Skilled immigrants to get into Canada via Express Entry in 2015

The Canadian government is moving along with their plans to bring "a faster, fairer and more flexible system" to potential skilled immigrants via Express Entry system as early as January 2015, said Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander on Tuesday.

Formerly known as Expression of Interest, Express Entry has been in the works for nearly two years as part of an effort to reform the current system.

During a press conference held at a Chinese mall Tuesday in the Greater Toronto Area, Alexander stressed that Express Entry will help transform Canada's immigration system into one that is efficient and focused on meeting Canada's economic and labor needs.

Those who've been invited to apply under the new system will see processing times reduced to six months or less, he said. It will also help employers find the skilled workers they're looking for, and new immigrants settle into their new lives as quickly as possible.

"Express Entry will be a swifter path to Canada that will select immigrants based on the skills and attributes Canada needs based on those identified by governments, but also by employers and based on criteria that are linked to immigrant's economic success once they arrive here," he said.

The new system will help ensure immigrants who enter the country have everything they need to make Canada their new home.

The system will be used by applicants in four current immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Programs, as long as the specific province or territory has brought the program under Express Entry.

Candidates who receive a valid job offer or nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program will be quickly invited to apply for permanent residency, which is a key distinction between Express Entry and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that is only used to fill temporary labor and skill shortages.