The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is designed for applicants who have already gained work experience in Canada. It is one of the three programs under which you may qualify for permanent residence through the Express Entry (EE) system. To be eligible you must meet the following requirements:
- In the past 3 years, have completed 1 year of paid work in Canada (full-time, or part-time, for a total of 1,560 hours) in a managerial, professional, or technical job, or skilled trade (National Occupation Classification skill type 0, or skill levels A or B).
- Take a language test to show proficiency in either English (with the CELPIP, IELTS or PET test) or French (with TEF or TCF). The scores are standardized according to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). The minimum scores required are:
- For NOC 0 or A (managerial or professional occupations) – CLB 7
- For NOC B (technical occupations or trades) – CLB 5
Unlike other programs under Express Entry, CEC requires no proof of funds. If you meet the requirements, you may enter the “pool” of candidates by uploading a profile through EE. EE is a platform used to competitively rank candidates against each other by assigning a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to each profile. Since EE is points based, you may need to submit more documents than what is needed to simply qualify for CEC, as this will make your profile more likely to receive an invitation to apply (ITA). Once invited, how quickly your application is processed may vary, but the average time is approximately 6 months. There are several factors which may cause longer processing times, including errors or omissions in your application, which could even result in a refusal. The most crucial component in this application is which work experience you use to apply and what documents you use to prove it. The lawyers at our firm have many years of experience and can advise you on the optimal strategy to obtain permanent residence, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of your application.
