While IRCC has not decided on its Express Entry plans for this year yet, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the draws would resume shortly.
FSWP and CEC candidates can expect positive changes, and the IRCC is planning to resume invitations this year and will review FSWP applications more quickly.
Before the pandemic, Express Entry draws were held approximately every two weeks. After the pandemic, things changed and IRCC only invited candidates through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
FSWP vs CEC: What are the differences?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Class Experience Canada (CEC) are two of the main programs under Canada’s Express Entry system (EE) to attract skilled newcomers to Canada.
However, some factors separate these programs. The first major difference is the eligibility criteria. FSWP is suitable for skilled applicants without a background of work experience within the country.
On the other hand, CEC is a pathway to permanent residency for individuals with at least one year of full-time work experience within Canada.
Individuals applying for FSWP are required to be proficient in language (either English or French) and hold an academic degree. However, a degree is not obligatory for CEC, although it can increase your total score.
In order to apply for an FSWP, you will be assessed on a point-based system. You will be evaluated according to your age, language proficiency, educational background, work experience, etc. You will need to get 67 out of 100 scores to be eligible for the Federal Skilled Workers program.
There is no points-based threshold for CEC. However, you will be ranked by your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score which is determined by your age, education, work experience, etc.
Furthermore, CEC applications are usually processed faster than FSWP applications, since CEC is designed for applicants already integrated into the Canadian community.
Note that both programs are pathways for individuals seeking to settle in Federal provinces of Canada, since Quebec has its own skilled workers programs. If you are planning to settle in Quebec, you need to apply through Quebec’s immigration streams.
CEC eligibility
Class Experience Canada is designed for individuals with a background of Canadian work experience. CEC applications are usually processed faster, since these applicants are already integrated into the Canadian community and are ready to become permanent residents.
The eligibility criteria for CEC is as follows:
Canadian work experience: You need to have at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada within the last three years to be eligible to apply.
Your work must be in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) as management jobs, professional jobs, technical jobs and skilled trades.
It must be a full-time job for 12 months (30 hours per week) or an equivalent amount in part-time hours. The work experience must be gained while on a valid temporary permit in Canada. Self-employment is not accepted.
To apply for CEC, you must take an approved language test and obtain the minimum results required in all four skills.
For NOC 0 or A occupations (management or professional jobs), a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB 7) is required,which is equivalent to IELTS 6.,while for NOC B occupations, CLB 5 is sufficient (equivalent to IELTS 5).
Providing a certificate or proof of education is not mandatory for CEC applicants. However, providing a diploma or other certificates can increase your CRS score.
FSWP eligibility
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is a major pathway for the Express Entry system of Canada for professionals and skilled workers.
To apply for this program, you need to be eligible. Here is the eligibility criteria for FSWP:
Work experience: You are required to show a proof of work experience for at least one year during the last 10 years.
Your work experience must be a skilled occupation classified by NOC as NOC 0 (management), NOC A (professional jobs), or NOC B (technical jobs and skilled trades).
Language proficiency: You need to provide a proof of proficiency in either English or French. A minimum of CLB 7 is required, which is equivalent to an IELTS band score of 6.
Proof of education: You need a secondary (high school) diploma to be eligible to apply for FSWP. If you have obtained your degree outside of Canada, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove the equivalency of your degree to Canadian standards.
67-point grid: You will be assessed based on factors such as your age, level of language proficiency, work experience, education, and so on. You must score 67 points out of 100 to be eligible to apply for the Federal Skilled Workers Program.
Additional documents: You may be required to provide some extra documents such as proof of funds to show that you can support yourself and your family. You may also be required to do a medical examination.
Canada has resumed Express Entry draws for FSWP and CEC candidates
After a quite long pause due to the pandemic, Canada has resumed Express Entry draw for the Federal Skilled Workers Program and the Class Experience Canada.
If you have already proven to be eligible, submitted your profile, and entered the Express Entry pool, these draws will give you the chance to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency based on your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Canada has resumed the draws to answer the workforce shortage in different provinces. If you are already in Canada with a temporary permit (a study or work permit for instance) you can transition to permanent residency via the CEC program.
But if you are a professional out of Canada, you can apply through the FSWP if eligible. You will be invited to apply for a permanent residency if your score is high enough.
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