Understanding the entire application procedure is important before starting your quest to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program. Understanding and navigating the different rules, document checks, and minimal qualifying requirements can be difficult. One of the main sources of confusion is the requirement for prospective FSW program applicants to accrue points through two grading systems:
Prior to ever being able to build a profile in the Express Entry system, you must first accumulate a minimum of 67 FSW points.
You will then be given the so-called CRS points after fulfilling the FSW minimum qualifying requirements and earning at least 67 FSW points. A maximum of 1200 CRS points are available to you. You’re standing in the Express Entry Pool of applicants is determined by these points, which also affect your chances of being invited to apply (ITA).
Before ever being able to build a profile in the Express Entry system, you must first accumulate a minimum of 67 FSW points.
FSW Points
Let’s start by talking about the fundamentals and requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker program. You must receive at least 67 FSW points in order to be qualified for FSW. These points are determined using six criteria, including:
- Age:
- If you’re between the ages of 18 and 35, you can earn a maximum of 12 points.
- If you are under the age of 18, you do not receive any age-related points, and the number of points diminishes with each year after the age of 35.
- Education:
- A maximum of 25 points can be earned for education.
- The number of points you earn is significantly influenced by your program. For instance, a doctoral degree normally awards 25 points. A Juris Doctor (JD) degree, however, would only entitle you to 23 points. Additionally, several bachelor’s degrees can result in a high number of points; a Bachelor of Laws, for instance, would grant you the same 23 points as a JD.
- To find out how many points you will receive, verify your ECA and compare the evaluated education to the FSW education points grid.
- Work Experience:
- If you have more than 6 years of work experience in a skilled occupation (in Canada or abroad), you can earn up to 15 points for it.
- You will only receive 9 FSW points if you have just one year of job experience.
- Language Proficiency:
- English and French are the two official languages of Canada. You must pass the language test demonstrating your proficiency in one or, ideally, both languages in order to be eligible under FSW. Should your language test result be lower than CLB 7, you will not be qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker program.
- -Your official language proficiency can get you up to 28 points.
- You could receive a maximum of 24 points for the outcomes of your first official language exam. You can receive up to six points for each language skill—reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
- You can receive an extra four points if you are proficient in a second official language. It requires you to have at least a CLB 5 in each of the four abilities.
- Arranged Employment in Canada:
- In Canada, you can receive up to 10 points for a legitimate job offer.
- Your employer must have an LMIA, you must be employed under a work permit based on the LMIA, or you must work in an LMIA-exempt position in order to be eligible to get points for arranged employment.
- Adaptability Factors:
- One may receive an extra 10 points if:
- You can get up to five points if you have close relatives in Canada.
- (Maximum 5 points) You have a job in Canada that is arranged.
- Having previously worked in Canada, you or your spouse may receive up to five points (ten points for the principal applicant and up to five points for the spouse).
- Either you or your partner pursued education in Canada (up to 25 points).
- When your partner received a CLB4 or higher (maximum of 5) on a language exam in either French or English.
Please keep in mind that FSW does not actually create your Express Entry profile; rather, it merely assesses your eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker program. Another criterion, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which we’ll talk about below, determines the probability of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
CRS Points
Congratulations if your FSW score was 67! establishing a profile in the Express Entry system for the Federal Skilled Worker program. Your position in the candidate pool will be determined by the amount of CRS points you obtain after creating a profile. Your likelihood of getting an ITA increases with rank.
1200 CRS points are the highest that you can get. The CRS score calculation is a little more complicated because it takes into account whether you are applying alone or with an accompanying spouse when determining how many points you receive for a certain factor. Because of the points for the so-called Skill Transferability Factors, it can be a little challenging to determine the score without using the official grid.
