to live or work outside the province then they can apply under the Quebec Experience Class.
Candidates who have 12 months of work experience in Canada. It is counted as 1560 hours which is obtained through full-time working as full-time or part-time employment. Self-employment work experience is not counted under the CEC.
Applicants can reside in Canada during the entire application process. Those applicants who are no longer in Canada can also apply through the CEC for Canadian PR. Candidate has to submit their application within three years of quitting their job in Canada.
Step 2: Create your profile in Express Entry through the website of IRCC
Go to the government website of Canada for creating an IRCC secure account and follow the given instructions. Create an Express Entry profile by entering your details and personal reference code if you have one.
You have only 60 days to submit your Express Entry profile otherwise you have to start again.
Once you submit your profile it is figured out by IRCC for which program your profile is suitable and places you in the Express Entry pool with other applicants who are also eligible for the same program. Score points will be based on the age, education, work experience, and language ability of the candidate.
Step 3: Receive ITA for Canadian PR
If you think that completing an online Express Entry profile is enough to get an invitation to apply for Canadian PR then you are wrong. You have to score higher to fulfill the minimum requirements in the given Express Entry draw.
when you received ITA for Canadian PR by IRCC then you will have to complete the application within 60 days before entering the Express Entry draw which is held by IRCC every two weeks.
Step 4: Apply for migration after receiving the ITA
When you receive an ITA, a message will be sent by the IRCC in which you will for which program you are invited and what you have to do next. Candidates are automatically invited through the system for applying under programs such as PNP (Provincial Nominee Program), FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program), CEC (Canadian Experience Class), and FSTP (Federal Skilled Trade Program).
You may be asked for proof of the information that you submitted at the time of making your profile in Express Entry. If your information is different from the information, you provided or if there is an important detail you forgot to fill out then they will reject your application.
It is recommended by IRCC that you should check the program’s criteria that you are invited to apply to ensure that you are still eligible for the program. If your situation changes then you may have to recalculate your score. If your recalculation score is less than the minimum score then your application will decline by IRCC.
If your invitation is rejected then you will put it back into the pool of Express Entry but if you are still eligible then you will be considered for a future round of invitations.
IRCC will take out your profile from the Express Entry pool if you don’t respond to your ITA within 60 days.
Another way to migrate
Another important immigration program is the PNP. According to the 2022-2024 Immigration Level Plan, the aim of Canada is to accept more than 80,000 applicants each year over the upcoming three years. In addition, IRCC is still conducting Express Entry Draw every two weeks for PNP applicants.
You may be invited to apply for the provincial nominee program if your profile is already in the pool of Express Entry. You will receive 600 points if you get nominated.
Conclusion
The Canadian Experience Class has become a more attractive and important program for applicants since its launch in 2008. Last year was a third of the record 405,000 landings.
At the beginning of this summer, for PGWP (post-Graduation work permit) holders, a new work permit will be offered by IRCC which will give them a greater chance of becoming eligible for the CEC.
