Recent Express Entry Changes

Express Entry Changes Effective November 19, 2016

The Express Entry System is an online application process that is created to pick out skilled workers from foreign countries that are applying through one of the federal economic programs for immigration purposes. It is a great way for employers to find and evaluate potential skilled workers through assessing their skills and experiences through a profile and a point based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Effective November 19^th 2016, there will be changes made to the point based system, these changes will apply to individuals who are applying to come to Canada through one of the federal programs. These programs include the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class all managed through the Express Entry system.

Express Entry improvements have been made to help support Canada’s economic stability. These changes have been made to help attract the best across the globe; these include skilled workers, former international students and experience professionals. The goal is for these individuals to strengthen Canada competitive market.

Express Entry Change on Job Offers

Prior to the change of the Express Entry as the applicant you would be rewarded 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The points are awarded for persons that have a valid job offer with an employer in Canada and supported by Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) . As of November 19, 2016, the points awarded by the CRS for a job offer have changed in three ways:

Points Awarded for Job Offers that are on LMIA Exempt Work Permit

If you have job offer in Canada you are awarded points for being on a LMIA Exempt-Work Permit. So, if you are in Canada on a specific LMIA-exempt Work Permit and like to change your temporary status to permanent status you don’t need to go through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to be awarded points for your job offer by CRS. These candidates include:

• North American Free Trade Agreement
• Federal-Provincial Agreement
• Mobilite Francophone
• Intra Company Transferee

Also, these individuals have to meet at least one year of work experience from the same employer who has provided the job offer.

Job Offer Duration Changed to minimum of one year from Permanent

The job offer duration requirement has changed from permanent to at least one year experience upon receiving permanent residency. This change allows skilled applicants that are working for contract based companies to have a higher chance of receiving invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Points awarded for job offers will be reduced.

Since the change qualifying job offers supported by LMIA changed from 600 points to 200 or 50 points depending on the position. 50 points is awarded for candidates that fall under National Occupation Code (NOC) 0, A or B. 200 points will be given to candidates with a valid job offer in a NOC 00 occupations (mainly senior managerial positions). This change welcomes more skilled workers to Canada, because before it was very hard for skilled workers to get an invitation to apply due to not meeting the CRS point system.

Also, certain Work Permit holders may get points for their job offer even if they have not obtained a LMIA (note: LMIA holders will also continue to be awarded points for a job offer).

Express Entry Change on Education Requirements

Before the changes, Express Entry system only awarded points for your overall education as long as it was equivalent to a Canadian standard. No other points were available for international students or graduates who had completed their studies in Canada. Since the November 19, 2016 change the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) awards points for Canadian education in the following ways:

• High School – 0 points are awarded for the foreign national
• One or two year diploma/certificate for post-secondary program – 15 points awarded for the foreign national

• Degree, Diploma/certificate (3 years or plus), Master’s Degree, Professional or Doctoral Degree of at least one academic year – 30 points awarded for the foreign national

These points are only given to foreign nationals who studied at a Canadian educational institution and were enrolled in the program for at least eight months or had at least 8 months of training. Also, the foreign national needs to be physically present in Canada for at least in 8 months.

These changes were made to help international students transition to permanent residence using the Express Entry system.

Changes to Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Upon receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency, previously applicants were given 60 days to respond to the ITA, now applicants are given 90 days to submit an application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This gives applicants more time to gather documents to avoid rushing applicants. These documents can include police certificates and medical exams.

I have submitted an Express Entry application will I be affected by the Changes

If you have submitted your Express Entry application and you are in the Express Entry pool then IRCC will automatically make the changes for your Express Entry profile effective November 19, 2016. Many candidates may notice that the number of CRS points given has not increased. If you are a candidate without a job offer you may have noticed there is no change and the points remain the same as before. Since the change on November 19, 2016 the points for job offers has decreased from 600 points to 200 or 50 points depending the position. This change makes it more competitive for candidates that have a LMIA based job offer and their scores affected by 550 points. This change is good news for candidates without a job offer and helps increase their chances of getting an ITA. Candidates with job offer still get fair enough points but it will be more competitive than before.

Are Provincial Nominee Programs affected by the Express Entry Changes?

If you have received provincial nomination through one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) you will continue to receive 600 points. Also, the government of Canada has set a new plan for 2017 that aims at welcoming 51,000 immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). So ensure you keep yourself updated with changes happening to avoid missing out on great opportunities to Canada.

Looking to apply for PR under the Express Entry? Contact Akrami & Associates

Have you submitted your Express Entry application and not sure how the November 19, 2016 changes will affect your application? Or are you looking to see how the Express Entry changes will benefit you then contact Akrami & Associates today. Akrami & Associates has submitted many successful immigration application and we can help you too. Contact us today at 416-477-2545 for further details.

With Akrami & Associates there is always a way!!