Canada removes bonus CRS points for arranged employment from Express Entry

Highlights: CRS points for arranged employment removed for Express Entry candidates

• Canada has removed extra CRS points for Express Entry candidates having an LMIA-approved job offer.
• This change is applicable to all Express Entry pool candidates who had extra points for arranged employment.
• Applicants who have already received an ITA for Canada PR are not affected.
• The new change is effective from March 25, 2025.

 

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Changes to CRS Score allotment for Express Entry candidates

On December 17, 2024, IRCC announced the removal of LMIA-based job offer points from the Express Entry system.  Following that announcement, Canada has now removed allotting an additional 50 CRS points for candidates in the Express Entry pool who hold a valid job offer in Canada with a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment.

This change will affect candidates in the Express Entry pool who had extra points for arranged employment earlier. However, candidates who have already received an ITA for Canada PR are not affected. The new change came into effect from March 25, 2025.

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How will the new change affect Express Entry candidates?

Under the new change, candidates having an LMIA-approved job offer will not have any additional CRS points thereby reducing their chance of receiving an ITA for Canada PR. On the other hand, candidates who do not have an LMIA-approved job offer will have an equal chance of receiving an ITA as compared to a candidate with an LMIA job offer.

For example, if Sunita and Soham are two Express Entry candidates in the pool, then the new change will affect them in the following way:

Prior to the removal of additional CRS points:

• Sunita: 540 (with 50 additional CRS points because of an LMIA-approved job offer)
• Soham: 500 (does not have an LMIA-approved job offer)

Following the removal of additional CRS points:

• Sunita: 490
• Soham: 500

If the cutoff score for an upcoming Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw is 495 points, then Soham will receive an ITA, while Sunita will not.

IRCC has also removed a section expanding arranged employment for physicians. This Section 29(4) allowed physicians who had a job offer even less than a year from a provincial government, healthcare organization, or government agency to qualify for arranged employment.

 

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