Express Entry supporting the needs of British Columbian employers

VANCOUVER, May 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Express Entry is proving to be a success in serving the needs of employers and provinces alike. Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander, welcomed new Express Entry permanent residents Mr. Thanikachalam Ananthakrishnan from India, and Ms. Zoe Cremin, from Ireland, to Canada.

Mr. Ananthakrishnan was accepted under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. He is employed as a Front End Engineer at custom menswear company, Indochino, in Vancouver.

Minister Alexander also welcomed Ms. Cremin, the first permanent resident under the Express Entry stream of the Provincial Nominee Program for British Columbia. She works as a software engineer at Sycle.net Technologies Ltd.

British Columbia is the first Canadian province or territory to welcome a provincial nominee as a permanent resident through Express Entry.

Launched in January, Express Entry is a new way of managing applications for Canada's key economic immigration programs. Candidates create an online profile and express their interest in coming to Canada permanently. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria are accepted into the pool and ranked according to various factors, including language proficiency, education and work experience. Each is a leading indicator of one's likelihood of integrating fully and quickly into Canadian society and making an optimal contribution to the economy.

Quick facts

• Most complete electronic applications under Express Entry will be processed in six months or less.
• Provinces and Territories can use Express Entry to find and nominate candidates that meet their specific labour market needs. Under the Provincial Nominee Program, provinces and territories have an agreement with the Government ofCanada that lets them nominate immigrants who want to settle in their province.
• As of May 10^th, British Columbia has nominated the highest number of Provincial Nominee candidates coming through Express Entry.