Initial Express Entry profiles set to expire

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Citizenship and Immigration Canada has issued a reminder that those interested in remaining in the Express Entry pool for more than 12 months from the date their profile was created must create a new profile.

What does the change mean? Candidates who have not received an invitation to apply for permanent residence, but who are still interested in remaining in the Express Entry pool, should check the date on which their initial profile was created and be sure to create a new profile at the appropriate time. Candidates are not allowed to have more than one profile at any given time in the Express Entry system. Those who want to create a new profile, therefore, must either withdraw their old profile or wait until it expires automatically after 12 months.

• Implementation time frame: Ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Permanent residence through Express Entry.
• Who is affected: Candidates who have created Express Entry profiles but have not received an invitation to apply.
• Next steps: Candidates can check the date on which their initial profile was created through their MyCIC account.

Background: CIC launched Express Entry on Jan. 1, 2015. To date, 31,063 invitations to apply have been issued in 23 Express Entry draws. Candidates who created Express Entry profiles but who have not yet received an invitation to apply may soon have to create new profiles, depending on when their initial profile was created.

BAL Analysis: In initial draws, CIC only issued invitations to apply to candidates who had LMIA-based job offers or provincial nominations. However, in every draw since June at least some of those invited to apply for permanent residence did not have a job offer or nomination. Those who wish to remain in the Express Entry pool should check the date their profile was created and be sure they submit a new profile when their old one expires.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Canada. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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