Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage Canadian permanent residence applications for filling labor gaps through certain economic immigration programs. Express Entry was launched on January 1, 2015, this immigration system is used to select and communicate with skilled and qualified applicants, it also manages a pool of immigration ready skilled workers. Express Entry is designed to facilitate express immigration of skilled workers to Canada "who are most likely to succeed economically." The system is identified to be efficient in processing times, with 80% of applications processed in 6 months or less compared to an existing one. Those who are eligible for one of the programs managed by Express Entry submit their application and the Canadian government issues invitation letters to successful candidates per a score system. Acceptance of the invitation and positive assessment of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on the application will grant the applicant, and their accompanying family members, Canadian permanent resident status.
Express Entry replaced the original "first-come first-served" immigration selection system. Express Entry was expected to be more responsive to regional labour shortages. It systemically favours qualified immigrants by prioritising such individuals and avoids the arbitrary selections of the previous system which, in some cases, were based on a first-come, first-served basis. Express Entry uses a points-based system to automatically rank interested candidates and select the most competitive for immigration. This system is called the Comprehensive Ranking System and the core factors considered are age, level of education, language proficiency in English and/or French, and Canadian work experience. An ideal candidate would be between the age of 20-29, possessing a high level of education, and advanced proficiency in either English or French. Concerns have also been expressed about the Express Entry system. Morton Beiser and Harald Bauder of Ryerson University wrote "Canada’s once pathbreaking immigration policies are being transformed into a system that mainly serves employers, treating immigrants not as future citizens or members of Canadian communities and families but merely as convenient or cheap labour." Others fear that Express Entry gives too much power to politicians and bureaucrats. Advocates of Express Entry claim that Express Entry can reduce the number of migrants who fail to get work by better fitting immigrants to existing jobs vacancies.
The system
The Canadian government establishes its own annual quota for new immigrants. Under its 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is targeting the arrival of 91,800 immigrants through Express Entry in 2020. It has set a target of an additional 91,150 arrivals in 2021, and 91,150 in 2022. Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government conducts an Express Entry draw, inviting the most competitive Express Entry candidates to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. In these draws, the federal government establishes a cut-off score, using the Comprehensive Ranking System. All candidates with scores higher than the cut-off will receive an official Invitation to Apply for permanent residency. On rare occasions, the government may limit the draws to specific Express Entry immigration programs. In 2019, the Canadian government issued 85,300 ITAs. Some 45% of these ITAs were issued to Federal Skilled Worker Program candidates, 36% went to Canadian Experience Class candidates, 18% went to Provincial Nominee Program candidates, and 1% went to Federal Skilled Trades Program candidates. All applications are processed under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and go through the following stages;
Completeness Check - At the completeness check, the processing office determines only whether the required documents are included. This stage is also called R10 which refers to section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Review of eligibility - Review of whether the applicant meets the eligibility requirement. This stage is also referred to A11.2 which refers to Section 11.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Review of medical results - This stage is processed in accordance with section 29 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Review of additional documents - The applicant will be contacted if additional documents are required
Interview - The applicant will be contacted if an interview is required
Biometrics - Specifically fingerprints, is used to establish the identity of applicants at the time of an application and as a program integrity tool.. This stage is also referred to as Criminality Check.
Background check - A procedure to verify the criminal and/or security background of visa applicants to ensure they’re admissible to Canada.. This stage is also referred to as Security Check.
