How is an Express Entry Application Processed?
If you are an applicant who is about to file your application for permanent residency under the Express Entry, or you recently filed your application, the biggest question that you would be asking is – how does an application get processed after it is filed?
The basic stages of an express entry can be divided into two parts, pre-ITA and post-ITA. In the Pre-ITA stage, an applicant creates an online profile and enters the Express Entry pool. If the applicant has a high Comprehensive Ranking system (CRS) score, which is above the cut off for the specific round, the applicant receives an invitation to apply (ITA). Upon receiving the ITA, the applicant has 60 days to file the completed application with supporting documents. Upon the successful filing of the application, Acknowledgement of Receipt (AoR) is automatically generated, usually on the same day as submission. In some rare cases it may take a little longer to receive the AoR.
It is after this step that the application is processed by the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
1. Completeness Check
The Express Entry six-month processing time begins when an application is assessed as complete. This means that the 6 months processing clock starts when the R10 is passed or the completeness check is passed. This is the first step in processing the application. Applicants are required to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR) within 30 calendar days of being issued an invitation to apply (ITA). The application and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically through the applicant’s online account. This is the first stringent check of the application. The Regulation 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act Regulations imposes a strict liability on the applicants to account for all documents uploaded, satisfy what was stated in the EE profile, and ensure that there are no gaps. An application that is incomplete is liable to be rejected as per section 10 of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, and all fees associated with the application are refunded to the applicant.
A complete application includes the following:
- the electronic applicaton (e-APR);
- the cost recovery fees; and
- all supporting documentation to support applicant’s Express Entry profile and e-APR.
Usually, by this stage, the
medicals are also passed. The medicals reports are reviewed by Health Canada.
2. Eligibility
The next stage is to determine eligibility, i.e. whether the application meets the program prerequisites under which it is filed. When reviewing an application, processing offices must determine if
- the applicant possesses the qualifications that they declared in their e-APR, and if the same is corroborated by the supporting documents filed; and
- when the applicant submits their e-APR, the information provided in their Express Entry profile has not materially changed to the degree that the applicant would not have been issued an ITA in that round of invitations.
The objective here is to review whether an applicant meets the program threshold and what the applicant claimed in his profile is true and correct. If there are any issues or concerns, the reviewing officer can send your application for further review. This may include an interview, extra document request etc. The officer also considers whether the application should be refused for not meeting the minimum requirements of the federal program or for misrepresentation.The eligibility focuses on two major factors:
a. Requirement to maintain Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC) – To meet the MEC, applicants must meet the program requirements of the federal skilled worker class (FSWC), the federal skilled trades class (FSTC) or the Canadian experience class (CEC). If an applicant’s situation changes in the time between when they receive an ITA and when they submit their e-APR to an extent they fall below the MEC, the application is refused under section A11.2.
b. Requirement to maintain the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) – It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure that his application meets the minimum CRS score. The CRS score is automatically recorded at the time when
- ITA is issued; and
- e-APR is submitted.
At the time of the e-APR, both the CRS scores are compared and one of the following scenario plays out:
- If the applicant’s CRS score at the time of the e-APR is equal to or higher than the lowest-ranked score in the round of invitations, the application will not be refused as long as the applicant’s supporting documentation corroborates their claims and they continue to meet the MEC for Express Entry, including the requirements of the program to which they were invited to apply.
- If the applicant’s CRS score at the time of the e-APR is lower than the lowest-ranked score in the round of invitations, the application will be refused under for not having maintained the qualifications that would justify the ITA.
If the applicant meets the requirements, of both, MEC and CRS, the eligibility is passed.
3. Criminality – Each e-APR has to be accompanied with Police Clearance Certificates in which the applicant has lived for more than 6 months. Read more on PCC here. Based on the PCCs submitted by the applicant and the travel history, the criminality is passed.
4. Security – The last and the final stage is the security. This is a serious & time-consuming stage and is done by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Many factors are considered here, such as number of countries visited, applicant country of residence and the political situation there, past law enforcement or military record, prolonged stay in a country with out sufficient documents to prove cause, frequent traveling to certain nations. Upon the completion of the security check by CSIS, the report is submitted to IRCC.
5. Final Review – The CSIS and CBSA reports is reviewed and it is ensured that all checks have been completed, and it is then that the application is approved.
