Express Entry System

Employer Outreach

Information Session

Fall 2014

Starting January 2015, skilled foreign workers will have access to Express Entry – a new electronic application management system – which will apply to Canada’s key economic immigration programs:

– Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP); – Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP); – Canadian Experience Class (CEC); and, – A portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

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Background

• Express Entry is not a new immigration program; it is a new way for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to manage economic immigration applications online.

• Express Entry will provide employers with access to skilled foreign nationals whom they can consider for a permanent position when they are unable to fill a position with a Canadian or permanent resident.

• For prospective skilled foreign workers, Express Entry will result in faster processing times.

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Background

Moving from the old system…

• First applicant in, first to be processed

• Difficult to navigate the immigration

system due to multiple players

• Recruitment of global talent at employer

time and expense

• Average of 12-14 months to process an

application

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Express Entry: Changes how Canada selects skilled immigrants

to Express Entry

• CIC will select candidates that are most likely to

succeed in Canada, rather than the first in line

• Express Entry candidates with a valid job offer or

P/T nomination will quickly be invited to apply (ITA)

for permanent residence

• In 2015 (exact date TBC), the new Job Bank will

connect Canadian employers with a pool of skilled

foreign national candidates if they can’t find

Canadians or permanent residents to do the job

• Express Entry candidates will benefit from

processing times of six months or less*.

*In 80% of cases from receipt of complete application for permanent residence to final decision.

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The New Two-Step Application Process: Candidate

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Step 1: Express Entry Profile

• Potential candidates will submit an online Express Entry profile.

• Candidates who meet the criteria of one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to Express Entry will be accepted into the Express Entry pool.

• They will be assessed according to a skills based ranking system that looks at: - Language proficiency

- Education

- Canadian work experience

- Other factors that lead to success in Canada (e.g. provincial/territorial trade certificate)

• At this stage, skills will be self-declared based on appropriate test results

• Candidates will need to promote themselves*:

- They will be encouraged to signal their presence in the Express Entry pool to recruiters, on private sector job boards, participate in job fairs, contact Canadian employers directly, etc.

- Registration with Job Bank will be required

*unless they already have a valid job offer

• All candidates in the Express Entry pool will be assigned a score according to their skills, education and experience

• Candidates profiles can remain in the pool for up to 1 year

– At the one year mark, candidates will be asked if they would like to resubmit their profile

– Candidates can update their profiles at any time if their circumstances change, which may change their score

• Candidates in the pool will be ranked against others in the pool according to their score

• CIC will draw those candidates ranked highest at a given time from the pool (frequency and volumes to be determined)

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Express Entry Pool

Job* Offers in Express Entry:

• Candidates with a job offer or a provincial/territorial nomination will be given additional points to ensure they are drawn from the pool

• They will quickly be offered an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR);

• Candidates will have 60 days to submit their complete electronic application for permanent residence

• At application, CIC will verify candidate eligibility and admissibility criteria

• Express Entry candidates will benefit from processing times of six months or less.**

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Step 2: Invitation to Apply (ITA)

*A valid job offer for Express Entry must be supported by an LMIA **80% of cases from receipt of complete application for permanent residence to final decision.

Job Offer* Employer extends offer of full time permanent

employment to qualified Express Entry

candidate

• During previous roundtables in Spring 2014, CIC and Employment and Skills Development Canada (ESDC) highlighted the role of Job Bank in Express Entry. Specifically that:

– Job Bank would be a required step in the registration process for Express Entry candidates

– Job Bank would provide ‘matching’ functionality to employers (sending suitable candidates according to the skills and experiences listed on the job ad)

– Both candidate Job Bank registration and employer matching with Express Entry candidates would be available at the launch of Express Entry on January 1st, 2015.

• Since that time, the launch dates for Job Bank have been adjusted. As a result, implementation will proceed as follows:

– Express Entry candidates will be able to register with Job Bank beginning January 1st, 2015

– The matching functionality for employers with Express Entry candidates will be introduced in 2015 (exact date TBC).

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ESDC’s Job Bank – Changes since spring engagement

3 Typical Scenarios 1. You find a qualified foreign national through your organization’s recruitment

efforts

2. You want to offer a permanent job to your current temporary foreign worker

3. You find a qualified foreign national candidate in Job Bank (in 2015, exact date TBC)

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How to hire a skilled foreign worker via Express Entry?

