Express Entry PR Journey: From First Search to Landing in Canada in 14 Months

My Express Entry PR journey took about 14 months, from my first serious search to landing in Canada as a Permanent Resident in 2019. Looking back, one thing stands out: taking action quickly made a huge difference. Many of us keep researching and procrastinating until we “miss the bus”. I was also a bit lucky with timing, because Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs were not as high then as they are today.

This is not expert advice or a guide. It is simply my personal timeline, and how I moved from the idea of immigrating to actually landing here, on my own, without an agent.

My Express Entry PR journey at a glance

1. Month 1

   Research

   Learned the requirements: language test, ECA, proof of funds.

2. Months 1 to 2

   IELTS preparation and ECA started

   About 40 hours of IELTS study while working full time. ECA started with WES.

3. Months 2 to 3

   Transcripts, ECA and documents

   University transcripts took about 6 weeks, the ECA another 6 weeks. Started organising documents and proof of funds.

4. Month 3

   IELTS result

   The score I was aiming for, on the first attempt. Positive ECA.

5. Month 4

   Profile, ITA and application

   Entered the pool, got an ITA in the very next draw, submitted the full application with Letters of Explanation.

6. Months 5 to 10

   IRCC questions

   A marriage-related query and other clarifications. Medicals, background and security checks.

7. Month 12

   Passport request (PPR) and COPR

   Submitted my passport and received my Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

8. Month 14

   Landed in Canada as a Permanent Resident

   2019.

Month 1: discovering Express Entry

During this time, I learned that:

• I needed a language test result to be eligible (for me, that meant IELTS General Training for English at the time).
• I needed an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to show how my foreign education compared to Canadian standards.
• I would need to show proof of funds for myself and my spouse when I applied, based on IRCC’s minimum settlement funds for couples.

At this point it was information overload, but the first concrete actions were clear: book and prepare for the IELTS, and start the ECA.

Months 1 to 2: IELTS preparation and starting the ECA

IELTS preparation

• I dedicated around 40 hours spread over about 2 months to prepare for the IELTS exam.
• I was working full time, so this meant studying in the evenings and on weekends.
• My focus was on getting the highest possible language scores, because stronger language results significantly boost the CRS score.

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

In parallel, I started my ECA through World Education Services (WES):

1. I requested transcripts from my university. This alone took about 6 weeks, including internal processing and mailing.
2. Once WES received my documents, they took another 6 weeks to complete the assessment and issue the ECA report.

While these were in motion, I also watched IRCC’s updates on proof of funds for a couple and made sure we always kept at least the required amount (and more) in our accounts. This money later supported us during our first months in Canada, when we had no job but still had rent, food, transportation and phone bills to pay.

Months 2 to 3: organising documents and getting serious

I began:

• Collecting and organising the documents I knew I would need after an ITA: employment reference letters, pay stubs and proof of experience, identity documents, and proof of funds (bank letters and statements).
• Scanning and neatly saving everything in folders, so I could upload quickly later.
• Making notes of any details that might need a Letter of Explanation (LoE) in the future.

By the end of Month 2, I had shifted from “research mode” to “execution mode”. In Month 3, my IELTS results arrived with the score I was aiming for, on the first attempt. That removed a huge uncertainty.

Month 4: creating my profile and receiving the ITA

With a strong IELTS result, a positive ECA, ongoing proof of funds and most documents organised, I was ready. In Month 4, I:

• Entered all my details into the Express Entry system.
• Double-checked my CRS score based on language results, education, age and experience.
• Submitted my profile into the pool.

The very next Express Entry draw, held the week after, had a CRS cut-off lower than my score, and I received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) within a week. This worked in my favour because I knew my target score before submitting, and because I had been preparing documents since Month 2, I was not scrambling when the ITA arrived.

I spent the rest of Month 4 uploading the documents I had already scanned, checking and re-checking each section, and drafting Letters of Explanation wherever something needed context, such as employment history details or gaps. By the end of Month 4, my PR application was fully submitted.

Videos: after the ITA

Months 5 to 10: IRCC questions and clarifications

IRCC reviewed my file and:

• Raised a specific question related to my marriage, which required more documentation and explanation.
• Sent a few other miscellaneous questions, which I cannot detail publicly; they were mostly clarifications and follow-ups.

Each time a question came, I collected the required documents, wrote a clear explanation and submitted everything myself, without an agent. By around Month 10, I had answered all of IRCC’s questions and nothing was pending from my side. Meanwhile, IRCC was handling the medical exam results, background checks and security screening, which are mostly outside the applicant’s control.

Month 12: passport request and final approval

The PPR meant my application had been approved in principle, and IRCC was ready to finalise my Permanent Residence, subject to passport stamping and issuing my Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). I submitted my passport and completed the final formalities. Shortly after, I received my COPR and a landing deadline about 4 months away, which gave me a clear window to wrap things up at home, plan travel and settlement, and prepare mentally and logistically for the move.

Month 14: landing in Canada as a Permanent Resident

Within that window I organised everything and landed in Canada in Month 14, in 2019. From my first serious research to the day I landed, the whole journey took about 14 months. Without the marriage-related query and the other clarifications, it might have finished several months earlier, but staying organised and answering quickly kept it moving.

My main takeaway from this Express Entry PR journey

This is not advice, just one person’s reflection. The biggest lesson for me was:

Take action. Take action with speed, and be accurate with every detail you submit.

For my own journey, that meant:

• Not delaying the IELTS booking and preparation.
• Starting the ECA and document collection early, not after the ITA.
• Being honest and complete in all information given to IRCC.
• Responding promptly and thoroughly whenever IRCC asked questions.

Before you use my timeline

This is one timeline, in a specific period (I landed in 2019), with specific scores and circumstances. I completed the process on my own and, for my situation, it was straightforward and manageable, but your path may be faster or slower, easier or more complicated. Rules, CRS cut-offs and processing times have changed since.

For something this important, don’t rely on any one person on the internet, including me. If you’re in any doubt, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer, and always follow IRCC’s official instructions on canada.ca.

What next: see what I’d carry to Canada, or follow every step in the Canada Related guide. Questions? Ask in the comments on my YouTube videos, so everyone benefits from the answer.