When is the right time to enter Canada’s Express Entry Pool?

Many might think that Canada has had a long pause in the visa application processing since a year or two and they are not wrong to think like that. The global pandemic has had a devastating effect on many country’s immigrations and many rules and laws are being amended to fit in the new normal.

During the pandemic, Canada has been processing most applications under the Express Entry program as that is the most rewarding and quickest way for applicants as well as the government. Even before the pandemic, over 60% of candidates who immigrated to Canada were those through any one of the Express Entry Categories.

Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Provincial Nominee Program applications are currently being processed the fastest because the people who have applied under these categories already reside in Canada. Because of this their travel won’t be hindered much and they can relocate easily. Still many people await the resume of Federal Skilled Worker Program application processing because many current migrants are skilled workers. So one might think it is wiser to wait for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to resume the application processing for FSWP and start to enter the pool then.

Why enter the pool now?

According to Canada’s 2021-2023 immigration level plans, they have a primary goal to invite 400,000 new immigrants this year and this number will only increase in the coming years. As a measure taken for their post covid recovery, IRCC has fast tracked the processing of backlog and pending applications submitted this year and observing the pattern of their recent draws, they aim to meet their immigration numbers as predicted.

Although there is the uncertainty of when you submit your applications in the Express Entry System now if not issued an ITA in the next two years, your language test results might expire. These test results are valid for only two years and if that window is passed, you might have to take those tests all over again. But considering everything, there are a few major reasons that you should look at before taking a decision on whether or not to enter the Express Entry pool.

1. IRCC has lately been very unpredictable with their Express Entry draws. This year’s February 13^th draw for CEC caught many people off guard as no one was expecting invitations around that time. Therefore, one cannot predict when the application processing for FSWP might resume. And if you do not have an existing profile in the system, your new application will be backlogged pushing your chances to enter Canada quick, even more far.
2. If you have a profile in Canada’s Express Entry system then not only for FSWP but you are eligible for a provincial nomination as well. A provincial nomination credits 600 extra points directly to the candidate and it also secures them an Invitation to Apply.
3. Another advantage that Express Entry candidates have is that if they have an updated profile in the EE System then they are eligible to make an extra account on Canadian Job Bank website. Here you get multiple opportunities to meet your desired employer and avail a job offer which credits you extra 50-200 points.

Keeping everything in mind, it is wiser to make an Express Entry account and enter the pool now than to wait for the perfect time and losing your chances of an early entry to Canada.