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Scenario 1: You find a qualified foreign national candidate

through your organization’s recruitment efforts

Employer You find a qualified

foreign national (An LMIA* is

required) •You may find a foreign national you wish to hire

through a job fair, job board,

recruiter or direct approach

Candidate creates/updates

Express Entry profile

•Once LMIA is approved, candidate

creates/updates Express Entry profile and indicates he/she has a valid job offer

Ensure you have considered

Canadians and permanent residents

Apply for LMIA**

*LMIA = Labour Market Impact Assessment **All LMIA application criteria must be met

•Post your ad on ESDC’s Job

Bank + 2 additional

methods of advertising

•If no suitable domestic

candidates, apply for an LMIA for the

qualified foreign national through Service Canada

Candidate

Candidate will be invited to apply

Candidate submits

application for permanent residence

Application processed in 6 months or less

•Once invited, candidate has 60 days to submit a

complete application for

permanent residence

•With a valid job offer, the

candidate will receive

additional points and be invited to

apply

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Scenario 2: You want to offer a permanent job to your current TFW

Employer

Is the worker currently in Canada

under a positive LMIA/LMO*?

•If yes, skip to candidate steps •If no, an LMIA

is required. Continue with

employer steps

Candidate creates/updates

Express Entry profile

•Candidate creates/updates

Express Entry profile with job offer information

Ensure you have considered

Canadians and permanent residents

Apply for LMIA**

*LMIA = Labour Market Impact Assessment LMO = Labour Market Opinion **All LMIA application criteria must be met

•Post your ad on ESDC’s Job

Bank + 2 additional

methods of advertising

•If no suitable domestic

candidates, apply for an LMIA for the temporary

foreign worker through Service

Canada

Candidate

Candidate will be invited to apply

Candidate submits

application for permanent residence

Application processed in 6 months or less

•Once invited, candidate has 60 days to submit a

complete application for

permanent residence

•With a valid job offer, the

candidate will receive

additional points and be invited to

apply

Yes

No

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Scenario 3: 2015 (exact date TBC) You are matched with a qualified foreign national candidate in Job Bank

Employer

Register for ESDC’s Job Bank and post your ad

•You will be required to

consider Canadians and

permanent residents first

Candidate updates Express

Entry profile

•Once LMIA is approved,

candidate updates Express Entry

profile with job offer information

Find the right person

Apply for LMIA*

*LMIA = Labour Market Impact Assessment *All LMIA application criteria must be met

•Use your regular

assessment procesess (e.g.

interviews, references)

•Once you find the candidate

you wish to hire, apply for an

LMIA for that person through Service Canada

Candidate

Candidate will be invited to apply

Candidate submits

application for permanent residence

Application processed in 6 months or less

•Once invited, candidate has

60 days to submit a complete

application for permanent residence

•With a valid job offer, the

candidate will receive

additional points and be invited to

apply

After 30 days, extend ad if no

suitable domestic candidates

•Your job ad will be provided to those

Express Entry candidates with skills

that match (Jan 2015)

•You will be able to view Express Entry candidate matches

(2015 exact date TBC)

• Provincial and territorial (P/T) nominations will continue under the new system.

• P/Ts will be able to nominate candidates who meet their unique regional labour market needs.

• When an Express Entry candidate is identified through a PNP, they receive additional points in the ranking system and will be quickly invited to apply for permanent residence.

• CIC will process most applications in six months or less.*

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Provinces and Territories = Key Partners

*80% of cases from receipt of complete application for permanent residence to final decision.

A small group of Employer Liaison Network officers will be located throughout the regions in Canada. They will perform two key roles:

1. Providing information on the Express Entry system

– Offer up-to-date information on Express Entry, and permanent economic immigration programs and policies

– Act as a point of contact for employers in the respective regions or by key industry/sector.

2. Connecting with employers and other stakeholder groups

– Build relationships with employers and organizations to help them better understand and benefit from Canada’s economic immigration system; and

– Gather feedback from employers on the Express Entry system to ensure that CIC is aware of employer needs, preferences, issues, gaps, and local labour market needs.

Officers will conduct outreach on a regular basis to key employers and industries within their respective region. As part of their outreach efforts, the Employer Liaison Network will:

– Attend key conferences, sessions, and workshops held by employers and sectors groups

– Hold periodic workshops and roundtables with groups of employers regarding Express Entry and permanent economic immigration.

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Employer Liaison Network: ongoing interaction and engagement with employers

• The changes to economic immigration will benefit employers by:

– Accommodating greater flexibility in recruitment and assessment

– Making it easier to find the candidates they need to fill available positions

– Bringing skilled newcomers to Canada faster by eliminating backlogs and introducing 6-month processing times*

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Summary

*80% of cases from receipt of complete application for permanent residence to final decision.

• The Express Entry system will be launched on January 1, 2015.

• ESDC’s modernized Job Bank will provide access to Express Entry candidates when suitable Canadians and permanent residents are not available.

– In 2015 (exact date TBC), employers will have access to ‘Job match’ through Job Bank, providing candidates who have skills and experiences to match a particular job posting.

• CIC will continue to engage employers after launch through the newly created Employer Liaison Network

– Target date for the Employer Liaison Network launch is November/December 2014

– Consult CIC’s website for further information on Express Entry. Once established, further information on the Employer Liaison Network will also be available: www.canada.ca/ExpressEntry

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Next Steps: