the CanadaVisa Team - 10 July, 2015
The Canadian territory of Yukon has provided details for the new Express Entry stream of its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP). The new employer-driven stream aligns with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.
The YNP Express Entry stream increases the overall allocation for the YNP from 190 to 250, with 60 of these being “enhanced” allocations that may be used in conjunction with the federal Express Entry system. Yukon employers who cannot find Canadian citizens or permanent residents to fill job openings for skilled workers now have access to Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) Express Entry pool of candidates. YNP applicants are drawn from the pool on the basis of nominations arising from valid job offers for permanent, full-time work from eligible Yukon employers.
Potential candidates must qualify to enter the Express Entry pool by being eligible for at least one of the federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class. These programs require candidates to meet a mandatory language proficiency level, demonstrate sufficient funds to support the applicant and their family on arrival in Canada, and may also include an independent educational credential assessment for equivalency with Canadian standards.
The new system will help skilled foreign workers become permanent residents more quickly due to faster processing times and will provide employers with a new avenue for recruiting foreign workers. Individuals nominated by the YNP will receive additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, resulting in an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
“Adding the Express Entry system to our existing Yukon Nominee Program will help employers who have tried but remain unable to find qualified skilled workers within Canada,” said Yukon Minister of Education, Doug Graham. “Our government is committed to growing Yukon’s skilled workforce, and this new system achieves that by giving employers more flexibility and choice.”
The steps involved in using Yukon’s Express Entry system are:
1. The employer finds a suitable foreign national worker.
2. The employer offers a job to the worker after demonstrating there is no Canadian or permanent resident who is ready, willing and able for the position.
3. The worker meets the requirements for one of the three federal economic immigration programs processed through Express Entry.
4. The worker completes an online application in CIC’s Express Entry system and enters the candidate pool. The worker obtains an Express Entry Profile Number and, if applicable, a Job Seeker Validation Code.
5. The worker proves that he or she has sufficient settlement funds. (The amount of money required is based on the size of the worker’s family as determined by CIC.)
6. The employer and worker jointly complete and submit the Yukon Express Entry application form.
7. The worker receives an invitation to apply for permanent residence from CIC.
8. The worker provides all necessary documents to CIC to complete the permanent residence application (e.g., criminal record check, medical report).
9. CIC and Yukon’s Immigration Unit verify the worker’s documents.
10. The worker receives permanent residence, usually within six months of receipt of complete and verified application.
