Studying in Canada as a Pathway to Permanent Residency 
There are many ways that one can obtain Permanent Residency for Canada. Today we are going to discuss education in Canada and how obtaining a Canadian post secondary education is a pathway to obtaining Permanent Residency for Canada. 

Once you are in Canada on a Study Permit it is important to maintain your status. Therefore while you are studying make sure to renew your Study Permit as required. Once you have completed your studies in Canada you can take advantage of obtaining a Post Graduation Open Work Permit for Canada. This work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada upon the completion of your study program and is equal to the length of your study program up to a maximum of 3 years. Therefore a graduate that has completed a 3 or 4 year post secondary education in Canada is eligible for a 3 year open Post graduation work permit therefore allowing you to remain in Canada for a total of 6 or 7 years. 

The Post Graduation Open Work Permit was created by Canadian Immigration to retain international students to contribute to Canada's workforce. Under this program international graduates can obtain a 3 year open work permit allowing them to work for any Canadian employer in any industry.They are not required to have a job offer from a Canadian employer to be granted their Post Graduate Open Work Permit. 

Am I eligible to Apply for a Post Graduation Open Work Permit?
To be eligible to apply for a post graduation open work permit international students MUST;

1. Have continuously studied full time for the 8 months preceding the completion of their program and must have graduated from a Canadian approved designated post secondary institution. 

2. Apply for a work permit within 90 days of written confirmation from their academic institution that hey have met their academic requirements of their program of study.

3. Have completed and passed the program of study and received written notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma of certificate and have a valid study permit at the time of applying for the post graduate open work permit. 
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4. The program of study must be a minimum of two years for the graduate to obtain the three year work permit. However, if the program was less than two years but longer than eight months, the graduate can still obtain a work permit for the same duration as the program of study. In cases where a student has obtained a one year degree or diploma from an accredited educational institution within two years of having successfully completed a previous accredited Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma, he or she may qualify for a three-year open work permit; and while a student must have been studying full time in the eight months preceding the date of application for an open work permit, an exception is made in the case where a student fulfills all the requirements except full time study in the last session of their program. For example, if a student only needs two courses in the final session to complete the program but all previous study has been full time, the student may still apply for the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program.

​So how can I obtain Permanent Residency after I have received my Post Graduate Open Work Permit? 
Once you have obtained skilled work experience from within Canada you are then eligible to apply for the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC) which leads to Permanent Residency. 

If you are looking to study in Canada as an International Student then you must meet with Canada's Immigration Requirements. 

What are the requirements in order to study in Canada? 
In order to study in Canada you must obtain a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution in Canada. You must also provide proof of financial support including enough money to pay for your tuition, living and return travel expenses for the student and any accompanying family members. In some cases the financial requirements can be offset if you have family in Canada that you can reside with or who intends to pay for your tuition as long as acceptable proof of this financial help is provided with your application.  In addition a Police clearance and a medical examination may be required. You will also be required to take an IELTS English test and to obtain the minimum pass mark as per the college or University that you plan to attend. 

You may have heard that you do not need a Study Permit to study in Canada, why is this? 
You only require a study permit if the program that you are taking is more than 6 months in duration, programs of 6 months or less do not require a study permit. You need a study permit for any program that requires a coop or internship. 

Can I apply for a Study Permit from within Canada? 
In most cases you cannot apply for a Study Permit from within Canada however some exceptions to this rule include the following; 
- A Caregiver who has already applied for Permanent Residency can apply from within Canada.
- A Spouse or Common Law accompanying Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident who has applied for Permanent Residency can apply from within Canada.
- A protected person who has not been rejected can apply from within Canada.
- A person accepted as a Permanent Resident under Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds can apply from within Canada.
- Students that have completed a short term course that is a condition for acceptance at a designated learning institution can apply from within Canada.  
- Those who already hold a study or work permit within Canada can apply for a study permit from within Canada.
- Exchange or visiting students can apply from within Canada. 

Who can apply at the Port of Entry to Canada for a Study Permit? 
Any national or Permanent Resident of the United States, resident of Greenland or resident of St.Pierre and Miquelon can apply at the Port of Entry to Canada however all other applicants can not apply from the Port of Entry and must apply from within Canada if applicable or from their current country of residence. 

Working in Canada while Studying
If you are interested in working while you are studying in Canada then it is important to know that you are able to work on or off campus while you are studying providing that you have a valid study permit. You must be enrolled full time at a designated Canadian post secondary College or University. Those enrolled in ESL / FSL, General interest and preparatory  programs are not eligible. In order to qualify to work while you study in Canada your course must be at least 6 months in duration or longer and you MUST hold a valid Study Permit. If you are working off campus then you may only work 20 hours per week during academic sessions, however you are permitted to work full time during holidays and summer breaks. 

