Hi, I know there are many different people who use the forum (from the 'Newbies' to the 'VIP members'). I have seen a few people who at times are unclear on the process so I thought I would provide a high level overview of the EE process:
Phase 1
1) Get language results in English and/or French
2) If applicable get ECA done for your degrees/diplomas/certificates
3) Use the 'Come To Canada' tool to see if you can qualify to create an EE profile
Phase 2
1) Create EE profile ensuring that you can substantiate all Employment details, language details, ECA's etc.
2) If invited for PNP nomination, look at all factors and decide whether a PNP may be beneficial for you
3) Periodic EE draws will see you awarded an ITA or be retained in the Pool for future draws (Immigration programs include; FSW, CEC and FST)
Phase 3
1) For those who get an ITA, ensure that you can substantiate everything in your EE profile both at the day of the ITA and at the day of submission
Grey area: You may receive ITA based on a 'deemed' score at date EE draw is made. This is grey because the legislation leaves the 'acceptance' or 'rejection' of your application at the discretion of the VO.
Under section A11.2, an officer may not issue a visa to an applicant who did not or does not meet the Express Entry minimum entry criteria (MEC) or did not or does not possess the qualifications for which they received their CRS score at the time when:
the Invitation to Apply (ITA) was issued; or
the e-APR was received by CIC.
When reviewing an application, processing offices must determine if:
the applicant possesses the qualifications that they declared in their e-APR, as corroborated by the applicant’s supporting documentation; and when the applicant submits their e-APR, the information provided in their Express Entry profile has not materially changed to the degree that the applicant would not have been issued an ITA in that round of invitations.
Accordingly, officers should refuse an application under section A11.2 if it is determined that:
at the time of the ITA or e-APR, the applicant did not or does not meet the MEC, which includes the requirements of the program to which they were invited to apply; or
the applicant’s recalculated CRS score has fallen below that of the lowest-ranked candidate invited to apply in that round of invitations.
Processing offices must enter a decision on section A11.2 in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) before an application can be finalized. All applications must be processed in the Express Entry eligibility screen.
Requirement to maintain the CRS score
Ministerial Instructions given under the authority of paragraph A10.3(1)(h) determine the basis on which Express Entry candidates are ranked. Under section A11.2, applicants are required to maintain the qualifications that led them to be included in the top-ranked candidates to be issued an ITA in a particular round of invitations.
When a round of invitations occurs, CIC invites the top-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence. Candidates in the pool are ranked based on self-declared qualifications in their profile and according to CIC’s CRS. After each round of invitations, CIC publishes the score of the lowest-ranked candidate to receive an ITA in that round of invitations.
An applicant’s CRS score is automatically recorded in GCMS at the time when
their ITA is issued; and
their e-APR is submitted.
At the time of the e-APR, processing officers should compare both CRS scores to determine which of the following scenarios should be applied:
If the applicant’s CRS score at the time of the e-APR is equal to or higher than the lowest-ranked score in the round of invitations, the application will not be refused under section A11.2, as long as the applicant’s supporting documentation corroborates their claims and they continue to meet the MEC for Express Entry, including the requirements of the program to which they were invited to apply.
If the applicant’s CRS score at the time of the e-APR is lower than the lowest-ranked score in the round of invitations, the application should be refused under section A11.2 for not having maintained the qualifications that would justify the ITA.
Ministerial Instructions related to the CRS may be revised periodically. Applications must be assessed under section A11.2 according to the Ministerial Instructions in force during the round of invitations to which the candidate is invited. In other words, an applicant’s CRS score at the time of the ITA and at the time of application should be calculated based on the Ministerial Instructions in place at the time of the ITA.
My source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/perm/express/refuse.asp
Hope this helps, especially for Forum newcomers, and gives cause for thought to people potentially declining an ITA.
Tip: If in doubt always send a Case Specific Inquiry
Phase 1
1) Get language results in English and/or French
2) If applicable get ECA done for your degrees/diplomas/certificates
3) Use the 'Come To Canada' tool to see if you can qualify to create an EE profile
Phase 2
1) Create EE profile ensuring that you can substantiate all Employment details, language details, ECA's etc.
2) If invited for PNP nomination, look at all factors and decide whether a PNP may be beneficial for you
3) Periodic EE draws will see you awarded an ITA or be retained in the Pool for future draws (Immigration programs include; FSW, CEC and FST)
Phase 3
1) For those who get an ITA, ensure that you can substantiate everything in your EE profile both at the day of the ITA and at the day of submission
Grey area: You may receive ITA based on a 'deemed' score at date EE draw is made. This is grey because the legislation leaves the 'acceptance' or 'rejection' of your application at the discretion of the VO.
Under section A11.2, an officer may not issue a visa to an applicant who did not or does not meet the Express Entry minimum entry criteria (MEC) or did not or does not possess the qualifications for which they received their CRS score at the time when:
the Invitation to Apply (ITA) was issued; or
the e-APR was received by CIC.
When reviewing an application, processing offices must determine if:
the applicant possesses the qualifications that they declared in their e-APR, as corroborated by the applicant’s supporting documentation; and when the applicant submits their e-APR, the information provided in their Express Entry profile has not materially changed to the degree that the applicant would not have been issued an ITA in that round of invitations.
Accordingly, officers should refuse an application under section A11.2 if it is determined that:
at the time of the ITA or e-APR, the applicant did not or does not meet the MEC, which includes the requirements of the program to which they were invited to apply; or
the applicant’s recalculated CRS score has fallen below that of the lowest-ranked candidate invited to apply in that round of invitations.
Processing offices must enter a decision on section A11.2 in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) before an application can be finalized. All applications must be processed in the Express Entry eligibility screen.
Requirement to maintain the CRS score
Ministerial Instructions given under the authority of paragraph A10.3(1)(h) determine the basis on which Express Entry candidates are ranked. Under section A11.2, applicants are required to maintain the qualifications that led them to be included in the top-ranked candidates to be issued an ITA in a particular round of invitations.
When a round of invitations occurs, CIC invites the top-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence. Candidates in the pool are ranked based on self-declared qualifications in their profile and according to CIC’s CRS. After each round of invitations, CIC publishes the score of the lowest-ranked candidate to receive an ITA in that round of invitations.
An applicant’s CRS score is automatically recorded in GCMS at the time when
their ITA is issued; and
their e-APR is submitted.
At the time of the e-APR, processing officers should compare both CRS scores to determine which of the following scenarios should be applied:
If the applicant’s CRS score at the time of the e-APR is equal to or higher than the lowest-ranked score in the round of invitations, the application will not be refused under section A11.2, as long as the applicant’s supporting documentation corroborates their claims and they continue to meet the MEC for Express Entry, including the requirements of the program to which they were invited to apply.
If the applicant’s CRS score at the time of the e-APR is lower than the lowest-ranked score in the round of invitations, the application should be refused under section A11.2 for not having maintained the qualifications that would justify the ITA.
Ministerial Instructions related to the CRS may be revised periodically. Applications must be assessed under section A11.2 according to the Ministerial Instructions in force during the round of invitations to which the candidate is invited. In other words, an applicant’s CRS score at the time of the ITA and at the time of application should be calculated based on the Ministerial Instructions in place at the time of the ITA.
My source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/perm/express/refuse.asp
Hope this helps, especially for Forum newcomers, and gives cause for thought to people potentially declining an ITA.
Tip: If in doubt always send a Case Specific Inquiry
