Immigration Lawyer Calgary

No. Express Entry is an online management system that Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to rank potential candidates against one another

Technically, there is no minimum threshold. However, by looking at scores for 2020, CRS scores have ranged from 471-478 for FSW, FST average is 450 and CEC is 415. In addition, there are Provinces who actively pick candidates from the Express Entry pool (Nova Scotia, Ontario) and if they are within the parameters being targeted, the CRS score is much lower.

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree or higher should consider applying; however, those between the ages of 20-29, with a master’s degree / PhD, plus 3+ years of work experience will generally be the most competitive

PNP Nominations are issued by the Province to candidates who have the required skills and experience targeted by the Province. PNP nominations add 600 points to your overall CRS score and will give you enough points to guarantee that you will be picked from the Express Entry pool and receive an Invitation to Apply

Alberta has typically been one of the easiest Provinces because the minimum CRS score was around 300. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, they are only choosing candidates who already reside (work, school) in the Province. Saskatchewan also has a PNP program where candidates do not require a job offer, but candidates must score high enough on the Province’s score criteria. Ontario is the most active PNP and has targeted occupations where the CRS score is around 450 and a job offer is not required. We may explore other Province’s depending on your specific skills and experience.

Most, if not all Pathways require language testing, with their own requirements. Generally, Federal Programs have higher minimum language score requirements, while Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and Pilot Programs are lower. For example, each of the (3) Federal Express Entry programs do require language tests and each has its own Canadian language benchmark (CLB) requirement. Once you determine which program you are eligible for, you determine if you have the minimum language scores. Under the FSWP = NOC 0, A, or B, with a CLB 7 (6 in each area), CEC = NOC 0, A, with a CLB 7, NOC B, with a CLB 5, and, FST = Speaking/Listening = CLB 5, Reading Writing = CLB 4. On the other hand, non-Express Entry PNP’s typically require a minimum CLB of 4 (Saskatchewan, Alberta, etc). The higher the language scores, more competitive you will be in the pool.

Yes. So long as your Express Entry CRS scores are high enough, you do not need a job offer. A job offer may be difficult to obtain if you are not in Country. Essentially, a job offer is recommended if your CRS scores are too low to qualify you for the Federal Skilled Worker program.