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Express Entry is one the most common options for an individual to immigrate to Canada. Express Entry, however, can be very confusing to many foreign nationals, because there are many categories under it. There are three major programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. In order to prepare you for your application, it is important for you to recognize and understand the eligibility requirements prior to applying. In this blog, you will learn about the differences between Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian Experience Class, so that you may have a better idea of what Express Entry entails.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Individuals can be recruited for positions which qualify as Skill Type 0 (managerial jobs) or Skill Level A (professional jobs) or Skill Level B (technical jobs and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) list.
Apart from having worked in one of the NOC job groups, you need to prove you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. You need to also make sure you have worked in the same type of job as the job you want to use for your immigration application within the last ten years. Please note, the job cannot be volunteer work or unpaid internships; it needs to be a paid work. Last but not least, your full-time job needs to be at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week). If you work part-time, you can work more or less than 15 hours per week, as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours.
Canadian Experience Class
In order to be eligible for Canadian Experience Class, you must have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work needs to be full-time or an equal amount in part-time.
Similar to Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the National Occupational Classification. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Please note, self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as a co-op or internship) cannot be used to meet the minimum requirements for Canadian Experience Class.
Canadian Experience Class
There is no specific education requirement for Canadian Experience Class. However, if you, who went to school in Canada, wish to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, you may provide your certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary school.
If you have foreign education, you can get points for a completed foreign credential. Your foreign credential, however, needs to be provided alongside an Educational Credential Assessment report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary school.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Worker Program does have education requirement. If you completed secondary or post-secondary in Canada, you will need to provide your certificate, diploma or degree from your school. If you completed your education in a foreign country, you need to have your foreign credential and have an Educational Credential Assessment report written by an approved agency. The Educational Credential Assessment report will show that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school.
For both federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian Experience Class, you are required to show your proficiency in either English or French. You may do so by taking the approved language tests in English or French for writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
Please note, the results of your language tests are valid for 2 years. It is your responsibility to make sure your language test results are valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
Regardless of the programs you intend to apply for, you must be admissible to Canada. That being said, if you have medical, criminal, or other forms of inadmissibility, you will not qualify for Express Entry.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
To be eligible for Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must show that you can financially support yourself and your family to settle in Canada, unless you are currently able to legally work in Canada or have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
Canadian Experience Class
There is no funding requirement for Canadian Experience Class.
It is essential that you put together an express entry profile and an application for permanent residency with complete accuracy and honesty, as this opportunity is very unique, and due to the fact that you will immediately enter the Canadian working economy after receiving your permanent residency, immigration officers review these applications with a high degree of scrutiny. Express Entry applications are not an easy process to understand and complete and it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit an application. Here at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients gain economic experience and gain permanent residency in Canada through the Express Entry application management system. If you believe that you might be eligible and the correct candidate for the federal, provincial or territorial economic immigration programs in Canada, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation for more advise.
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