Historical article — November 2016
This article describes Express Entry scoring changes that took effect in 2016; those rules have since changed. Since March 25, 2025, Express Entry no longer awards CRS points for job offers, although a job offer may still matter for eligibility under some programs. Check the current IRCC CRS score guidance and current job-offer rules.
IMMIGRATION
NEW COMPREHENSIVE RANKING SYSTEM IN EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 19, 2016
12 November, 2016
By Hans 'John' Kalina
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revamped the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for its Express Entry immigration selection system. The changes will have a major impact on candidates for immigration to Canada through the three federal programs managed through Express Entry, namely the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class.
The new instructions on Express Entry come into force on November 19, 2016.
JOB OFFERS
The significant changes to job offers are:
A qualifying job offer is now worth 200 points if the offer is in an occupation contained in a Major Group 00 of the National Occupational Classification:
Senior Managerial Occupations
0011 Legislators
0012 Senior government managers and officials
0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
0014 Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
0015 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services not elsewhere classified.
0016 Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities
offer is now worth 50 points if the offer is any other qualifying offer of arranged employment.
Previously, qualifying job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment were worth 600 points under the CRS. As of November 19, there will be new ways of being awarded either 50 or 200 points without the need to obtain a LMIA (though points will continue to be awarded to individuals with a new or existing LMIA). The new regulations also allow the following individuals to be awarded points for a qualifying job offer:
Individuals with a work permit issued under an international agreement, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Individuals with a work permit issued under the ‘significant benefits to Canada’ criteria, such as Intra-Company Transfers.
In both above cases, the worker must have been working in Canada for at least one year and the job offer must be made by the same employer named on the work permit.
The tables below show which foreign workers in Canada may be able to obtain points for a job offer without the need to obtain a LMIA.
Foreign Workers In Canada
NAFTA
Intra-Company Transfer
PNP Based
LMIA Based
Significant Benefit to Canada
Post-Graduation
International Experience Class
Spouses / Partners of Workers or Students
All other open work permits
CANADIAN STUDY NOW A FACTOR
The points that are to be assigned for a Canadian educational credential are the following:
0 points, if the foreign national has a secondary school educational credential;
15 points, if the foreign national has an eligible credential from a one-year or two-year post-secondary program; and
30 points, if the foreign national has either:
a) an eligible credential from a post-secondary program of three years or more,
b) an eligible credential from a university-level program at the master’s level or at the level of an entry-to-practice professional degree for an occupation listed in the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required, or
c) an eligible credential from a university-level program at the doctoral level.
Points are only assigned for Canadian study experience if the foreign national
studied in Canada at a Canadian educational institution;
was enrolled in full-time study or training for at least eight months; and
was physically present in Canada for at least eight months.
Before these changes, there were no additional points available for international students who had completed a study program in Canada. The changes reflect the government’s goal of providing simpler pathways to permanent residents to international students and graduates in Canada.
INVITATIONS TO APPLY
Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence will have additional time to submit a complete application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Whereas previously an ITA was valid for 60, candidates will now have 90 days to submit an application after they receive an ITA.
THE CONSEQUENCES FOR CANDIDATES IN THE POOL
On November 19, IRCC may automatically implement these changes for profiles already in the Express Entry pool. In many cases, candidates may notice that the number of CRS points awarded to them has not gone up. However, candidates without a job offer in particular should note that their profile — even though it may state the same number of points as before — may become more competitive, particularly next to candidates with LMIA-based job offers who see their scores dropping by up to 550 points.
The Express Entry pool is a competitive environment, where candidates’ profiles are ranked against each other and the highest-ranked candidates are in a stronger position to receive an ITA when a draw is made. As of November 19, the value of a job offer will go down from 600 points to either 200 or 50 points (depending on the position offered).
IRCC’s year-end Express Entry report for 2015, released earlier this year, showed that of the 31,063 ITAs issued last year, 14,465 (46.6%) of those were issued to candidates who had a job offer supported by a LMIA. Consequently, the effect of the most recent changes to the CRS could significantly change the makeup of the pool and the rate of candidates with a job offer who go on to receive an ITA. Although candidates with a job offer will continue to be awarded a significant number of points (50 or 200, depending on the position), candidates without a job offer may see their chances of success improving.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) Now The Most Valuable Factor
It should be noted that candidates who obtain an enhanced nomination certificate through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category will continue to be awarded 600 points. Additionally, candidates should note that IRCC’s recently-released Immigration Plan for 2017 revealed that the government of Canada aims to welcome around 51,000 new immigrants through the PNPs next year, a seven percent increase on the target for 2016. With more enhanced PNP categories opening and changing over time, it is arguably more important than ever before for candidates to stay up to date on these immigration programs.
Tags: Immigration, information, legal advice
