Canada has made a major change to its Express Entry system! Starting March 25, 2025, candidates will no longer get extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for having a valid job offer—even if it was supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
This change could impact many immigration hopefuls. Let’s break it down in simple terms.
What Has Changed?
Before this change, Express Entry candidates could receive:
- 50 extra CRS points for a job offer in a skilled position.
- 200 extra CRS points for a job offer in a senior management role.
Now, these extra points are no longer available. Your CRS score will be calculated only based on factors like age, education, language skills, and work experience.
Who is Affected?
- Candidates in the Express Entry pool: If you had CRS points for a job offer, your score will drop by 50 or 200 points.
- Candidates who already received an Invitation to Apply (ITA): No impact—your PR application is safe.
- Candidates applying in the future: You won’t get extra points for arranged employment.
Why Did Canada Remove These Points?
The government made this change to prevent fraud and misuse of the system.
Many candidates were reportedly “buying” job offers (which is illegal), and this update aims to stop unfair advantages in the immigration process.
How Will This Impact Express Entry Candidates?
- If you had a job offer → Your CRS score will go down.
- If you didn’t have a job offer → Your ranking might improve compared to others who lost points.
- Express Entry draws could change → Since many people will lose points, the CRS cutoff score may decrease in future draws.
Example:
- Andrew had a job offer and 540 CRS points. Now, he has 490.
- Anita had 500 CRS points and didn’t have a job offer.
- In a draw with a CRS cutoff of 495, Anita will get selected, but Andrew will not.
Changes for Physicians
- Previously, doctors could qualify for a job offer with less than one year of employment, if offered by a government or healthcare organization.
- This special rule has now been removed. Doctors now need to meet the same job offer rules as everyone else.
How Does Express Entry Work Now?
Even without job offer points, you can still boost your CRS score with:
- Higher language test scores (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF for French)
- More work experience
- A provincial nomination (PNP) – worth 600 points!
- Studying in Canada
- Having a sibling in Canada
FAQs: Your Questions Answered!
1. I already got an ITA. Will this affect me?
No! If you’ve already received an invitation, your process will continue as usual.
2. My CRS score dropped because of this change. Can I do anything?
Yes! You can improve your score by:
- Retaking your IELTS or CELPIP to get higher scores
- Applying for a provincial nomination (worth 600 points!)
- Gaining more work experience
3. Will Express Entry cut-off scores get lower now?
It’s possible! Since many candidates are losing points, future draws may have lower CRS cutoffs, making it easier for others to get selected.
4. Is this change permanent?
IRCC says it’s temporary, but there is no date for when the extra job offer points might return.
5. Can I still get PR through a job offer?
Yes! A job offer still helps, even if it doesn’t give extra CRS points. Some provinces also prioritize candidates with job offers in their PNP programs.
Final Thoughts
While this change might be disappointing for some, it also creates new opportunities for candidates without job offers. Express Entry is evolving, and smart candidates will adapt and find new ways to boost their scores!
Need help navigating these changes? Ask Kubeir is here to guide you! 🚀
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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. Always consult experts like us or the official IRCC website for up-to-date details.