The new Express Entry system in Canada will be effective as of January 2015; it will involve a two-step online process that begins with the candidate completing an online profile and concludes with the government, after ranking those found eligible, inviting candidates to apply for permanent residence.
The purpose of the system is to match potential immigrants with highly skilled vacant jobs in the Canadian labour market where Canadians are not available. “The idea is that more and more applicants will be coming in [to Canada] with that job offer already in hand,” said Sarah Anson-Cartwright, director of skills policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The Express Entry system is expected to decrease permanent residency processing times to six months for those invited. However, some are concerned that the program will ignore those applicants looking for unskilled labour or low wage positions. As well, employers will not be given direct access to those in the Express Entry pool and it will be up to the government to match businesses with potential employees. In short, the new system we will have to wait and see what the new system has to offer once it comes into effect.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
