More Changes to Express Entry Forthcoming
April 3, 2017
Three new changes will be implemented to Canada’s Express Entry system on or after June 6, 2017. Additional points will be awarded to candidates with strong French language skills, candidates who also have English language skills and those with siblings in Canada. Voluntary registration will be available on the national Job Bank, facilitating candidates’ eligibility for an invitation round.
Notable Changes to the Express Entry System
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the following three improvements will be implemented to Canada’s Express Entry system:
- Express Entry candidates with strong French language skills and English language skills will be awarded additional points by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
- An additional 15 points will be awarded to Express Entry candidates with a sibling in Canada. The candidate will need to submit proof to show that they have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sibling living in Canada who is 18 years of age or older.
- Voluntary registration will be available on the national Job Bank, facilitating candidates’ eligibility for an invitation round. Currently, registration is mandatory.
On or after June 6, 2017, candidates who meet the minimum entry criteria for Express Entry will automatically be placed into the pool of candidates and become immediately eligible for invitation rounds. If the candidate does not currently have a job in Canada, they will still be able to register for Job Bank and start searching for employment opportunities.
What This Means for Employers and Express Entry Candidates
The changes should improve the prospects of two main groups of Express Entry candidates given the extra points that will be awarded; candidates with siblings in Canada and French-speaking candidates with strong language abilities in both of Canada’s official languages.
Furthermore, since the obligation to create a Job Bank account after completing the Express Entry profile will be eliminated, there should be a more streamlined process to facilitate the placement of candidates into the candidate pool for the invitation round.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
