In 2022 the Canadian Government started the evaluation and preparation for the biggest reforms in history for the Canada Express Entry system, since it was introduced as an application management system in January, 2015.
Bill C-19 has been evaluated by Canada’s Parliament and the new policy goal is to allow Canada’s Immigration minister to be able to form groups based on occupations in demand, allowing Canadian temporary foreign workers of all skill levels to meet the full range of labour needs and pathways to Canadian permanent residence.
Up until now, IRCC was issuing ITAs based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and the Canada Express Entry program of eligibility. The CRS awards candidates a score based on criteria such as their age, education, language skills, and work experience. Those with the highest CRS score were invited by the Government to immigrate to Canada and have permanent residence.
The latest CRS draw score is 691 cut off score from the last recent draw offered in May this year and this means that anyone with this or a higher score will have received an invitation to apply for Canada’s Express Entry.
Why is the Express entry changing?
With an aging population, Canada will have 9 million retired Canadians by 2030, and with the low birth rate the impact will be huge on the economy, so Canada is relying on immigrants and work force. One of the ways to combat this the permanent residence program for skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada.
The Canadian Express entry system and CRS in Canada have started improving the process by allowing candidates to be invited on a new basis focusing on the most pressing economic needs and urgent labour shortages.
How Express Entry works:
Step 1: Eligibility: To be eligible for Canadian Express Entry, you must meet the requirements of one of the three federal economic immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): For skilled workers with foreign work experience.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For individuals with Canadian work experience.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): For skilled tradespeople with work experience in a specific trade.
Step 2: Creating an online profile: If you are eligible, you need to create an online profile through the Government of Canada’s website. You’ll provide information about your skills, education, work experience, language ability, and other details.
Step 3: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score: Once you’ve created your profile, you’ll be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This score is based on factors like your age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and additional factors like having a job offer or a provincial nomination.
Step 4: Express Entry draws: Regularly, the Canadian government conducts Express Entry draws, where they issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with the highest CRS scores. Those who receive an ITA can then proceed to apply for permanent residency.
Step 5: Invitation to Apply (ITA): If you receive an ITA, you will have a limited time (usually around 60 days) to submit a complete application for permanent residency, including supporting documents and fees.
Step 6: Application for permanent residency: Once you’ve received an ITA, you’ll need to gather all the required documents, such as proof of education, work experience, language proficiency tests, and medical and background checks. You’ll then submit your application through the online portal.
Step 7: Application processing: The Canadian government will review your application and assess whether you meet all the eligibility requirements. They may request additional information or documentation if needed.
Step 8: Permanent residency decision: If your application is approved, you will be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document. You can then proceed to travel to Canada as a permanent resident.
It’s important to note that Canada’s Express Entry is a highly competitive system, and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply or approval for permanent residency. The CRS scores of the candidates who receive ITAs vary in each draw, depending on the number of candidates and the specific requirements set by the Canadian government.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information about Express Entry and the Canadian immigration process, it’s recommended to visit the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
For any questions, help or support in this Express Entry process, we are inviting you to contact us and to book a consultation with our team.
Many people come to us stating that they have created an Express Entry Profile and afterwards their profile has been found “ineligible” or they thought they should have received more CRS points. This is very common, and the reason for this is one of two things:
They have made an error when entering their information into the profile.
1. Creating Your Profile Before Assessing if You Are Eligible to Apply
Before you create your profile, you must first assess whether you are eligible to do so by checking the minimum requirements of the CEC, FSW, FST or PNP. Since the introduction of Express Entry, many people only look at their points total and do not look to see if they are actually eligible to apply. There is no use in calculating CRS points if you are not eligible to apply.
2. Creating Profile Before You Receive Your ECA
When creating your profile, you will be required to enter information regarding your education. If your education was obtained OUTSIDE of Canada you will need to have your foreign credential assessed by a designated organization. This is called an Education Credential Assessment (ECA). In your profile, the system will ask you to enter your ECA document number, the organization who issued the ECA, date of issue and the Canadian equivalency.
