The New 'Express Entry' Model
Under the new system to be implemented in January 2015, the process will cease to be applicant driven. The process will be government driven. Full details are not yet available, but the process would require applicants to file a profile, which signifies to the government that they are interested in permanent residence, and which would set out their backgrounds. CIC, on grounds which are also not yet clear, would then select those applicants it thought were 'highest ranked' and who had arranged employment (or a provincial nomination). These applicants would be invited to apply for permanent residence, and would have 60 days to file their applications.
No longer will applicants be processed in a first in/first out system, and no longer can applicants know that they have met the criteria through clearly established guidelines. Rather, as noted, CIC will choose from among the pool of prospective applicants, only those applicants it wants to process. Further, applicants who are not invited to apply for permanent residence will be removed from the pool of potential applicants after 12 months.
Impact
As it stands, this new system creates uncertainty. No longer can an employee know with certainty whether he/she can become a permanent resident, and no longer can an employer know with certainty that he/she would have the ability to retain a particular desired employee. Though further details may clarify some of the issues, it would seem apparent that the new system gives CIC a large degree of discretion, and as such, the inability for employers/employees to plan for their immigration issues.