Express Entry applications to be processed within 6 months again || VO Visas

 Express Entry applications to be processed within 6 months again || VO Visas

Canada's immigration department has confirmed that most new Express Entry applications will be processed within 6 months.

Prior to the pandemic, the Canadian government aimed to process most Express Entry immigration applications within six months.

Due to the pandemic, however, applicants have had to wait much longer.

Non-Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry applicants are waiting well over 20 months on average for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to finalize their permanent residence applications.

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Fortunately, IRCC has recently confirmed that it will soon process most new Express Entry applications within six months. This will take effect once IRCC resumes Express Entry invitations to Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates, CEC and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). in early July.

 The normalization of Express Entry in early July is big news for several reasons. First, Express Entry is the main way IRCC welcomes skilled workers to Canada. Permanent residency invitations for FSWP candidates have been temporarily halted since December 2020, while CEC candidates have received no invitations. since September 2021, but this will no longer be the case as of July. The FSWP was the main way Canada welcomed skilled immigrants between 1967 and the start of the pandemic, while the CEC accounted for a third of those 405,000 Canadian immigrants who broke the record. immigrants landed in 2021. Resuming invitations for these two programs will give hundreds of thousands of applicants the opportunity to achieve their goal of obtaining permanent residence in Canada.

 The resumption of lotteries is also good news for Canadian employers. Statistics Canada reports that Canada has more than 800,000 job vacancies and the lowest unemployment rate on record. Employers need more immigrant talent to help address worker shortages. That Express Entry is returning to normal and most new applications will be processed within six months, meaning employers will have access to more talent in the near future, which will be crucial to supporting Canada's post-pandemic economic recovery .

 Returning processing times to six months is also notable for immigration candidates, as Express Entry will once again become the fastest way for skilled workers to gain permanent residence in Canada.

 As such, it's in your best interest to prepare your Express Entry profile in time for the return of all of the program's draws in early July. However, you should be aware that it takes time to prepare and upload your profile to the IRCC website, so consider starting the process now. You may need time to book and complete your language test. In addition, you may need additional time to obtain an educational credential evaluation (if necessary) and gather other necessary documents. Time is of the essence, so it's best to be proactive to avoid delays.

 There are still some big perks, even if you get into the Express Entry pool before July. For one thing, IRCC continues to hold Express Entry draws every two weeks to invite Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. Being in the pool now gives you the opportunity to be invited by a province or territory to apply to their enhanced PNP. If you are nominated, you are virtually guaranteed to get an invitation for permanent residence from IRCC. The second big advantage is that you can get a head start in case IRCC needs to use your link. -break rule Where multiple applicants have the same minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that IRCC requires to be invited for permanent residence, IRCC will give preference to applicants who uploaded their profile on an earlier date.

 Looking ahead, Express Entry will continue to play a prominent role in Canada's immigration system and economy. Starting in 2024, IRCC expects to welcome more than 110,000 Express Entry immigrants into Canada each year. You may be among the many immigrants who benefit from Express Entry, including its faster processing times by starting the process as soon as possible.

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