If you do not have an ECA before you create your profile, you will not be awarded CRS points. Furthermore, your profile may be deemed ineligible if you were applying under the FSW as the system will think that you do not have the necessary education to meet the minimum criteria.
3. Entering Non Eligible Work Under “Work History” Section
When entering your work history, you only need to enter the work experience you intend to use to meet the minimum eligibility criteria and to receive the maximum CRS points available to you. You do not need to enter every job you have ever had. Remember, you will only be able to claim work experience that falls under skill level 0, A or B in the National Occupation Classification Matrix (NOC). Also, you cannot claim work experience that took place more than 10 years ago.
4. Not Re-Submitting Profile After You Make a Change
After your profile is created and submitted, you can make changes to it at any time, as long as you have not received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Let’s say for instance, that you want to enter more work experience. After you have entered the additional work experience information, you MUST select continue and resubmit your profile. If you do not re-submit the profile after making changes, the system will not acknowledge the new information and you will not be awarded the additional points, if applicable.
5. Manual Error
Manual error is the most common reason that profiles are deemed ineligible and/or the applicant did not receive the maximum CRS points that were available to them. Make sure, that you double check the information you have entered before submitting the profile. After you submit your profile you should also immediately check the status of your profile, especially the CRS points total. If you did not receive the points you should have received you can enter your profile to see if there is a manual error.
Should you need advice or guidance before you submit your profile, please contact us for a consultation.
On May 28th, 2020, we saw the lowest CRS score regarding Invitations to Apply (ITA) since January 30th, 2019 via the Express Entry system. Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3515 ITAs only for applicants who are eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The CRS points of the lowest candidate invited was 440! Yes, I will say it again, 440!
This comes as great news to many applicants who have been disheartened by the ever-increasing CRS score over the last 20 months.
Why are the CRS Points Continuing to Drop?
There are several reasons why the CRS score has continued to drop during the global pandemic. As many of the education assessment credential organizations have either temporarily closed or are operating at a reduced capacity, potential candidates who would normally have a CRS score between 450 – 475, are unable to have their credentials evaluated, therefore they are unable to create an express entry profile and enter into the pool
Furthermore, as the majority of CELPIP and IELTS test centers are temporary closed, this also means that candidates who would expect a high CRS score cannot take a language proficiency exam, therefore they cannot create an Express Entry profile and enter into the pool.
Another important reason why the CRS points have dropped significantly is that IRCC have temporarily paused issuing ITAs under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW).
What Does This Mean For Me?
During the last two years, many applicants who are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class but did not have enough CRS points to receive an invitation, have since left Canada as their status had come to an end. Many of these people have CRS scores ranging from 430-450, and DID NOT submit a profile and/or renew their profile as they thought it was a lost cause.
You do not need to be physically present in Canada or working in Canada to apply under the Canadian Experience Class if you are eligible. Furthermore, if your one year of Canadian work experience in a skilled occupation was within the last THREE years, YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO APPLY UNDER THE CEC, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria under the program.
So this means, that if you had at least 1 year of qualifying Canadian experience within the last three years AND you took your language proficiency exam within the last two years, but you did not have enough points to receive an ITA and have since left Canada, there has never been a better opportunity to receive an Invitation to apply for permanent residence by submitting an Express Entry Profile.
What Do I Do Next?
If you think that you’re one of these people, we highly recommend that you submit an Express Entry profile immediately because as soon as the language test centers reopen, ECA organizations resume normal service standards AND IRCC resume issuing ITAs under the FSW program, the CRS points will inevitably increase again.
The Time to Act is Now!
Please contact us to schedule a consultation to assess whether you are eligible and have remained eligible under the Canadian Experience Class.
As a rule, every Express Entry applicant has to have their educational credentials assessed by designated entities. The objective is to have the foreign degree, certification or diploma (your proof of education credential) validated and verified to be equal to a Canadian qualification.