What if my Study Permit Expires While I am Studying and Working in Canada?  
If your study permit expires while you are studying and working Canada then you MUST request a restoration of status within the 90 days after the Study Permit has expired and you are NOT permitted to study or work during the time that the Study Permit was expired. It is good to note that Study Permits can be extended within Canada and therefore you should plan to renew your Study Permit within 3 months of the expiry date if you plan to remain studying in Canada past the date that it will expire. 

What if my program of study requires me to work in a coop or as an intern? 
If you would like to work in a coop or as an intern while you are studying then you are required to obtain a Work Permit and must also have a valid Study Permit. This intended employment must be an essential part of the academic program in Canada but no more than 50%. ESL / FSL, General Interest and preparatory programs are not eligible. 

What if I want to remain in Canada Post Graduation to work in Canada? 
This is possible providing that you have a valid study permit and a work permit. Work permits are generally issued for the same length of study program up to a maximum of 3 years. Your program of study must have been full time and a minimum of 8 months in length. You must have graduated from a designated Canadian post secondary institution and you must apply within 90 days after written confirmation of your completed studies. 

Canada's Express Entry immigration system is definitely a competitive one. Those who wish to immigrate to Canada through this system need to be eligible for one of Canada's Federal Economic Immigrations programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Canadian Experience Class Program. 

Only those that are eligible can create an Express Entry profile and enter into the pool of candidates to be assigned a score under the Comprehensive Ranking System. The highest ranked candidates may then be issued an Invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian Permanent Residency. Once issued an ITA the applicant then has 90 days to submit a complete application for Permanent Residency through to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The majority of these applications are then processed within 6 months from the date of remittance. 

This is a very basic overview of the Express Entry Canadian Immigration Program however the details are much more complicated then this. Below we have listed some ways that a candidate who is already in the pool can increase their score therefore increasing their chances of being selected to be issued an ITA to apply for Permanent Residency. 

Understanding the Comprehensive Ranking System 
Once you have determined your eligibility for Express Entry and created an Express Entry Profile you will be assigned a CRS score. So now you think that all you have to do is sit back and wait to be selected right? ....... This is definitely the wrong approach unless of course you have been assigned a particularly high score which most applicants have not and thus this is undeniably the wrong approach. 

Now that you have a profile created and are a candidate in the pool of applicants you need to work hard to increase your points in order to obtain an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residency. If not then your file will just sit in the pool of applicants until is expires in 12 months never being issued an ITA. So don't adopt a passive attitude with your Express Entry Profile but be proactive and find out how you can increase your score in order to achieve your goal of obtaining an ITA and getting your Permanent Residency for Canada. 

How Can I Increase my CRS Score? 
There are a number of things that you can do to increase your CRS score. These include the following;

1. Sibling in Canada - If you or your spouse have a sibling in Canada who is a Permanent Resident or a Canadian Citizen then this can increase your score by 15 points. 

2. Education - This is aimed specifically at Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates as because unlike the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) these candidates are not required to provide an Educational Credential assessment (ECA). However if you have unclaimed education then you can be leaving up to 200 points on the table for not claiming them as education can be worth up to 150 points and Canadian work experience up to 50 points. Claim your education through obtaining an ECA even if it is not a requirement. 

3.  Language - Language is worth up to 260 points for a single applicant and 270 for a couple and is the most valued human capital factor under the CRS and is also a factor where small changes can make a big impact on your overall score. One small step in your language ability can mean a giant leap for your CRS score. Another consideration is if you have any language ability with French as French is Canada's second language and up to 54 additional points are on the table for those  who can achieve a CLB 7 or higher on the TEF exam. 

4. Work / Employment - If you are working outside of Canada and have less then 3 years of full time work experience then keep working as this can increase your score in the skills transferability section. Remaining employed for those working in Canada on a work permit is even more important as points are available for up to 5 years however it is most important to ensure that you are legally working in Canada with the proper work permit in order to be able to claim these points. 

5. If you really want to be proactive in boosting your CRS points then apply to the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP's) as a nomination to one of the provinces will increase your CRS score by 600 points. Learn more about the PNP available to you here. 

6. Canadian Job Offer - While obtaining a Canadian qualified Job Offer does not have as great of a value in terms of CRS points as it once did down to 50 points from a previous 600 points it does still remain an important factor. Getting a Canadian Job offer may seem like a daunting task especially to those who may not be living in Canada but it is possible with some research and dedication. 

