How to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) program?

This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently. This is one of the three federal programs managed through Express Entry, which is the Government online application system for skilled workers.

How does this program work?

First, it is important to say that you will need to do a lot of math, and gather dozens of documents, so having the help of qualified professionals is always a good option.

This program has minimum requirements for:

• Skilled work experience: which means you worked in the same type of job (skill level 0, A or B), for at least one year full-time (1560 hours) or equivalent part-time, within the last ten years. You don’t count any hours you work above 30 hours per week.

• Language ability: you must take approved language tests in English or French and get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities (writing, reading, listening and speaking)

• Education: a completed credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school.

If you meet the minimum requirements, you then need to achieve the pass mark of 67 points in the federal skilled worker program six selection factors: age, education, work experience, whether you have a valid job offer, English and/or French language skills and adaptability (how well you’re likely to settle in Canada).

These factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. If you achieve at least 67 points, you can create your profile at the Express Entry system. They will rank your profile, also based on points, currently up to 1200 and will select the highest-ranking candidates from the pool to invite them to apply for permanent residence. There are around two draws of invitations per month.

Also, you must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada unless you are currently able to legally work in Canada or have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.

Above all, you must be admissible to Canada. If you are inadmissible to Canada, you will not be allowed to come to Canada, even if you qualify for the program.

The regular current processing time for the Federal Skilled worker applications is 6 months after you submitted all the required documents. Good luck!