The ECA report and reference must be included in the Express Entry application, and it may be helpful in finding a suitable job in Canada when they land. However, it does not guarantee that:
They will surely get a job in their preferred field of expertise and level; or
Be able to receive a license or certification to practice in a regulated profession.
If an applicant intends to work in a regulated profession, they must seek a license based on the profession and the province/territory they intend to practice in.
Do I need an ECA?
If you have an educational qualification from outside of Canada, you will need to have an ECA from a designated entity to:
Be eligible as the principal applicant for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or
Earn points for education received from outside Canada.
You also earn points for your spouse or common-law partner’s education if they are coming with you to Canada.
I have a Canadian qualification; do I still need an ECA?
If you have a Canadian education certificate, diploma or degree, you do not require to have your education assessed. The objective of the ECA is to assess foreign qualification against a Canadian qualification.
Does all my education get assessed?
The good news is that only your highest level of education needs to get assessed. If you have more than one highest level of education, such as 2 professional certifications, you can gain extra CRS points if both are assessed.
Sometimes though, you may be asked for your secondary education to be assessed. This would happen if the post-secondary education is not equivalent to a Canada credential.
Where do I get my credentials assessed?
You can get your education credentials assessed at one of the followed designated organizations:
On completing their assessment, the organization you have chosen will send you a report that tells you what level of Canadian education credential yours is equal to.
If you’re a specialist or family physician, you must get your credentials assessed by the Medical Council of Canada.
If you’re a pharmacist and you need a license to practice your profession at a hospital, long term care facility or at a community pharmacy, you need to have your credentials assessed by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. However, if you do not need a license for your job, for example if you are working with the government or the pharmaceutical industry, you can get your credentials assessed at any of the five organizations mentioned above.
How long is the ECA report valid for?
The ECA report will be accepted as part of your Express Entry application for up to 5 years, from the date of issue, if they were issued on or after April 17, 2013.
Does getting an ECA mean I can practice in a regulated profession?
No, your ECA only provides a form of equivalency for the purposes of applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and does not mean that they will be readily recognized in Canada. You will need to go through the process defined by the regulated profession or license issuing authority.
If you plan to work in a regulated profession, you should contact the regulatory authority in the province where you plan to work to find out more about how to get a license.
Can I re-submit my ECA if I’m applying for Express Entry again?
Yes, you can re-submit your ECA if it is still valid, meaning issued within the last 5 years, and still valid when you complete and submit your application.
How much does it cost to have my education assessed, and how long does it take?
For most people, the cost is about CAN$200 plus the cost to have it delivered. Delivery costs depend on how you choose it to be sent, with courier delivery being the most expensive.
The fees for an ECA report and the length of time to get one vary and can change without notice.
If you’re a family or specialist physician, or a pharmacist, the cost will be higher. You will need to contact the professional body that regulates your occupation to find out how much it will cost.
The time to get your education assessed is different for each designated organization or professional body. It can take from a few weeks to a few months.
You may contact the designated organizations directly for the costs and estimated duration of assessment.
Need help with your application? We’re here for you. Contact us today.
Measures To Support Canada’s Economic Growth And Address The Labour Market Shortage.
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Mr. Sean Fraser, announced today new measures to address the labour shortage Canada has been facing since the beginning of the travel restrictions in 2020 and the delay of the overseas processing times in 2021.
The Minister declared[1], “With the economy growing faster than employers can hire new workers, Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and labour needed to fuel our growth”.
Aiming to manage the high inventory, IRCC paused the invitations to apply under the federal skilled streams Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST), causing the federal skilled inventory to decrease from 111,900 in September of 2021 to 48,000 people in March of 2022.
The good news is the invitations to apply under these streams through Express Entry will finally resume in “early July” and IRCC intends to process the majority of the new applications within the 6-month service standard.
See below the promising TEMPORARY POLICIES that were announced today to enter in forcethis summer and who will benefit from them:
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Starting in summer 2022, former students who have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) that expires between January and December 2022 will be able to extend their open work permit for up to eighteen (18) months.
