Express Entry is now temporarily available for distance learning
Many overseas students were forced to finish their studies online during the previous two years due to restrictions brought on by the epidemic. As a result, the IRCC has declared that learning credentials for students who completed Canadian educational programs online between March 2020 and August 2022 will now be eligible to use these credentials as part of their total CRS score. This means that students can include online courses they have taken as part of their educational qualifications when they fill out their online Express Entry profile.
This will only be a temporary measure as restrictions on pandemics are being lifted around the world. Normally, a student wouldn’t be able to get CRS points for educational credentials if they did more than 50% of their education program through distance learning. But if an individual have a Canadian certificate, diploma or degree and finished any part of the program of study or training between March 2020 and August 2022, they qualify for Canadian educational credential points if they successfully completed the whole program:
- Through distance learning
- From outside Canada
- Through part-time studies
The IRCC may have already sent a letter to applicants who are currently in the Express Entry pool informing them that their online profile’s education information needs to be updated. The letter states that three additional questions in the education history part must be addressed by applicants in order to avoid a lower CRS score.
In order to get the credential, the questions inquire about the candidate’s in-person learning, time spent studying in Canada, and full-time studies. In order to maintain their CRS score and continue to be eligible for the current draw, applicants were asked by IRCC to update their profiles by August 2 in the letter that was made public.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the system for managing applications for three Canadian immigration programs: The Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). At least one of these programs is already open to candidates in the Express Entry pool who are applying for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Express Entry ranks applicants’ profiles using a points-based system known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Applicants with the highest scores get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residency.
Following an application, an IRCC official evaluates the application and makes a decision. The officer will request biometrics and may schedule an interview or request other documentation.
When the application is granted, the applicant receives a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). The last stage is to finish the landing process and officially becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
