In a major announcement, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that Express Entry candidates will no longer earn additional points for a job offer. This change, intended to reduce fraud in the immigration system, removes the incentive to abuse Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) to inflate Express Entry scores. The new policy will take effect in the spring of 2025 and will affect new and existing candidates, including those working temporarily in Canada.
First, having a valid job offer can significantly improve a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, increasing the likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence (ITA). However, under the revised system, job offers will not carry the same weightage, leveling the playing field for candidates.
What is a comprehensive ranking system?
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a point-based system used to evaluate and rank profiles in the Express Entry pool. It evaluates candidates based on factors such as skills, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other criteria. To receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), a candidate’s CRS score must exceed the minimum cut-off for the round of invitations, which may vary from round to round.
Understanding express entry points
Under Canada’s Express Entry system, candidates applying through programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) can earn additional CRS points for regular employment. These additional points often play a key role in determining whether a candidate receives an ITA for permanent residence.
Why this change?
The measure aims to curb fraudulent practices like buying and selling of LMIAs, which some candidates used to unfairly inflate their CRS scores. According to IRCC, the new rules will ensure a fairer and more transparent immigration process while maintaining Canada’s focus on selecting skilled and qualified individuals.
Who will be affected?
The changes are likely to affect candidates planning to immigrate to Canada for work or those currently on a temporary work visa. However, candidates who have already received ITA or their applications are in progress will remain unaffected.
Impact on Indian Candidates
India continues to dominate Canada’s immigration landscape. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of Indian immigrants in Canada increased by 326%, from 32,828 to 129,715, according to an analysis cited by NFAP. Forbes. In 2023 alone, Indians received 52,106 ITAs, which is 47.2% of the total invitations under the Express Entry route, according to a TNN report.
As job offer points are devalued, genuine Indian applicants may face hurdles, especially students switching from study permits to work permits and those currently working on temporary visas. For example, students who complete their studies often secure employment to bolster their CRS scores. The new rules may prevent some from pursuing education or employment opportunities in Canada. Indian candidates may experience the following setbacks:
Less Benefit for Job Offers: Indian candidates who rely on job offers to boost their CRS scores will lose this advantage, making it harder to stand out in the Express Entry pool.
Challenges for working transfer students: Indian students in Canada, who often use post-graduation job offers to boost their scores, may face increased competition and difficulty securing permanent residency.
Growing Importance of CRS Fundamentals: Removing job offer points places more emphasis on other CRS components such as education, language proficiency, and work experience, requiring Indian applicants to focus on these areas.
High competition among candidates: Without additional points for systematic employment, competition between Indian candidates and others in the Express Entry pool will likely be intense, requiring strong overall profiles.