This policy will benefit about 95,000 post-graduation work permit holders who will have their permits expired within this period.
Canada’s goal with this policy change is to retain talented and skilled International Students that are already integrated into the Canadian labour market to address the labour shortage across the country.
It is essential to mention that this additional extended period of an Open Work Permit will also increase the chances of the interested, talented former students to transition to permanent residence successfully.
Compared with the same period of 2021, in the first quarter of 2022, IRCC has doubled the number of Permanent Resident application decisions welcoming more than 113.000 new permanent residents into Canada.
FOREIGN NATIONALS IN CANADA AS VISITORS
Since August 2020, foreign nationals with visitor status were authorized to apply for an “employer-specific” work permit from inside Canada, and this temporary policy is now extended to February 28, 2023.
EXTENDED PERIOD OF WORK PERMIT FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE APPLICANTS UNDER THE TR TO PR PATHWAY.
Applicants who are waiting for a decision on their TR to PR (Permanent Residence) application and applying for an open work permit will now be able to extend their work permit validity until December 2024, ensuring that applicants have a valid work permit until the end of their Permanent Residence process. Also applicants will not need to remain in Canada during the process of their applications.
Family members that are still outside Canada but were included in the principal applicant’s Permanent Residence application will be eligible to apply for an open Work Permit to support family reunification.
Ultimately, Canada intends to restore standard Express Entry processing time to retain talented workers and bolster economic growth.
While more details will clarify how these policy changes will be implemented, we can expect a high volume of new applications.
Therefore, persons interested in staying in or coming to Canada as temporary or permanent residents should be prepared and ensure their eligibility to apply under one of the several programs and meet the established requirements.
Foreign Nationals In 16 Occupations Now Eligible To Apply Through Express Entry
Starting November 16, 2022 the old 2016 NOC transitions to the new NOC 2021 version which also changes the occupations that are now eligible for Express Entry.
Foreign nationals with work experience in the following 16 occupations are now eligible to apply through Express Entry. The codes from the NOC 2016 and the new ones from NOC 2021 from the available occupations are down below:
OCCUPATION
OLD NOC CODE
OCCUPATION
NEW NOC CODE
Payroll administrators
1432
Payroll administrators
13102
Dental assistants
Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants
3411
3223
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
33100
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
3413
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
33102
Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
3219
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
33103
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
4413
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
41220
Sheriffs and bailiffs
4421
Sheriffs and bailiffs
43200
Correctional service officers
4422
Correctional service officers
43201
By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers, n.e.c.
4423
By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
22231
Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
6562
Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
63211
Residential and commercial installers and servicers
7441
Residential and commercial installers and servicers
73200
Pest controllers and fumigators
7444
Pest controllers and fumigators
73202
Other repairers and servicers
Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
7305
7512
Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
72024
73301
Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
7521
7302
Heavy equipment operators
73400
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
9521
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
93200
The list for the new 16 Occupations for foreign nationals that can now apply for Express Entry is as follows:
Payroll administrators
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
Sheriffs and bailiffs
Correctional service officers
By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
Residential and commercial installers and servicers
Pest controllers and fumigators
Other repairers and servicers
Transport truck drivers
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
Heavy equipment operators
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
But there are occupations also that are no longer available to foreign nationals to apply for Express Entry:
Other performers
Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness
Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners
These occupations no longer available for Express Entry are still eligible for certain programs with broader work experience criteria, such as some streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Contact us if you have questions about the new NOC 2021 TEER system and how it impacts your Express Entry profile and PR application.
IRCC will likely start accepting the scores from Pearson Test of English (PTE) Essential English test
As of February 2, 2023, IRCC, has given the green light for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and it is likely to be accepted as a language-testing organization for economic class applicant applications, making it one of three English language tests, along with IELTS and CELPIP in late 2023.
The newest language test is called PTE Essential, for proof of English language proficiency.
