The Canadian government approved 27,000 plus Canadian Experience Class (CEC) permanent residence applications for people who had applied for Express Entry on February 13. Many of those who received an Invitation To Apply didn't qualify under normal EE requirements because they didn't have the necessary points. To meet Canada's immigration goal to welcome over 400,000 newcomers in 2021 to help build the economy, the government recognized the thousands of qualified immigrants who are already successfully living and working in Canada under the Canada Experience Class program. CEC is 1 of 3 immigration programs managed through Express Entry, IRCC's online application system for skilled foreign workers.
What Is the Canadian Experience Class via Express Entry?
Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) gives foreign nationals extra qualification points if they graduated from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school. With Canadian work experience and an LMIA job offer, qualified skilled workers can apply for a work permit. After working in Canada for 12 months in a NOC A, B or 0 skill level job full-time or the equivalent, candidates can apply for permanent residence through the CEC category.
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To obtain Permanent Residence through the Canadian Experience Class you must have at least one year of skilled, paid work experience in Canada within the three years prior to submitting your application. The work experience must be in Canada and have proper authorization. There are also language requirements that will be tested.
The skilled work done in Canada must also meet the NOC or Canadian National Occupational Classifications:
- Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
- Professional jobs (NOC skill type A); or
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)
Although there are no formal educational requirements, when using Express Entry you will increase your points by including your educational background and having an Educational Assessment done for any education you obtained outside of Canada.
How To Improve Your CEC Rank
Your initial CEC application places you into a pool with other eligible workers. you will all be ranked and if you are near the top of the pool, you get the invitation to apply via Express Entry. There are no specific lists of requirements because each applicant is unique. You will get a customized list of documents needed.
There are 2 ways to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool:
- If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
or
- If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
- a completed foreign credential, and
- an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
CEC via Express Entry can be confusing and a consultation with a knowledgeable immigration legal professional is a good way to overcome challenges and troubleshoot potential issues with your application.
Smooth Your Way to Becoming a Permanent Resident: Contact Ackah Law Today
An experienced immigration lawyer can help save you time and stress and ensure that all your immigration application documentation requirements and deadlines are submitted on time, and identify and resolve any potential problems with your application. Contact Ackah Law today at 403 452-9515.
