If you are an immigrant already living in Canada who wants to become a permanent resident, 2021 might be the year your dreams come true. On Saturday, February 13, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) held an Express Entry draw from the candidate pool and issued invitations for 27,332 people: five times the previous high of 5,000 for promising skilled workers who already live in the country.
In announcing the new draw, IRCC said that 90% of the 27,332 people who received an Invitation To Apply (ITA) already live in Canada and have at least a year of work experience in Canada. This means they won't have to travel to Canada to apply and aren't impacted by current travel restrictions.
The EE draw was for candidates in the Canada Experience Classes (CEC) and already have work experience in the country. Due to the global COVID pandemic, it is difficult for immigrants to travel to Canada, and IRCC decided to open the draw to more candidates already living and working in the country.
In 2020, Canada's goal was to welcome 340,000 new permanent residents but due to the pandemic, only 180,000 arrived - the lowest annual immigrant intake since 1998. In 2021, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino raised immigration goal levels to 401,000 in order to make immigrants part of Canada’s economic recovery after COVID-19.
What Is the Canadian Experience Class?
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.
What's Next After You Receive An ITA?
Express Entry is Canada's point-based program to choose skilled immigrants as Permanent Residents based on their ability to settle in Canada successfully.
If you are invited to apply, you will have 60 days to submit an online application for Permanent Residence. IRCC promises to process the majority of complete applications (meaning, those with all the necessary supporting documents) in six months or less.
Candidates can stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If they do not get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence within 12 months of submitting an Express Entry profile, they may submit a new profile. If they still meet the criteria, they can re-enter the pool. This will prevent backlogs and ensure quick processing times.
Congratulations! Now Let Ackah Law Help Your Express Entry Application
Canada's IRCC processing is sure to be overwhelmed and backlogged by the number of ITAs given in the latest EE draw. Canada has determined you meet the initial qualification to become a Permanent Resident. But your immigration journey does not end now: your application requirements will now be processed by IRCC including reviewing required documents and undergoing a criminal and medical screening. An experienced immigration lawyer can help save you time and stress and ensure that all your documentation requirements and deadlines are submitted on time, and identify and resolve any potential problems with your are turned
For help with submitting your Permanent Residence application and information about your Express Entry ITA and your qualifications to become a Canada PR, contact us at 403 452-9515.
