Canada is popular for being the most immigrant-friendly country in the world that provides career opportunities to immigrants as well as their citizens. The country is open to individuals with exceptional abilities and skills to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the nation.
However, immigrating to the country is certainly not that simple. There are several factors applicants need to take care of for a smooth and hassle-free immigration process. If you have already worked in Canada for a year or more and are looking for ways to get permanent resident status, the Canada Experience Class program is for you.
The Canadian Experience Class is a part of Canada’s Express Entry Immigration system to allow skilled workers permanently settle down in the country. However, the CEC express entry program is not applicable to individuals who are unskilled or who have inappropriate work experience for certain industry sectors in the nation. This program takes less time and is one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residence. The processing time can be six months from the submission of documents after an Invitation To Apply.
In this blog, we will walk you through everything that will expand your knowledge and understanding about the program and ways you can increase your CEC draw score.
So, without further ado, let us begin this blog by understanding:
What is the Canadian Experience Class Program?
The government of Canada recognizes and values the pool of talented immigrant workers contributing their skills to improve the economy of the country. They allow existing immigrant workers to become permanent residents through the Canadian Experience Class program. The program operates on a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) or CEC draw score that determines the entry or exit of a candidate.
If you fail to secure a certain express entry CEC draw score, you will be declared ineligible for the program. Similarly after complying with an Invitation To Apply the authorities might reject or return your application on the grounds of ineligibility or other related reasons.
At Chaudhary Law Office, we offer an extensive range of legal assistance to immigrants looking for a way to enter or permanently settle down in the country. We consist of a team of dedicated and highly skilled professionals that work tirelessly to help you discover the best solutions to all your legal concerns and improve your success rates. To learn more about our legal services, you can connect with one of our representatives or browse our website.
Who is eligible for the Canadian Experience Class Program?
It is imperative to understand the Canadian Experience Class is not applicable to applicants who have not worked for at least a year in Canada and don’t have the required skills and knowledge to match the CEC draw Canada score. If you or someone you know fall under the above-mentioned situation, it is recommended to connect with us to help you discover the most suitable option for you or your friends. Call us at 416-447-6118 to speak directly with one of our representatives.
Here are the following eligibility criteria that every applicant must follow
- The applicant must have at least 12 months ( 1 year) of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in Canada in the last three years. The experience must have been obtained on a valid work permit and in one or more occupations in Training, Education, Experience, Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 and 3 under the National Occupational Classification ( NOC). However, the one-year work experience can be gained in two different codes as long as the experience work is gained legally.
- The candidate plans to live outside the province of Quebec
- The candidate meets the required language levels needed for job responsibility. If you fail to meet this criterion, your application might get rejected, or you might have a low CEC score to meet the eligibility criteria.
Notably, immigrants who gained work experience through self-employment or full-time student are not eligible for permanent residency under the Canadian Experience Class program.
Canadian Experience Class requirements
To count your 12 months of Canadian work experience and have a high CEC draw Canada score, you must meet the following conditions:
- Applicants have lawfully obtained paid CEC work experience in Canada in the time period they lived in the country.
- The applicant’s employment duties fall under the code of NOC code levels 0,1,2, and 3 or 0, A, and B.
- The applicant should have acquired work experience in Canada within 36 months or 3 years before the date of submission of the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).
Without legal assistance from a professional and skilled express entry Canada lawyer, it can be extremely challenging to clear all the hurdles and legal issues involved in the application process. At Chaudhary Law Office, we understand what it takes to get your application cleared on the first try. Contact us today to strengthen your permanent residency application and get a higher Canadian Experience Class to draw a score.
How to calculate your Canadian Experience Class CRS points?
The Canadian Experience Class operates on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on their skills, work experience, language proficiency, education, and other related factors involved in the CEC score points calculation. Here are the following factors to consider to determine your CEC draw score using a CEC calculator
- Work experience: Applicants can earn up to 80 points for having sufficient work experience in Canada. The program allows 40 points for skilled employees with 1 year of work experience and 80 points for applicants with 2 years or more of experience in skilled NOC 0, A, and B occupations.
- Education: Applicants can earn 150 points depending on their education level. The immigration authorities give 15 points for a one-year post-secondary program, 30 points for two and three-year post-secondary programs, 90 points for a bachelor’s degree, a three-year diploma, trade certificate, or articleship, and 120 points for a master’s degree or PhD in a certain stream.
- Language proficiency: Applicants can earn 20 points for being skilled in their first language (English/French) and additional 10 points for knowing the second official language (English/French). In other words, you get extra points if you know how to speak English and French. To get a high CEC express entry score for language proficiency, you must clear a third-party language test approved by the government authorities of Canada.
- Age: You also get points for your age. Applicants between the ages of 18-35 can secure maximum points, whereas applicants post 40 years get fewer points.
By simply adding all the points based on different factors, you can get accurate and reliable estimates using the CEC calculator. If you are still unsure how the process works or what a CEC calculator is, contact us today!
Can I apply to the Canadian Experience Class program from outside of Canada?
Absolutely, yes!
As long as you meet the eligibility criteria and secure a high CEC draw Canada score, you can apply for the Canadian Experience Class program even from outside Canada. The Canadian Experience Class draw program is a permanent residency program designed for individuals who have already gained sufficient skilled work experience in the country and would want to occupy permanent resident status to continue to live in Canada.
However, at any point, if you fail to fulfill the eligibility requirement, your applications will be rejected. It is recommended to apply for the program while you continue to stay in the country for faster and more effective application processing.
Is proof of funds required for the Canadian Experience Class?
Generally, proof of funds is not required to apply for permanent residency under the Canadian Experience Class program. Nevertheless, if your application gets rejected and you are willing to apply under a different immigration program, you may be required to show proof of funds. Federal Skilled Worker program and Federal Skilled Trades Program are the two common programs for which applicants are required to show proof of funds.
Applicants applying for Canadian Experience Class Program should meet other eligibility criteria such as language proficiency, CEC work experience, education, number of years they lived in Canada, and more.
Does internship experience in Canada count for Canadian Experience Class application?
Yes, the internship experience in Canada can help increase your CEC draw score level and make you eligible for the program. However, your internship experience will only count towards the program if it meets the eligibility requirements set by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Remember: To be eligible for the program, you must have at least 1 year of skilled, paid work experience in Canada within the last 3 years of your stay. The work experience should be obtained through authorized employment in Canada for a paid position.
At Chaudhary Law Office, we help applicants protect their rights and provide legal assistance throughout the application process. We are dedicated to serving the most challenging times and offer nothing but the best. Browse our website to learn more about our extensive range of legal services, or call us at 416-447-6118 today!