What is PTE Essential
PTE Essential is a new version similar to the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) but it has a more practical, real-life, and non-academic focus that meets IRCC’s language proficiency standards
It is designed for applicants who must provide proof of English language proficiency for Canadian permanent residency or citizenship
PTE Essential is a fully digital test delivered through Pearson VUE, the computer-based testing business of Pearson
PTE Essential uses AI technology for scoring, biometric data collection provides enhanced security measures and voice recognition software is applied for the speaking element of the test, which makes it highly accurate
Test takers can book online up to 24 hours in advance
Results typically available in 48 hours
Administered by Pearson Canada Inc.
You may reschedule or cancel your appointment at any time
About PTE Tests
Different writing tasks
Frequent test dates
No need to speak to an examiner – completed via computer
Unbiased results
Single test session (2 hours)
You can send your score to as many institutions as you like, free of charge
Scored practice tests
About the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
Two hours long test
Single test session
20 question types
PTE Academic is a computer-based test
Test center environment is secure and friendly
Tests language skills in:
Speaking and Writing
Reading
Listening
How to prepare
Understand your current English proficiency level, and the PTE score you need to achieve.
Have your ID on test day because your identity will be checked against your ID document
When taking the test Ensure your personal details are accurate
Pearson Canada Inc.
Pearson was founded in 1844 by Samuel Pearson in Yorkshire, England.
Andy Bird, CEO, Pearson, said: “At Pearson, we see every day how English skills can transform lives. We’ve already seen how PTE Academic can help people take a huge stride towards being themselves in English in whichever country they choose to work or study. I’m delighted PTE Essential is now accepted in Canada for economic visas and proud of the innovation and rigor that sits behind the quick and high-quality experience our test provides to test takers.”
Predict your expected score
The most effective way to estimate your test score is to take a Scored Practice Test. This practice test replicates the actual test format and content and lasts for three hours. Taking this practice test will give you an idea of your expected overall score and also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus your study plan accordingly.
You can find and book the test at the official Pearson Canada Inc. website for PTE tests: https://www.pearsonpte.com/
Designated language-testing organizations
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
Administered by
Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc.
Two tests: CELPIP-General (CELPIP-G) and CELPIP-General – Listening and Speaking (CELPIP-G LS)
CELPIP-G test is accepted by IRCC for immigration and citizenship purposes
CELPIP-G LS test is accepted by IRCC for citizenship purposes only
NOTE: the General-LS is not accepted for Express Entry
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Administered by:
Cambridge Assessment English
International Development Program (IDP) Australia
British Council
NOTE: the Academic option is not accepted for Express Entry
Pearson’s Test of English (PTE) Essential
Administered by Pearson Canada Inc.
Language testing—Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)
In order to demonstrate your language proficiency, you must take and pass an approved language test. To meet this requirement, you must:
Schedule the test with an IRCC-approved agency and cover the associated costs.
Enter the test results into your Express Entry profile and provide your Personal Information Number if requested.
If you receive an invitation to apply, be sure to include the language test results with your application. Failure to do so will result in the application not being processed.
NOTE: Don’t ask for your language test results to be sent directly to IRCC, instead send your results with your complete application and keep the original test in a safe place because it may be requested later in the process
The test results will be used as proof of your language skills.
Your test results must be valid (less than two years old) when you:
complete your Express Entry profile
apply for permanent residence
NOTE: It is important to ensure that both your Express Entry profile and language test results remain valid for the same time period, which is 12 months. In case your language test results are about to expire, you should retake the test and update your Express Entry profile with the updated results.
To immigrate to Canada through an economic class, you must take a language test approved by IRCC and get a certain score on it. The leading pathways are the Provincial Nominee Program and Express Entry. Other programs have different requirements. For some programs, like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you need to score at least 7 in writing, reading, listening, and speaking. For other programs, a lower score is enough. If you score higher, you can get more points in programs managed through Express Entry and provincial systems.
