Immigration

I. Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry):

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program is for people who are selected to immigrate to Canada because of their work experience and skills. Skilled workers may immigrate to Canada through one of the many federal or provincial immigration programs.

Since this program has minimum requirements for skilled worker experience, language ability, and education, a candidate must meet all the minimum requirements to be eligible. The applications of such candidates are then assessed based on factors including age, education, work experience, whether they have a valid job offer, English and/or French language skills, and adaptability using a 100-point grid (the current pass marks of which is 67 points).

There are no limitations on the number of applicants that will be accepted to the Express Entry pool. The immigration authorities select only the top ranking candidates, who are then issued invitations to apply for permanent residence.

Candidates must note that skilled work experience means that you’ve worked in one of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups:

• Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
• Professional jobs (skill level A)
• Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)

You must show that while working in your primary occupation, you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed. Your skilled experience must be in the same type of job as the job you want to use for your immigration application (called your primary occupation), within the last 10 years, should have been paid work, and should have been at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week).

Apart from this, candidates must take approved language tests in English or French and get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities of writing, reading, listening and speaking.

You are also required to have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school.

At Gate2Maple, we assist you from day one in assessing your profile, getting your documents ready, submitting your profile and following up until you hear from the visa office.

III. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry

The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents of Canada.

The minimum requirements that each candidate needs in order to apply under this category include:

• Meeting language levels (CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, or CLB 5 for NOC B jobs),
• Having at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work has to have been full-time, or an equal amount in part-time,
• Having gained your work experience by working in Canada legally.

According to the Canadian National Occupation Classification, skilled work experience means jobs and trades that fall under skill level O, skill type A, and skill type B (as mentioned above). Please note that self-employment and work experience gained while being a full-time student doesn’t count under this program.

While CEC requires no educational qualification, you can get additional points and improve your rank in the Express Entry pool by getting your educational credentials assessed from an approved agency.

Each province and territory in Canada has its own streams (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. The Provincial Nominee Program is for workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory. Those who want to become permanent residents of Canada and want to live in that province can apply under the PNP.

Depending on which PNP stream you’re applying to, you might need to apply using the paper-based process, or by the online process through Express Entry.

In the paper-based process, you need to apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream. If the province nominates you and you meet its eligibility requirements, you will submit a paper application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Please note that application processing times are longer than through Express Entry.

On the other hand, in the online Express Entry process, you contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under an Express Entry stream. If the province or territory agrees to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile and show that you have been nominated. Or, you can also create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you are interested in. If a province or territory sends you a ‘notification of interest’ to your account, you contact them directly. You can then apply to their Express Entry stream, and if you’re nominated, the province will offer it to you through your account and you accept it electronically.

In both cases, you must meet the eligibility requirements of the province or territory, and submit an Express Entry profile and show that you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for one of the immigration programs that it covers. If you’re invited to apply, you submit an electronic application to IRCC.

To choose a province or territory, you must follow the instructions on their website and contact them directly:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Candidates who do not have job offers can be supported by the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) if necessary. They must enrol with Canada’s Employment and Social Development Agency for job opportunities, which will help connect the Express Entry candidates with suitable employers in Canada.

Through this entire process that starts with free evaluation, we, at Gate2Maple, assist and represent you while preparing all relevant documents and submitting your application. Up till you hear from the visa office, our expert visa counsellors support you thoroughly to ensure you meet all requirements.