Changes in Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to be implemented from November 19

In recent news received, the long expected changes in the CRS have been finally announced by IRCC that would have a direct impact on the aspirants of immigration to Canada. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has refurbished the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for its Express Entry Immigration selection mechanism.

The changes made to the existing CRS will affect the three major programs managed through Express Entry – Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. The new guidelines, as was published in the government of Canada’s official Gazette are to be implemented with effect from November 19, 2016.

Below is a brief on the changes as expected to the job offers under CRS:

• Any occupation contained in a Major Group 00 of the National Occupational Classification (senior level managerial position) will carry 200 points for a qualifying job. Few such occupations are:

1. 0011 Legislators
2. 0012 Senior government managers and officials
3. 0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
4. 0014 Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
5. 0015 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c
6. 0016 Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities

• Any other qualified offer of arranged employment will carry 50 points

As per the old procedure, the qualifying jobs that were supported by Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) carried 600 points however from November 19, 2016, the procedure to award 50 or 200 points will not have a need to obtain a LMIA (points will still continue to be awarded using the new or existing LMIA).

Below are the additional qualifying job offers wherein the individual can be awarded the points:

• 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

However in the above cases, the offer has to be made from the same employer and the worker must have been working in Canada for a period of at least one year.

Study credentials in Canada – an important part

Enlisted below is the point system that would be allocated on Canadian education:

• 0 points for any foreign national with a secondary school education credential
• 15 points for the foreign national who happen to have an eligible credential from a 1-year or 2-year post secondary program
• 30 points in case the said foreign national has either of the two:

1. An eligible credential from a post secondary program of three years or more
2. An eligible credential of master’s level from any university level program or any entry-to-practice professional degree for any occupation as listed under the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A (licensing from a provincial regulatory body is needed in this case)
3. An eligible credential from a university level program of doctoral level

As per the old mechanism that was followed, no additional points were assigned however to make things simpler, the respective changes have been introduced by the government. Although these additional points will only be assigned if the foreign national:

• Studied in Canada at a Canadian educational institution
• Was enrolled in full time study or training for at least 8 months
• Was physically present in Canada for at least 8 months

Invitations to Apply

Any candidate who receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence will now get 90days instead of 60 to submit the application to the IRCC.

What happens to the existing pool candidates?

The IRCC will automatically implement the changes announced for the existing Express Entry pool with effect from November 19. The candidates will themselves notice a change in their acquired points i.e. few might not see any increase or decrease in their points but there is a possibility that there profiles will become more competitive than others. Also there are chances that the points for some candidates might drop due to the new point mechanism.

The candidates with higher points unquestionably have more chances of receiving an ITA however the only change that would be noticed is that the points will now drop from 600 points to 200 or 50 points in line with the new mechanism.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) still to score 600 points

One of the exceptions to the new point system is any candidate with an enhanced nomination certificate from the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) who would get 600 points only.

All the changes introduced are with a perspective to invite increasingly more immigration applications especially under the PNPs wherein a seven percent increase is expected in the total numbers.

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