From the Desk of: February 24 2015

Sashti Srinivasan, Founder,

www.globalmatri.org

As of January 1, 2014 "Express Entry," a new immigration system, is now used by CIC to "select" individual applicants for Canada permanent residence. Here is a recap and update on the new system:

* Express Entry uses electronic profiles to highlight a person's best attributes including education, work experience and language skills, among others.

* These profiles are looked at under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class and then put into a pool of candidates.

* An individual will wait in this pool until given an invitation to apply by CIC for permanent residence.

* Candidates are chosen on a points-based system, with priority given to those people who match Canada's economic needs, therefore only top ranking candidates will be invited to apply.

* Once invited, an individual has 60 days to submit an application for permanent residence.

* Canada issued the first invitations to apply on January 31, 2015. 779 candidates were given an invitation. Each candidate received 886+ points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, received an invitation and is therefore eligible to apply for permanent residence.

* The ranking number was incredibly high, which means that candidates do indeed a provincial/territory nomination or a pending job offer to appear desirable.

* Canada will conduct up to 25 draws this year. Therefore, it isn't too late for you to apply!

OPEN WORK PERMITS FOR IN LAND SPOUSAL SPONSORSHIP APPLICANTS

A new change to the law in Canada now gives eligible spouses and common-law partners the opportunity to work in Canada while they wait for their application for permanent residence to be processed. This one year pilot project will issue open work permits to spouses and common-law partners applying for permanent residence from inside Canada, before the approval in principle decision on their application has been made. Applicants will have their open work permit processed within four months of receipt of their work permit application.

Financial stability can be a great source of stress to families, especially newly weds. This new law may help alleviate financial stress by providing an opportunity for spouses and common law partners to work before the "approval in principle" stage, which currently takes approximately 17 months. Prior to this change of law, spouses in Canada without existing work permits, waiting for the completion of the approval in principle stage were unable to work in Canada. The applicant was forced to rely on a Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse, monetary contribution from family and friends, or a savings account to support the non- working spouse, housing, daily living expenses and possibly their children.

Courtesy: VisaServe