There are several categories under which one can apply for a Canadian visa. This includes work, study, holidays, etc. One of the fastest application processing pathways is an Express Entry visa.
What is the Canada Express Entry Program?
The time taken for your visa applications to get approved depends on the category you choose to apply through. In some cases, it can take a couple of weeks to six months. Other types can go up to 24 months.
About 80% of visa applications processed through the Express Entry system are completed within six months. This includes the time taken to submit your biometrics. An Express Entry visa encompasses several programs such as the FSW program, FST program, and applicants’ CEC system.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria for an Express Entry visa application are scored using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Based on the points you score under this system, your visa application is accepted or rejected. There are several categories considered within this scoring system, which we will discuss in detail.
You cannot completely control how the visa processing authorities score you. You can still do a few things to significantly increase your CRS score and rank higher among other Express Entry applicants. Many applicants make the mistake of applying for the visa and then sitting back doing nothing. This is a sure-shot way to lose out on valuable points that you might deserve, thus reducing your CRS score and application approval chances.
How To Improve Your Comprehensive Ranking System Score:
Since your score is not fixed, and the CRS system is dynamic, you can do a few things to increase your visa application success chances.
1. Brush up your language skills
The official languages in Canada are English and French. Your language skills can add up to 260 points to your CRS score. Four language abilities are evaluated by the authorities:
- How well you can speak either language, your fluency, and vocabulary
- How well you can listen and understand what is being said
- How well you can read, not just literature but also road signs, labels, and other words used every day
- How well you can write French or English, your spellings and understanding of accents and alphabets
The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is used to assess the language ability of all applicants. If you score a level 9 in all four abilities, you’ve aced it.
2. Work Experience Matters
On any given day, work experience within Canada is valued more than the non-Canadian experience. Most employers ask for over three years of work experience at a full-time job, making sure you cross this threshold. Staying employed is essential, especially for applicants who are working presently in Canada using a work permit. This lends more points to their CRS score as points are given for every year of work experience up to five years.
3. Choose a Study Program in Canada
Canada study visa is more of a long-term plan for a better CRS score. If you have studied in Canada and hold a valid education certificate, you can add more points to your score. If you already have a degree outside of Canada, you can take up an additional one-year course or program. This qualifies you for more CRS points under factors related to skill transferability. This might take longer since you will have to complete your course, but it will prove beneficial to your immigration plan in the long run.
4. Apply With Your Spouse
If you apply with your partner, you have a higher chance of improving your CRS score. Your spouse’s education, language ability, and work experience in Canada are all eligible for additional points. Your partner’s first language score can add about 20 points to your CRS score, while both their education level and work experience in Canada can fetch you up to 10 points each. This is a significant 40 points added to your score because of your spouse. It is crucial to note that if you apply as an individual candidate, these points will be redistributed among your profile’s different factors. That means even if you apply as a single applicant, you won’t lose out on these 40 points; you can claim them as a part of your abilities.
5. Provincial Nominee Programs
If you think 40 points is great for your score, here’s something better. You should read up as much as you can on what Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are because they can add a whopping 600 points to your CRS score. What’s more, a nomination from one of the Canadian provinces under the Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program can secure you an invitation to apply (ITA) in the following draw. Make sure you showcase your entire education and work record and stay updated on any news about Canadian immigration rules and restrictions. Another helpful tip is that PNP application windows open and close very fast, within days or hours. So keep your documents ready for a prompt application and review them beforehand.
6. Get a Job Offer in Canada
Holding a job offer from a Canadian employer is no longer as big a deal as before. It now adds only about 50 points to your CRS score, down from 600 points earlier. However, even 50 points can make a huge difference, so make sure you have a job offer that qualifies the set of strict conditions laid out on the Canadian immigration website. If you hold a valid job offer, it means you have subjected yourself to any background checks your employer has made and have fulfilled the relevant criteria. This adds more value to your visa application and improves your CRS score.
Let the Best in the Business Guide You
While choosing a visa consultant to guide you through the Canada Express Entry program, choose Croyez, one of the rare Indian consultants registered with Canada’s government and aligned with the ICCRC. This will ensure you get the best outcome in the fastest possible way.