Express Entry Program Conducts First Round of Invitations

Following the implementation of the Express Entry program, on January 31, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) held the first Express Entry draw. Of those candidates who submitted an Expression of Interest, 779 were invited to apply for permanent residence. It is anticipated that future Express Entry draws will be larger in number. 

Express Entry Invitations 

Every candidate invited to apply held either a Labour Market Opinion (LMO)/Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a nomination certificate from a province, since the lowest score of those selected was 886, and 600 points are awarded to an applicant holding either document. The maximum score is 1,200 points. The points are based on a comprehensive ranking system that focuses on core human capital and skill transferability factors, among others. 

CIC has advised that candidates with a valid LMO/LMIA or provincial nomination certificate at the time a profile is set up are guaranteed selection, though it has not provided a timeframe as to when such candidates will be selected. 

Projected Numbers 

CIC’s goal is to approve approximately 180,000 permanent residence applications in 2015 under the Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) categories. This number includes applications submitted prior to 2015, just as CIC’s 2016 target will include applications filed prior to 2016. 

Re-filing Canadian Experience Class Applications 

Foreign nationals who filed CEC applications on or after October 20, 2014 may have to re-file their applications under the Express Entry program. This is because the cap of 8,000 applications in the CEC category for the period May 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 was reached without appropriate notice. 

What This Means for Foreign Nationals 

Foreign nationals who filed CEC-based applications on or after October 20, 2014 and who may have to re-file their applications through the Express Entry program should contact their Fragomen Canada immigration professional for more information on re-filing. 

Fragomen is holding a conference call at 12 noon EST on Thursday, February 12, 2015 to discuss Express Entry, to outline how Fragomen can assist employers in utilizing this new program and to answer any questions. Invitations will be sent out shortly. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected]. 

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