The glitches which occurred after the implementation of new NOC 2021 are the reason that we had not had an Express Entry draw in nearly 2 months. The IRCC has set a massive immigration target for the year 2023 through 2025, so it is no surprise that the system needs to be functioning perfectly. Canada will accept approximately 500,000 new permanent residents in 2023.
Latest Express Entry Draw – #237 – January 11th 2023 (includes Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Workers and Federal Skilled Trades )
Rank required to be invited to apply:5,500 or above
Date and time of round:January 11, 2023 16:14:19 UTC
CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited:507
National Occupational Classification NOC 2021
On November 16, 2022, IRCC switched to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) which means that the new 6- category system represents the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) needed to work in an occupation. Due to the change to the new NOC foreign nationals with work experience in the 16 occupations will be now eligible to apply through Express Entry.
Everyone who submits an EE Profile needs to put in the new 5-digit TEER occupation code.
The new 2021 National Occupational Classification NOC system is used to classify jobs (occupations) into training, education, experience and responsibilities TEER categories which are based as the one from 2016 on the type of:
job duties
the type of work a person does
The program will impact all of these Canadian immigration applications:
The last draw was plagued by errors that appeared in the express entry system after the transition to the new NOC on November 16, 2022. Since then only one draw was held and was full of errors, such as
inviting people who are not eligible to apply
giving points which candidates weren’t entitled to
the system changing the names of documents uploaded so that it is not possible to tell which document is which after upload
not being able to log into the portal even if all of the information is accurate
Nearly 2 months passed without an Express Entry draw.
Changes in how Express entry candidates are selected in 2023
Changes in the Express Entry in 2023 will allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to invite candidates based on specific attributes, such as NOC/Teer code, rather than their overall CRS score alone.
IRCC says that Canada will invite Express Entry candidates on a new basis due to the Bill C-19, one that would support an economic goal identified by the minister who will be consulting with provinces, business councils and other stakeholders to best evaluate which candidates are the best to target for the express entry draw.
The system is changing due to the labour shortage in Canada at the moment with one of the most pressing sector the healthcare industry. There aren’t enough people to fill the positions which are open in Canada at the moment which leads to high number of job vacancies. Canada will rely on immigration to fill these positions and grow the economy.
Express Entry Profile
Express Entry is an online system used to create a Express Entry Profile and submit applications for permanent residency under the four economic immigration Categories:
Canadian Experience Class
Federal Skilled Trades
Federal Skilled Worker
Provincial Nominee Program
Contact us if you have questions about applying for Express Entry.
No Express Entry Draw this week and problems in the online immigration system of Canada
Express Entry candidate are experiencing a lot of issues with their applications which makes the whole process of applying, frustrating. Since the new NOC 2021 transition, express entry applicants have experienced even bigger number of issues with the online application system. After the transition to the new NOC 2021 on 16 Novmeber,2022, Express entry candidates needed to accordingly update the system with the NOC 2021 5 digit code and their primary occupation to match the National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 so their application is correct and they are eligible for an ITA.
The problems are highlighted as follows:
People who are in the pool and by the scores they had didn’t receive an ITA (Invitation to apply) and there are no updates from IRCC regarding this.
Some of the applicants have received an ITA but can’t access their dependent spouse part of the profile and are not being awarded points for spouse’s Canadian work experience
there are a lot of 404 errors on the official website for express entry of Canada and applicants can’t access their profiles and update them correctly.
Some of the problems is also the system requiring the NEW NOC 5 digit code rather than the 4 digit code for the old NOC, even for applicants who received an ITA before 16 November, 2022, which shouldn’t be happening and goes against the instructions of the IRCC.
The system changing the names of documents uploaded so that it is not possible to tell which document is which after upload—this has happened for multiple clients and with multiple documents such as police certificates, letters of employment, etc.
The other problem that isn’t new and that has been going on for some time is not being able to log into the portal even if all of the information you typed in is correct.
