You can obtain an Invitation to Apply for Canada PR from India through the Express Entry System. For this, you have to first qualify for at least one of the 3 federal economic immigration programs under the system. If eligible, you have to create a profile in the Express Entry System as the first step.
The 3 immigration programs under Express Entry are:
- Federal Skilled Trades Program - FSTP
- Federal Skilled Worker Program - FSWP
- Canada Experience Class Program - CEC
All three programs select candidates for ITA from the Express Entry pool.
Creating a profile in Express Entry
The first step requires you to confirm if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool. This is determined by replying to specific questions on the website of the Government of Canada.
You will be asked to indicate the province in Canada to which you intend to immigrate. The website will ask you about the language test you have appeared in and the score obtained in it. If you are wondering how many bands are required for Canada, it is 6 bands in IELTS for FSWP. You will also specify the number of years of work experience in a specific industry.
Once you are declared to be eligible for any of the 3 programs under Express Entry, you will have to advise the website on further steps.
The website will provide you with a code for personal reference which has a validity of some months. This code is applicable only to your profile in the Express Entry. You must record this for reference in the future as and when required when you apply online for immigration.
You must then log in to the website of the Government of Canada and create a profile online in the Express Entry System.
ITA is sent when your Express Entry Profile has a high rank
You will be offered the ITA for Canada PR Visa when your profile scores a high ranking in the pool of candidates in the Express Entry System. The ranking is according to the CRS Comprehensive Ranking System adopted by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. The ITA is provided in any of the selection draws held once in 15 days.
Once you receive the ITA, IRCC will also share a message with you. It will inform you regarding the skilled immigration program for filing PR Visa applications and the application process.
You have to file a complete application for PR Visa after receiving the ITA. It can be accepted or disapproved based on if you can fulfill all the appropriate criteria and submit specified documents.
The 60-Day period to reply to an ITA
After receiving the ITA, you must make attempts to reply to it at the earliest as you have just 60 days for taking any of the following steps:
- File a complete APR - Application For Permanent Residence through your online account in Express Entry inclusive of all supporting documents
- Turn down the ITA through the online account if you are not prepared to file an application within 60 days or if a change in your circumstances has rendered you unqualified for ITA
The ITA expires 60 days after it has been issued and your profile is eliminated from Express Entry unless you take any of the above 2 steps. Any extension to this standard 60 days period is not granted by IRCC.
In all instances wherein you have to revise any information in your Express Entry profile after you have received the ITA, you have to opt for declining the ITA online. It will automatically provide you entry into the Express Entry pool of candidates. You can then change your information and wait for a fresh ITA in the subsequent selection draw.
Being honest in completing the Express Entry profile is crucial
Your circumstances can change in any of the following ways and influence your score under CRS:
- Graduating from a higher schooling level
- Completing an extra year of work experience in Canada
- Receiving a qualification certificate
- Better scores on language test
- Fresh score in a language test at a lower level
- Losing an eligible offer of a job
IRCC elaborates on its website that candidates who get the ITA will be asked to prove the accuracy of the information offered in their Express Entry profile. If it is revealed that the applicant has provided fake information in their profile, their application will be rejected. They may also be imposed with punishment.
The punishment includes being declared ineligible for admission to Canada. Alternatively, they can be banned from arriving in Canada through any mode for up to 5 years.
If you wish to obtain an ITA for Canada PR Visa and immigrate to Canada, contact Nationwide Visas for expert consultation and guidance.