OA CLARKE IMMIGRATION SERVICES INC.

Express Entry is Canada's online point-based application management system for economic immigration. It manages candidates across three main federal programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). Candidates receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and wait for periodic draws to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence.

There is no fixed minimum score for Express Entry as a whole. Instead, IRCC conducts competitive invitation draws with varying Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores based on stream category, labor priorities, and candidate pool volume. However, for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) stream, candidates must first score at least 67 points out of 100 on the FSW selection grid to enter the pool.

PNPs allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who meet local economic and labor market needs. Securing an Express Entry-aligned PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points to a candidate's profile, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in an upcoming federal draw.

Most Canadian PR cards are issued for a 5-year period. To maintain your Permanent Resident status, you must meet the physical presence requirement by accumulating at least 730 days (2 years) in Canada within every 5-year rolling timeframe.

An ECA is an independent verification report used to confirm that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate is valid and equivalent to a Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential. Designated organizations include WES, ICAS, IQAS, CES, and the Medical Council of Canada.

A Work Permit grants temporary status allowing you to reside and work in Canada for a specific duration or employer. Permanent Residency grants enduring status with full access to healthcare, legal protections, and work mobility across Canada, serving as the final step before applying for Canadian citizenship.

An LMIA is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that a Canadian employer must obtain before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA proves there is a genuine need for a foreign worker and that no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available to fill the job.

Yes. Primary applicants can include their legal spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under the age of 22 in their economic immigration application. Included dependents receive Permanent Resident status simultaneously upon application approval.

To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must be a Permanent Resident and have physically lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) out of the 5 years immediately preceding your application. You must also satisfy tax filing requirements, pass a citizenship test (ages 18–54), and demonstrate official language proficiency (CLB 4+).

A PGWP is an open work permit granted to international students who graduate from an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. PGWPs are issued for 8 months to 3 years depending on program duration, enabling graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience to qualify for PR.

Category-Based selection allows IRCC to invite candidates in Express Entry who meet specific targeted profile criteria—such as high French-language proficiency or work experience in priority sectors like Healthcare, STEM, Trades, Transport, and Agriculture—often at significantly lower CRS cut-offs.

A PAL is a document issued by a Canadian province or territory confirming that an international student application falls within the province's allocated federal intake cap. Most undergraduate study permit applicants must include a PAL with their application to IRCC.

Settlement fund requirements vary by family size and are updated annually by IRCC. Single applicants under Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades generally require approximately $14,000 to $15,000 CAD in unencumbered, transferable funds. Applicants under CEC or those with a valid job offer are exempt from proof of funds.

Yes. Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 18+ can sponsor their legally married spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence under the Family Class sponsorship program, requiring a mandatory 3-year financial undertaking.

If your temporary status expires before you submit an extension application, you lose legal status in Canada. However, you have a 90-day restoration period from the date of status loss to apply to restore your temporary resident status while paying required government restoration fees.

Maintained Status (formerly Implied Status) occurs when a temporary resident applies to extend or change their status prior to their current permit's expiration date. You remain legally authorized to stay and continue working/studying under the same conditions until IRCC renders a decision.

For English proficiency, IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core. For French proficiency, accepted tests are TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Language test results remain valid for 2 years.

Criminal inadmissibility stems from past criminal convictions (such as DUIs, theft, or assault) regardless of where they occurred. Medical inadmissibility applies if a medical condition poses a danger to public safety or represents an excessive demand on Canadian health or social services.

An Open Work Permit allows you to work for virtually any employer in Canada without location or sector restrictions. A Closed (Employer-Specific) Work Permit restricts employment exclusively to the specific employer, position, and location listed on your permit approval.

Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are authorized by the CICC to provide legal representation. Partnering with an RCIC ensures your application adheres to complex IRCC regulations, prevents costly procedural errors or misrepresentation refusals, and optimizes your strategic eligibility pathway.