Candidates receiving points they were not entitled to and got an ITA
Candidates being marked eligible for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) even if they didn’t required it
The problem with the portal and issues the Express entry candidates are experiencing are going on for some time. The solution which has worked for some of the applicants is trying multiple times to get something done which can be really frustrating.
Note: Make sure to always report the technical issues on the portal so the problem is resolved as quickly as possible
No express entry draw
This week also is marked because there was no Express Entry Draw. Candidates were eager for the results of this week and now are getting worried and there are no updates from IRCC regarding this. Maybe all of the issues and glitches mentioned above are the reason that there wasn’t express entry draw this week. However there isn’t an easy solution to problems like this and things may be like this for some time in the future.
The errors that appeared in the express entry system started after the transition to the new NOC on November 16, 2022. Since then only one draw was held and was consisted of many errors, such as inviting people who are not eligible to apply and gained points which weren’t entitled to. Now it seems that the IRCC is trying to resolve the issues before the next draw so they can avoid illegible candidates and try to fix the issues for the ones that should get an ITA.
UPDATE: Transition to National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021
If you currently have a profile in the Express Entry pool, then you received an email yesterday advising of the change from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021. With the changes from November 16, 2022, candidates in the Express Entry pool will not be eligible to receive an ITA until their profile is updated with the NEW NOC 2021 code, also known as TEER. The ITA rounds may resume as soon as at 23 November 2022 and everyone who has a profile in the EE pool needs to update their profile with the new 5-digit TEER code as soon as possible. If you already received an invitation to apply (ITA) before November 16, 2022 you must submit your application using the old (2016) NOC code.
If you have already submitted a profile but have not been sent an ITA you must update your profile with your new TEER Category and 5-digit occupation code. You can search for your occupation under NOC 2021 list on this website https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/?GoCTemplateCulture=en-CA .
On November 16, 2022 IRCC switched to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The 2016 NOC skill type and skill level structure (NOC 0, A, B, C and D) will be replaced by a 6-category system representing the training, education, experience and responsibilities needed to work in an occupation in Canada. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is updated every few years based on information received from Statistics Canada. The new NOC 2021 contains 516 occupations, up from the 500 unit groups included in the NOC 2016.
The new updated program means that:
The current NOC 2016 skill type and skill level structure (NOC 0, A, B, C and D) will be replaced with a 6-category system representing the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) needed to work in an occupation
· 4-digit occupation codes will become 5-digit codes
· the eligibility criteria for all programs that use the NOC will be further updated
If you are a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidate your NOC version will depend on when the province received your application.
Here is what the employment history looked like with the NOC 2016
Here is how it looks now in an Express Entry profile with the new updated NOC 2021 code:
Next Steps – How To Update Your Profile to TEER (2021 NOC)
Login to your Express Entry profile and change the four digit NOC code to the five digit TEER code according to your job.
You also have to modify the NOC code in the dropdown – even though the title still says “four digit NOC code”, you MUST update to the five digit format. When you make the change, the code will automatically appear as a five digit number with the occupation you selected.
The previous version is still in place and looks like this:
Here is how the new NOC 2021 TEER code should look:
Classifying jobs
The new 2021 National Occupational Classification NOC system is used to classify jobs (occupations) into training, education, experience and responsibilities TEER categories which are based as the one from 2016 on the type of:
job duties
the type of work a person does
The program will impact all of these Canadian immigration applications:
These programs will have updated eligibility requirements because of the change to NOC 2021:
Permanent Residence
Express Entry
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Canadian Experience Class
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Atlantic Immigration Program
Provincial Nominee Program
Caregiver programs
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Agri-Food Pilot
Temporary Status (Work Permits)
Out-of-status construction workers
International Mobility Program
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
New NOC 2021 TEER Categories
Programs that used the NOC skill type or levels in the 2016 NOC are now updated and will use TEER categories from the NOC 2021 system.
NOC 2016
NOC 2021 TEER
Skill type 0
TEER 0
Skill level A
TEER 1
Skill level B
TEER 2 and TEER 3
Skill level C
TEER 4
Skill level D
TEER 5
Most jobs will stay in the TEER category that is equal to the skill level in the table. Some jobs may change to a different TEER category.
