On December 17, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced plans to eliminate additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for candidates with Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based job offers in the Express Entry system.
Current System Overview:
Under the existing Express Entry framework, candidates can receive:
50 additional CRS points for a valid job offer in NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3 occupations.
200 additional CRS points for a valid job offer in NOC TEER 0, Major Group 00 occupations, which include executive leadership positions.
These additional points have significantly enhanced candidates' chances of receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
Reason for the Change:
The primary motivation behind this policy shift is to address and mitigate fraudulent activities associated with LMIA-based job offers. By removing the incentive of extra CRS points, IRCC aims to reduce the occurrence of candidates obtaining illegitimate LMIAs to boost their Express Entry profiles.
Implications for Express Entry Candidates: Candidates with LMIA-based Job Offers: Once implemented, these candidates will no longer receive the additional 50 or 200 CRS points, potentially lowering their overall CRS scores and affecting their likelihood of receiving an ITA.
Candidates without Job Offers: The removal of these additional points may lead to a decrease in CRS cut-off scores, potentially improving the chances for candidates without job offers to receive ITAs.
Implementation Timeline:
As of December 18, 2024, the changes have been announced but are not yet in effect. The exact implementation date has not been specified. Candidates are advised to stay informed through official IRCC communications for updates on when these changes will take place.
Next Steps for Candidates:
Monitor Official Announcements: Keep abreast of updates from IRCC regarding the implementation timeline of this policy change.
Explore Alternative CRS-Boosting Strategies: Consider other avenues to enhance CRS scores, such as improving language proficiency, gaining additional work experience, or pursuing higher education credentials.