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Global CompassGlobal Immigration Strategy
Made-up story · Step 03 of 05

Ravi’s strategy

What Ravi’s sample assessment suggests doing first, and what could improve the picture. Drawn from the assessment alone, with no promise of a result.

Ravi, a software developer in Toronto, setting off on the journey
Being eligible isn’t the same as being chosen.

Meeting the Canadian Experience Class minimums only puts Ravi’s profile in the Express Entry pool. Entering the pool doesn’t guarantee an invitation: candidates are ranked by their CRS score and invited in rounds. Official source

Prioritized actions

What to do first

Every action comes from the sample assessment. Doing them improves the picture; it doesn’t promise a result. They are worded as the sample report words them to Ravi, so the key dates, documents and missing information they mention are in the full sample report on step 02.

  1. Essential

    You and all family members, including anyone not coming to Canada, need an immigration medical exam by an IRCC panel physician; Express Entry applicants get it after being invited and before applying. If you live in Canada and had an exam in the last 5 years showing low or no risk, you may be able to reuse it.

  2. Essential

    You and family members aged 18 or older need police certificates for each country, other than Canada, where you lived six months or more in a row since age 18 in the last 10 years.

  3. Essential

    Unless you are exempt, your settlement funds must be your own and available, not borrowed or tied up in property, shown by letters from each bank listing balances, six-month averages and debts. You don't need proof of funds if you're invited under the Canadian Experience Class, or if you're authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer; IRCC's system still asks everyone for a proof of funds document, so in that case you upload a letter explaining why. Keep your funds up to date in your profile, since you may not know ahead of time which program you'll be invited under.

  4. With a lawyer

    Discuss with a lawyer, for Keeping your status in Canada while you wait for permanent residence: Permit ends within about 12 months, or status may have ended: plan how to keep status until permanent residence.

  5. Good to have

    Only if you want to use Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Ontario Workforce Priority stream instead: Ontario Workforce Priority stream: a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer (or self-employed physician).

The next steps, in order

  1. Right now

    Note the key dates above. Check your answers and correct any errors. Start gathering the documents listed above.

  2. With a professional

    Go over the requirements that need professional judgment, and the best strategy and timing, with a lawyer.

Competitiveness

What could raise the ranking score

Each line changes one thing in Ravi’s answers and recalculates with the same points tables, today and under the rules announced for November 3, 2026.

ChangeTodayFrom November 3, 2026
As things stand466506
CLB 9 or higher in all four abilities of your first official language514+48554+48
One more year of skilled work in Canada477+11517+11
French test results at NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities, keeping your English results (French-language rounds also need this)528+62568+62
A provincial or territorial nomination1,051+5851,091+585

On March 15, 2027 Ravi turns 33, and age points go from 94 to 88.

Scores are estimates from IRCC’s published points tables applied to these made-up answers. IRCC calculates the real score from a profile and documents, and cut-offs change with every round, so no score guarantees an invitation.

The paths compared

Every path the sample examined

Side by side, in the order the sample ranked them, with what it found for each.

PathWhere it standsWhat the sample found
Express Entry: Canadian Experience ClassWorth exploring7 of 7 requirements checked appear to be met.
Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker ProgramWorth exploring12 of 12 requirements checked appear to be met.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Ontario Workforce Priority streamSomething important is missing0 of 1 requirement checked appear to be met. May not be met: Ontario Workforce Priority stream: a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer (or self-employed physician).

In the made-up story: His assessment showed which of his jobs count and why his English result matters most, so he built his Express Entry profile on solid ground instead of guesswork. This is an illustrative ending, not a real client’s outcome.