Enough points for the Federal Skilled Worker program, but not for Express Entry?

[Sheyenne]

Hello Folks,

I would need you advice, because I am confused and my situation is not easy too.
So me and My partner arrived to Quebec in october of 2018. We came with that goal to settle down in Canada, but we didn`t know anything about the Quebec immigration program. Our original goal was to go to Vancouver, and we worked in there before, but our profession started to move to Quebec and we haven`t got any choice but come here that time.
So the problem: we immediately started to speak with an immigration lawyer in here about our options, but since a bit later (in June of 2019) Quebec put the QSWP program on hold, and we are not french, so we cannot apply for the PEQ, the whole situation has paused. We spent here the past year and we had that idea (in a former count), that we have enough points to the QSWP, but unfortunately it turned out we don`t even have a chance at all even though if we reach a very high level of the IELTS language test. So We started to look for another option. We don`t want to stay here anymore anyway, because in Quebec don`t helps at all and if you are an anglophone, you always have a big disadvantage. So we try to go back to Vancouver as soon as it possible, but the work options are pretty narrow there especially during the pandemic.

I read an article and talked a Lawyer, who said that we could apply for the Express Entry from here too if we can convince the immigration officer that we would move away from Quebec, and that`s where our problem occurs:
We have jobs in here Montreal: In my case: continuous two years, NOC Skill type B, full time, paid, closed work permit for the company. My partner has open work permit, and he worked continuously too, but he changed company once, so he have 2x1 year (also NOC B). BUT these jobs are in QUEBEC...where we are not eligible to have the PR, and I am not sure that this job offers could work in another province, and I guess they don`t work as a valid job offer in other province especially if I have to convince the officer that as soon as we get the PR we wil move out (which is true because if we would have a PR we would have a bigger chance to get a job in Vancouver now).

I went through a first count of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and if I counted well, we are eligible to go through the process. The minimum points are 67, and we would have 80 without an arranged job offer. Please correct me if I am wrong, I tried to be very careful and punctual when I counted the points.
BUT the problem that we are eligible to the FSWP, but I tried to count a point number in an Express Entry CRS calculator tool and without the possession of the job offer we don`t have enough points at all. If I reach a higher band in IELTS it would be around 450. I also read the Express Entry in Nutshell thread in this forum and I used the Come to Canada tool, and according to this we are eligible.

So I am totally confused now, and I feel its a big windmill fight, and there is a high probability that I misunderstand something. Please if you have any advice, I would be really appreciate for your help, because being in Quebec without any chance to moving forward feels frustrating and waste of time (especially I am not in love with the city at all), but for we would be eligible to go that province what we desire, we would have a job, which isn`t easy without the PR. So please, if you can help me I would be very welcome! Cheers!

 

[scylla]

Hello Folks,

I would need you advice, because I am confused and my situation is not easy too.
So me and My partner arrived to Quebec in october of 2018. We came with that goal to settle down in Canada, but we didn`t know anything about the Quebec immigration program. Our original goal was to go to Vancouver, and we worked in there before, but our profession started to move to Quebec and we haven`t got any choice but come here that time.
So the problem: we immediately started to speak with an immigration lawyer in here about our options, but since a bit later (in June of 2019) Quebec put the QSWP program on hold, and we are not french, so we cannot apply for the PEQ, the whole situation has paused. We spent here the past year and we had that idea (in a former count), that we have enough points to the QSWP, but unfortunately it turned out we don`t even have a chance at all even though if we reach a very high level of the IELTS language test. So We started to look for another option. We don`t want to stay here anymore anyway, because in Quebec don`t helps at all and if you are an anglophone, you always have a big disadvantage. So we try to go back to Vancouver as soon as it possible, but the work options are pretty narrow there especially during the pandemic.

I read an article and talked a Lawyer, who said that we could apply for the Express Entry from here too if we can convince the immigration officer that we would move away from Quebec, and that`s where our problem occurs:
We have jobs in here Montreal: In my case: continuous two years, NOC Skill type B, full time, paid, closed work permit for the company. My partner has open work permit, and he worked continuously too, but he changed company once, so he have 2x1 year (also NOC B). BUT these jobs are in QUEBEC...where we are not eligible to have the PR, and I am not sure that this job offers could work in another province, and I guess they don`t work as a valid job offer in other province especially if I have to convince the officer that as soon as we get the PR we wil move out (which is true because if we would have a PR we would have a bigger chance to get a job in Vancouver now).

I went through a first count of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and if I counted well, we are eligible to go through the process. The minimum points are 67, and we would have 80 without an arranged job offer. Please correct me if I am wrong, I tried to be very careful and punctual when I counted the points.
BUT the problem that we are eligible to the FSWP, but I tried to count a point number in an Express Entry CRS calculator tool and without the possession of the job offer we don`t have enough points at all. If I reach a higher band in IELTS it would be around 450. I also read the Express Entry in Nutshell thread in this forum and I used the Come to Canada tool, and according to this we are eligible.

