Express Entry is getting impressive results in its first month: Chris Alexander

Canada, the world’s eleventh-largest economy, said this month that the first round of top-ranked candidates from its Express Entry system is already helping to fill demonstrated and verifiable gaps in the nation’s labour market.

A total of 779 skilled workers were invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada on January 31, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Ministry said in a statement on February 2.

Each of these candidates, including professionals in natural and applied sciences, and industrial, electrical and construction trades, declared that they already have a valid job offer or provincial nomination, the ministry said.

“Express Entry is already getting impressive results in its first month,” Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“The fact that everyone who was invited to apply for permanent residence in this round of invitations already has a valid job offer or provincial nomination shows that Express Entry is working to fill Canada’s existing labour market gaps.”

“With Express Entry, highly skilled candidates with a high chance of success in Canada are invited to apply for permanent residence, bringing them to Canada more quickly and easily than ever before,” Alexander said.

Under Express Entry, launched January 1, skilled workers who want to apply to Canada’s key economic immigration programs are able to create an online profile and express their interest in coming to Canada permanently.

Candidates who are accepted into the pool are ranked according to various factors, including language proficiency, education and work experience. Each is a leading indicator of one’s likelihood of integrating fully and quickly into Canadian society and making an optimal contribution to the economy. Most applications are being processed in six months or less.

The ministry says it will regularly invite the highest-ranking candidates from the pool to apply to immigrate. Candidates will then need to submit a complete application and will have to meet eligibility and admissibility requirements such as health and security checks. They will have up to 60 days to submit their application online.

“With Express Entry, highly skilled candidates with a high chance of success in Canada are invited to apply for permanent residence, bringing them to Canada more quickly and easily than ever before,” Alexander said.

Express Entry will manage applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Canada’s provinces and territories will be able to use the Express Entry system to select a portion of candidates for their Provincial Nominee Programs.