How to Immigrate to Canada from the US - Express Entry
Canadian Immigration Options Available to Americans (and potentially other foreign nationals).
At COMPASS Immigration Solutions, we understand the growing demand for clear, reliable guidance on Canadian immigration for US citizens. It is important to note that no specific immigration programs exist solely for Americans; however, a variety of pathways are available. This blog series will identify the programs applicable to US citizens to move to Canada, detailing the pros and cons of each, and providing the essential knowledge required to navigate your potential move to Canada successfully.
Our first post in the series examines the highly coveted and very competitive Express Entry system, which is not a program in and of itself, but a platform for applying to a limited number of programs. Express entry system may be a potential route to move to Canada from the US.
Express Entry - Option for Immigrating from Canada from the United States
Most of the immigrants Canada selects come through economic programs and the Express Entry system allows eligible applicants to apply to the three most common, highly skilled programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)
Applicants are assigned points through a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) corresponding to their age, education, work experience, language skills, and skill transferability factors that combine these criteria in specific ways for ‘bonus’ points. The system ranks candidates against each other and then issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranking candidates in a program. Right now, competitive scores are over 520, with the exception of the six category-based selections targeting in-demand skills and professions. These scores are typically in the mid-400s but vary.
These categories are as follows:
French-language proficiency
Healthcare and social services occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
Trade occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
Education occupations
Pros of Immigrating to Canada through Express Entry
Relatively fast path to Permanent Residency (PR), this is similar equivalent to the US Green Card
Prioritizes professionals and certain in-demand sectors
Recognizes skills and experience
No job offered required
Cons of Immigrating to Canada through Express Entry
High point requirement for ITAs
Candidates generally aren’t competitive without Canadian experience
System favours younger applicants (higher points for under 30)
System favours those with Canadian experience
Must have experience in TEERs* 0-3 to be eligible (download our TEERs info sheet for more information on what this means).
Immigrating to Canada from the US through Express Entry currently favours younger professionals with Canadian work experience, making this a difficult route for older and more broadly experienced professionals to get an ITA at the moment.
Future posts in this series will explore alternative pathways that place less emphasis on age and prior Canadian experience.
Are you planning your move to Canada from the US and want to talk to a professional immigration consultant about your options? Book a 30-minute call with our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB) licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants to learn more about what options you have in immigrating to Canada.
*If you’re wondering what a TEER is and how to identify yours, fill out the form below to gain access to our free PDF explaining NOCs and TEERs and why they are important for Canadian immigration.