Skill level B jobs may become either TEER 2 or TEER 3 jobs.
Find your occupation under the NOC 2021 list to find out what TEER category it belongs to.
Additional instructions related to NOC 2021 will be provided for remaining economic permanent residence applications at a later date which has not yet been released by IRCC.
Summary of Changes – NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 TEER
The biggest change is the replacement of skill levels with the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories which is more precise because NOC now assesses the level of training a person has, formal education of experience required to gain entry into each occupation, and the responsibilities associated to it. The old NOC assessed the level of skills which was not as precise as the new updated NOC.
The second major change revolves around the number of TEER categories which the new one consist of. In the new NOC structure of 2021, there are six TEER categories, up from the current four skill levels. In the 2016 version of the NOC, “skill level” B contains the most occupations of all skill levels (about 1/3 of all unit groups) and its employment requirements are relatively wide. This change ensures clearer distinctions between the employment requirements associated with each TEER category, leading to a more consistent and homogeneous classification.
The new TEER categories are outlined here:
TEER 0
Management occupations.
TEER 1
Completion of a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate); or
Several years of experience in a specific occupation from TEER category 2 (when applicable).
TEER 2
Completion of a post-secondary education program of two to three years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; or
Completion of an apprenticeship training program of two to five years; or
Occupations with supervisory or significant safety (police officers and firefighters) responsibilities; or
Several years of experience in a specific occupation from TEER category 3 (when applicable).
TEER 3
Completion of a post-secondary education program of less than two years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; or
Apprenticeship training of less than 2 years; or
More than six months of on-the-job training, training courses or specific work experience with some secondary school education; or
Several years of experience in a specific occupation from TEER category 4 (when applicable).
TEER 4
Completion of secondary school; or
Several weeks of on-the-job training with some secondary school education; or
Several years of experience in a specific occupation from TEER category 5 (when applicable).
TEER 5
Short work demonstration and no formal educational requirements.
The third major change is the classification system which is moved from a four tiered to a five tiered system and changed from the traditional 4-digit format to a new 5-digit format which is more flexible and allows many new unit groups as needed in the future.
The new NOC 2021 led to a number of changes to the occupations themselves according to ongoing changes in the Canadian labour market. New unit groups were created for emerging occupations such as Data scientists and cybersecurity specialists and some were granted their own unit group such as Financial advisors and Police investigators, and the three distinct unit groups created for Software developers and programmers. The information sector, health and agriculture sector as well as postal service and military occupations also were renewed.
About the National Occupation Classification (NOC)
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is the national reference for occupations in Canada which provides a classification structure that categorizes occupations for labour market information employment-related program administration. This type of information of an utmost importance for the labour market and people who want to work in Canada. This system is used by immigration services to decide if a job or type of work experience meets their eligibility. The basic principle is the kind of work performed and jobs are grouped with this principle on the work someone does this being determined by the tasks, duties, employment requirements, and responsibilities associated with each occupation.
What is an occupation?
An occupation is defined as a collection of jobs that are sufficiently similar in work performed to be grouped under a common label for classification purposes. A job, in turn, encompasses all the tasks carried out by a particular worker to complete their duties. The NOC comprises about 30,000 job titles gathered into 500 unit groups, organized according to four skill levels and ten broad occupational categories. Unit groups are based on similarity of skills, defined primarily by functions and employment requirements.
NOC classification criteria
As classification criteria is used the occupation and skill level. Other factors may be also taken in consideration like occupational mobility and industrial sector.
Broad occupational category: Represents the type of work performed, the field of study, or the industry of employment whenever industry-specific work experience is required for entry into occupation. The first digit of a NOC code represents the broad occupational category.
Skill level: Represents a broad aggregation of education, training, and work experience and also takes into account the complexity of the tasks and responsibilities associated with the job. The second digit of a NOC code represents the skill level.