In our previous blogs we discussed Express Entry and described how it works. We also learned that there are three main categories that can be utilized when applying through Express Entry. We have already discussed the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program and the Federal Skilled Trades Worker Program (FSTW) and today we are going to discuss applying through the Express Entry System with Canadian Experience through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) We will discuss the requirements one needs to meet in order to qualify under this category of the Express Entry system. 

Under the Canadian Experience Class Category of Express Entry, you must;

1. WORK EXPERIENCE 
Have at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). This work must have been full time OR an equal amount in part time. Therefore full time is 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR an equal amount in part-time hours, such as: having 15 hours / week for 24 months therefore totalling 1 year of full time work at 1,260 hours or having 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than one job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

Also it is imperative that this work experience has been gained with the proper work authorization. It is important to note that self employment and work that has been gained while studying does not count towards the mandatory 12 months of Skilled Work Experience that is required. 

2. EDUCATION
​There is no education requirement for Canadian Experience Class. But you can earn points for your education under Express Entry, if:

• you went to school in Canada, and have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
  • secondary (high school) or
  • post-secondary school
• you have foreign education, and you have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency showing that your foreign education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree  from a Canadian:
  • secondary (high school) or
  • post-secondary school

You'll only benefit from getting an ECA if your foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian high school diploma or greater.

3. LANGUAGE
You must be able to meet with the minimum language requirements for the position that you are working in. For Skilled Workers you must obtain a minimum of 6.0 in each of the 4 categories on the IELTS General Training Exam of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. For Skilled Trades Workers you must obtain a minimum of 5.0 in the listening and speaking sections and a 3.5 in the reading section and a 4.0 in the writing section. You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French by including the test results when you complete your Express Entry profile. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence or you will need to retake the test.

If you meet the above criteria, then you may be eligible to utilize the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC) to apply.
 
To find out if you qualify for the Canadian Experience Class Program offered through the Express Entry System complete our FREE ONLINE EXPRESS ENTRY ASSESSMENT or CALCULATE YOUR CRS SCORE HERE.

Under the Federal Skilled Trades Worker Category of Express Entry, you must;

1. WORK EXPERIENCE

Have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the five years before you apply.  This means you have to work a total of at least 30 hours over a period of one week for two years in your skilled trade within the five years before you apply. For example:
Full Time - 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
Part Time - 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours) OR
30 hours/week for 12 months at more than one job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours

​In Canada, provinces and territories issue certificates of qualification in the skilled trades. To get a certificate, the provincial or territorial trades authority must assess your training, trade experience and skills to decide if you are eligible to write an exam to be certified. 

2. EDUCATION
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There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if you want to earn points for your education under Express Entry, you either need:
A) A Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree OR
​B) A completed foreign credential and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). We can assist you with completing these requirements to earn points under education. 

3. LANGUAGE
You must be able to meet with the minimum language requirements through the Federal Skilled Trades Program which involves taking an IELTS General Training Test. In order to qualify you need to obtain a 5.0 in the listening and speaking sections of the IELTS and a 3.5 in the Reading section and a 4.0 in the writing section. Your overall score is not important for Canadian immigration as you must meet the above indicated scores in each of the categories. 

​In our previous blog we discussed Express Entry and described how it works. We also learned that there are three main categories that can be utilized when applying through Express Entry. Today we are going to discuss applying through the Express Entry System as a Federal Skilled Worker. We will discuss the requirements one needs to meet in order to qualify under this category of the Express Entry system.  

​Under the Federal Skilled Worker category of Express Entry, you must;

1. Have skilled work experience that is in the same type of jobs as the one that you attended school for.

 

• For example; you cannot have a Degree in Business Administration and have work experience that is not related to this degree. For example If you have a diploma in Restaurant Management and work experience managing or owning a restaurant then of course this would qualify as skilled work experience. If you have a degree in Business Administration and work experience as a teacher, then this would not qualify as skilled work experience however if you have a degree in education and work experience as a teacher then this would qualify.
  
  
• This skilled work experience must have taken place within the last 10 years before you apply.

• This work experience must be paid work experience as internships and volunteering does not count.

• The work experience must be Skilled; this is determined through utilizing Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC). To find out if your work experience is considered as skilled work experience by Canadian standards you can CONTACT US.

• This work experience must have been for a minimum of at least 1 year at a full time job at 30 hours per week for 52 weeks for a minimum of 1,560 hours or an equal amount in part time so 24 months for a total of 15 hours per week for a total of 1,560 hours or full time at more than 1 job at 30 hours per week for a period of 12 months for a total of 1,560 hours.