So I am totally confused now, and I feel its a big windmill fight, and there is a high probability that I misunderstand something. Please if you have any advice, I would be really appreciate for your help, because being in Quebec without any chance to moving forward feels frustrating and waste of time (especially I am not in love with the city at all), but for we would be eligible to go that province what we desire, we would have a job, which isn`t easy without the PR. So please, if you can help me I would be very welcome! Cheers!

There are two different points systems. The FSW points system requires that you score at least 67 points to qualify to apply under Express Entry. It doesn't matter if you score 67 points or 80 points. All that matters is that you have the minimum 67 points.

The CRS points (where you have scored 450) is what determines if you are selected out of the Express Entry pool for PR. Express Entry is a points-based system so those with the most points are seleceted. If the primary applicant has at least one year of full time work experienced in a skilled profession that is not self employment, then you can qualify under Canadian Experience Class and the score you have now would be enough to get selected (at least for the time being). Without a year of qualifying Canadian work experience, you would fall under FSW and your score is not enough to be chosen. You would need 470+.

You'll want to move out of the province of Quebec either before you are selected or soon after you are selected to make it clear you have no plans on settling in Quebec.

 

[scylla]

BTW - make sure you are not including job offer points when you calculate the 450 CRS. To qualify for job offer points, you would need to have an LMIA supported job offer in a province other than Quebec.

Also, given your current strong ties to Quebec, I think you'll be challenged to prove you plan to move out of the province once you have PR. IRCC will be looking for hard evidence of this like a firm job offer and already having a rented / bought a place outside of Quebec. You should really look at moving ahead of this so that you don't risk refusal due to a failure to prove you plan to live elsewhere.

 

[Sheyenne]

Hello thank you for this answer, its a bit clearer now. I didn`t understand exactly the relation of the two points system and what should be the first where I have to be eligible. I think in this case CEC would be good enough, bot of us have at least 2 years qualified Canadian Work experience, I don`t know for my partner since he has an open work permit, but my application was tied to the employer, NOC B and LMIA proof too, I don`t know if it counbts or not. I counted exactly 449 points in the CRS without job offer and white a quite good but not too high IELTS band result (We are going to do the test soon).

But what you said about the strong ties, I feel this is the trap in the situation. Since I mentioned we tried to settle down here, so we have canadian drivers licence a Quebec one, and we live here in two years with decent jobs. So I feel without getting a job offer from BC somehow, there is no chance to prove it... But thank you because knowing that CEC would be good for us makes a bit easier.

 

[scylla]

Hello thank you for this answer, its a bit clearer now. I didn`t understand exactly the relation of the two points system and what should be the first where I have to be eligible. I think in this case CEC would be good enough, bot of us have at least 2 years qualified Canadian Work experience, I don`t know for my partner since he has an open work permit, but my application was tied to the employer, NOC B and LMIA proof too, I don`t know if it counbts or not. I counted exactly 449 points in the CRS without job offer and white a quite good but not too high IELTS band result (We are going to do the test soon).

But what you said about the strong ties, I feel this is the trap in the situation. Since I mentioned we tried to settle down here, so we have canadian drivers licence a Quebec one, and we live here in two years with decent jobs. So I feel without getting a job offer from BC somehow, there is no chance to prove it... But thank you because knowing that CEC would be good for us makes a bit easier.

I agree that without a firm job offer outside of Quebec or without actually moving outside of Quebec before you submit your application, you'll have difficulty being approved through CEC.

Again, you wont' get job offer points for your job in Quebec. You would need to have a job offer outside of Quebec if you want the 50 points.

 

[Sheyenne]

Again, you wont' get job offer points for your job in Quebec. You would need to have a job offer outside of Quebec if you want the 50 points.

Yes I totally understand this part. It was not clear totally but I was guessing that it doesn`t counts. So no matter what we would have to get an outside job offer first.

Maybe one question about this: if we apply through CEC and at least one of us get a job offer, it has to be a year long contract or shorter offer could count too? We are contractors and companies usually give us contracts for projects, what could be 1 year or more but more likely 6 months or around it.

I am asking because of this line is exist under the job offer requirements, and its not clear:
"valid for at least one year after Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues your permanent resident visa. "

 

[Sohoun]

BTW - make sure you are not including job offer points when you calculate the 450 CRS. To qualify for job offer points, you would need to have an LMIA supported job offer in a province other than Quebec.

Also, given your current strong ties to Quebec, I think you'll be challenged to prove you plan to move out of the province once you have PR. IRCC will be looking for hard evidence of this like a firm job offer and already having a rented / bought a place outside of Quebec. You should really look at moving ahead of this so that you don't risk refusal due to a failure to prove you plan to live elsewhere.

Il s'agit de moi ?