Info: impending ‘Express Entry’ immigration system

On November 28th, the Burnaby Board of Trade participated in an exclusive information session with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Province of British Columbia to learn more about the soon-to-be-launched Express Entry immigration system.

Starting on January 1st, 2015 , a new online immigration system will launch that seeks to better match immigration to Canada with our labour and economic needs. Express Entry will manage applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class.

Prospective immigrants will be able to use the Express Entry system to apply to come to Canada online. The system will grade applicants based on various factors and will prioritize those with needed skillsets, with provincial immigration nominations, and with current job offers from employers in an effort to select newcomers who will have the best opportunity for success.

Employers can continue to use existing recruitment and hiring practices to fill job vacancies and will be able to use the Express Entry system to facilitate the immigration application of qualified foreign nationals they find when no Canadians or permanent residents are available to fill job vacancies. The Express Entry system has set a goal of a 6-month processing time for these applications.

Express Entry will work in tandem with the Canada Job Bank and will eventually be able to match individuals (both unemployed Canadians and prospective immigrants) with employers who have vacant positions. If employers are unable to find suitable Canadians/permanent residents to fill job vacancies, they will then be able to access a pool of pre-qualified, foreign workers.

The Burnaby Board of Trade has recognized the need for high-skilled foreign workers in certain industries and has advocated successfully on behalf of employers at the national level through the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on Express Entry, consult the Government of Canada’s release.

or the Express Entry website.