Creating an Express Entry account marks the first stage in the process of migrating to Canada as a skilled worker on a permanent residence visa. If your score and ranking in the Express Entry pool, determined by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), meet the criteria, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a system that assigns points to assess candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS score of each applicant is determined by factors such as education, skills, work experience, and language proficiency.
As per the regulations of Canada's immigration laws, individuals are allowed to maintain only one Express Entry profile at any given point of time. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stresses the fact that having multiple Express Entry profiles will not increase the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency, and will not allow the candidate to be invited under a different program.
As per a Strategic Policy and Planning report, candidates are allowed to have only one active profile in the Express Entry pool. However, they can create a new GCKey and submit a new profile. A GCKey is a distinctive electronic credential (username and password) enabling access to online government services. In previous years, the instances of duplicate profiles in the pool were minimal, numbering only in the hundreds, and no intervention from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was considered necessary. However, in 2022, there was a significant increase in the number of duplicate profiles in the Express Entry pool.
On January 9th, 2023, a total of 29,945 duplicate profiles were detected within the Express Entry system, linked to 10,229 distinct candidates. The report utilized data elements like name and date of birth to distinguish and resolve the issue of duplicate profiles. The report does not identify why any applicants created multiple profiles, but it states that:
In 70% of instances, there was no alteration in CRS scores when comparing any two profiles of a candidate, suggesting that this high percentage does not imply an effort to manipulate the system. Approximately 53% of all duplicate profiles have remained inactive for a period of 100 days, indicating that a significant portion of these duplicates may have been neglected or abandoned. The count of candidates with multiple profiles experienced a 57% rise from October to November, indicating a clear reaction to the November 16th deadline for updating profiles with NOC 2021 version.
The report concluded by asserting that while there is no explicit evidence of integrity issues within the Express Entry system, the substantial quantity of duplicate profiles may prompt the IRCC to undertake efforts to "clean up" the pool.
In 70% of instances, there was no alteration in CRS scores when comparing any two profiles of a candidate, suggesting that this high percentage does not imply an effort to manipulate the system. Approximately 53% of all duplicate profiles have remained inactive for a period of 100 days, indicating that a significant portion of these duplicates may have been neglected or abandoned. The count of candidates with multiple profiles experienced a 57% rise from October to November, indicating a clear reaction to the November 16th deadline for updating profiles with NOC 2021 version.
The report concluded by asserting that while there is no explicit evidence of integrity issues within the Express Entry system, the substantial quantity of duplicate profiles may prompt the IRCC to undertake efforts to "clean up" the pool.
To qualify for Express Entry, individuals need to fulfill the eligibility criteria for at least one of the three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) serves as Canada's principal pathway for economic immigration. Basic eligibility criteria encompass having a minimum of one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience within the last decade in a skilled occupation falling under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate validated intermediate or higher language proficiency in either English or French. For individuals educated outside of Canada, meeting the requirements includes possessing an educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) and obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
Apart from fulfilling the minimum work experience, language proficiency, and educational criteria of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), candidates are also required to secure a minimum of 67 points according to the Federal selection grid.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) offers permanent residency to foreign workers and international students with Canadian work experience. Eligibility mandates having accumulated at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within three years of the date of application, along with meeting the specified language proficiency criteria.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program(FSTP) provides a pathway to permanent residency for those skilled in trades. To qualify, individuals must have at least 2 years of recent full-time work experience in a skilled trade, meet job requirements, secure a Canadian job offer for a year, or possess a recognized Canadian qualification in the trade, along with meeting language proficiency criteria.
Check if you qualify for Express Entry. Check out Owlspriority Immigration’s Canada Settlement Resources to learn about finding employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.
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