         
          2. Language Ability

• You must take an approved language test such as the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and obtain the minimum score in each of the 5 categories of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. You must obtain a minimum of 6.0 in each of these 4 categories in order to qualify under this program.
  
  

          3. Education

• If you have a foreign education meaning an education that took place outside of Canada then you must complete an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a Canadian approved agency proving that your foreign education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian post secondary institution. CONTACT US to find out how to obtain an ECA report.
  
  

  4. Additional Selection Factors

• Additional selection factors such as Age, Education, Work Experience and whether you have a valid job offer, your English or French speaking abilities and your adaptability with how well you may be able to settle into Canada are all taken into consideration and scored on a 100-point grid. You earn points for how well you do in each one of these factors and the minimum pass mark is 67.  To find out how many points you may score in the CRS enter here! 

 
If you meet the above criteria, then you may be eligible to utilize the Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker category to apply.
 
To find out if you qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program offered through the Express Entry System complete our FREE ONLINE EXPRESS ENTRY ASSESSMENT or CALCULATE YOUR CRS SCORE HERE.

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The last set of Invitations to Apply for Permanent Residency were issued on March 14, 2018. The Canadian Government invited 3,000 Express Entry candidates to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency. In this draw the minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score was 456 points. Therefore, those candidates that received 456 points or more were invited to apply.
 
If your dream is to come and live and work in Canada and you think that you may be a qualified applicant, then CONTACT US TODAY and we can help you determine if you qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker under the Express Entry System. 

​Today we are discussing Express Entry as a means of immigrating to Canada as many people have heard of it but many do not know what it is exactly and how it works. We hope to clear this up today with this blog post.
 
Refuge Citizenship and Immigration Canada (RCIC) chooses skilled immigrants as Permanent Residents based on their ability to settle in Canada and take part in Canada’s economy. Express Entry is a system to manage how people with skilled work experience apply to immigrate to Canada.
 
In order to utilize the Express Entry system you must qualify under one of three categories. These include the following;

1.  Express Entry as a Federal Skilled Worker,
2. Express Entry as a Federal Skilled Trade or
3. Express Entry having Canadian working Experience.
 
The first step in applying through Express Entry is to find out if you qualify. Each of the three categories of express entry has different qualifying criteria. If you qualify then we can create an Express Entry profile for you as well as a Canadian job bank profile to link you to Canadian employers. In this profile we will provide information about your;
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1. Skills
2. Education
3. Language Ability
4. Work Experience
5. Other details such as age, gender etc.

Once your profile is created then you will be accepted into the pool of candidates. Your profile will remain in the pool of candidates for a maximum of one year from the day that you get in or until you are issued an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residency (ITA). 
 
In order to apply through the Express Entry System, you must meet the minimum criteria in one of the above three categories to qualify.
 
Once you are entered into the pool of qualified applicants you will be given points based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Points are given based on an applicant’s skills, education, age, English language ability, as well as other criteria such as having a sibling who is a Canadian Permanent Resident or Citizen, having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or having a nomination from a province or territory.
 
To be chosen from the pool, you need to have one of the highest-ranking scores when Invitations to Apply (ITA’s) are sent out. We can assist you in increasing your score in order to qualify for the ITA through assisting you in obtaining a job offer from a Canadian Employer / through obtaining Provincial nomination from one of Canada’s sponsoring provinces or Territories.
 
There are regular rounds of invitation done to invite top ranked applicants in the pool to apply for Permanent Residency. If you are among the top ranked candidates, then you will be issued an ITA. Cooper’s Canadian Immigration Services can help you rank in the top of the applicant pool to achieve the goal of obtaining your Invitation to Apply. CONTACT US to find out how!
 
Rounds of Invitations are conducted sporadically about every 2 to 3 weeks and those who rank at or above the cut off score are issued an Invitation to apply for Permanent residency and then given 90 days to complete their Permanent Residency applications. Applications usually process within 6 months or less and applicants can apply for an Open Work permit to arrive to Canada and start working while their applications are processing.
 
If you are interested in entering into Canada as a Permanent Resident through the Express Entry immigration system, then CONTACT US to get the process started. We can create an Express Entry Profile for you and assist you in increasing your Comprehensive Ranking Score giving you the best chance possible to obtain an Invitation to Apply and ultimately realize your dream of becoming a Permanent Resident of Canada!
 
In our subsequent blogs we will discuss the requirements for qualifying for each of the 3 categories of the Express Entry System. ​