Express Entry AAISA Biennial Settlement Conference October 22, 2015

Employer Liaison Network Background How Express Entry Works Comprehensive Ranking System What employers need to know Highlights What’s Ahead Resources 2 Overview

Helps employers understand and navigate Express Entry. Can help make matches between employers in Canada and skilled labour available overseas, including French-speaking or bilingual candidates. ELN officers can give employers useful and up-to-date information on Express Entry and permanent economic immigration programs managed by the system. To reach an ELN officer, 3 The Employer Liaison Network (ELN)

Launched in January Express Entry a new application management system and is now the first step to immigrate to Canada permanently as a skilled worker for certain economic immigration programs including:  Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP);  Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP);  Canadian Experience Class (CEC); and  A portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Express Entry is not a new program. Criteria for existing programs continue to apply. 4 Express Entry: Background

5 Express Entry changes how Canada selects skilled immigrants *In 80% of cases from receipt of complete application for permanent residence to final decision. Moving from … First applicant in, first to be processed Could not prioritize high quality candidates Lengthy processing times Limited ways to control application intake resulting in growth of backlogs Inadequate alignment between economic policy objectives and program intake Paper based application...to Express Entry CIC selects candidates that are most likely to succeed in Canada Processing times of six months or less* Job Bank connects Canadian employers with Express Entry candidates if they can’t find Canadians or permanent residents to do the job Express Entry candidates with a valid job offer or provincial/territorial (P/T) nomination are quickly invited to apply Fully electronic application process

6 Two Step Process

7 Step 1 – Express Entry profile Potential candidates submit an online profile: Candidates who meet the criteria of one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class) are accepted into the Express Entry pool. Those without job offers or nominations are required to register for Employment and Social Development Canada’s Job Bank. Candidates will then be assessed according to a skills- based ranking system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

8 Step 2 – Express Entry pool & Invitation to Apply (ITA) Candidates in the pool are ranked against others in the pool according to their CRS score. CIC determines the number of candidates to be invited for the particular round. ITAs are issued to the highest scoring candidates in the pool, regardless of when they entered the pool. ITA is a system-generated letter issued electronically (MyCIC or Representative Portal).

9 Electronic Application for Permanent Residence Some candidates might qualify for more than one program. The system determines under which program they are invited. Candidate may decline the invitation or submit an application. ITA is valid for 60 days. Entirely online. CIC verifies eligibility and admissibility criteria.

Identifies candidates most likely to achieve high employment earnings based on their profile and/or a job offer or provincial/territorial nomination. Uses a points scale for each factor weighted to best reflect evidence on earnings outcomes (economic success). Candidates are assigned a score out of a possible 1200 pts based on:  Skills and Experience Factors (max. 500)  Skill Transferability Factors (max. 100)  Offer of Arranged Employment or PNP Nomination (max. 600) While the CRS is envisioned as a relatively stable component of the Express Entry system, it may be changed over time as outcome data becomes available. 10 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

11 CRS Structure – Four Components Core/human capital factors Single 500 Spouse 460 Age Education OL – First OL – Second2422 Cdn work experience 8070 Spouse factors40 Education10 OL- First20 Continuous Cdn work experience 10 Skill transferability 100 points (max) Education50 Foreign work exp50 Certificate of qualification 50 Total: 1200 points (max) Additional points600 points (max) PT Nomination600 Valid job offer (LMIA) 600

12 CRS – Additional Points (600 max.) Provincial/Territorial Nomination -- OR -- Valid Job Offer: Employers unable to fill job vacancies with Canadians or permanent residents may offer a qualifying job to a foreign national. “Qualifying” means a permanent job under the FSWP or CEC or a minimum one-year job under the FSTP. Employers can find qualified candidates through regular recruitment efforts, or through the Government of Canada’s Job Bank. The job offer must be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Candidates with a positive LMO/LMIA will provide this information in their Express Entry profile.

Express Entry is for permanent immigration - not for temporary workers. Creating a Job Match account and posting your job on Job Bank is the easiest and fastest way to connect with Express Entry candidates. A permanent (valid) job offer supported by an LMIA will give an Express Entry candidate additional points, increase their rank in the pool, and quickly get them an ITA. There is no fee for an LMIA that supports a permanent resident application. Express Entry candidates have been pre-screened and meet the requirements of one of three permanent economic immigration programs. 13 What Employers Need to Know

The system actively and purposefully issues invitations to apply only to the candidates who are best positioned for economic success in Canada – not the first in line. As a result, Express Entry prevents new backlogs and enables: Better economic outcomes, Much faster processing (6 months* instead of months), Improved labour market responsiveness through greater role for employers and provinces and territories. No occupation lists or caps. Job offers and provincial nominations are an asset, but not a requirement. Creating an Express Entry profile is free and it can remain active for up to 1 year. Multiple opportunities to be invited to apply throughout the year. 14 Highlights *In 80% of cases from receipt of complete application for permanent residence to final decision.

15 Transparency The human capital elements of the CRS are publicly available and backed by evidence. Candidates will know their score as calculated by the CRS immediately upon submission of a profile. Candidates know how to improve their score and can update their profiles as their circumstances change (e.g. new language testing, additional work experience or educational credentials). Candidates are not given their ranking, given the dynamic nature of the pool; rankings constantly change as candidates enter and exit the pool. Ministerial Instructions (posted publicly) set the parameters for each ITA round (date, number, type, etc.). After each ITA round, CIC makes public the score of the lowest invited candidate to give other candidates (current and future) information about their likelihood of being invited to apply.

16 Where We Are Growing number of profiles submitted (over 112,000*) Over 41,000 active candidates in the pool* Round #18 took place on October 2, Lowest score invited: ,542 invitations to apply to date** Over 800 Permanent Resident visas issued through Express Entry* *As of July 6, 2015 **As of October 2, 2015

Express Entry is expected to deliver a faster, more responsive economic immigration system that results in better economic outcomes, but it will take time to see full impact of changes and 2016 will be transition years for Express Entry as CIC works its way through pre- Express Entry applications. Some outcomes (such as processing times) will be simple to monitor in real time, but others (such as economic outcomes) will take years to materialize. CIC is committed to evaluating Express Entry and its constituent programs on a regular basis, and making incremental improvements wherever possible. Course correction will be required over time as we receive data and feedback. 17 What’s Ahead

CIC Website Express Entry home: Express Entry Mid-Year Report (July 6, 2015): Employer Liaison Network To reach an ELN officer, 18 Resources