On March 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a significant change to its immigration policy: the Express Entry system will no longer grant additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for valid Arranged Employment, including job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Previously, Express Entry candidates with valid arranged employment could receive an extra 50 or 200 CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. However, these latest Ministerial Instructions explicitly cancel this bonus, directly impacting the scores of all current Express Entry candidates. IRCC specifically noted that this change is a temporary measure, although no end date has been announced.
It is important to note that candidates who have already received an ITA or whose permanent residence applications are currently being processed are not affected by this change.
Significant Impact of CRS Score Changes on Candidates
Due to the removal of the extra points, candidates who previously benefited from arranged employment points will see their CRS scores decrease by 50 or 200 points accordingly. For example, in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) scenario, two candidates, Alex and Bob, initially had CRS scores of 540 (including 50 points for valid arranged employment) and 500, respectively. After the new policy implementation, Alex's score drops to 490, lower than Bob's score of 500 (who had no arranged employment). If the next CEC draw cutoff score is 495, Alex would lose eligibility for an ITA, while Bob would successfully receive an invitation.
Conversely, candidates without a valid job offer, whose CRS scores remain unaffected, may find their chances of being invited increase as a result.
Special Policy for Physicians Also Cancelled
This adjustment also eliminates a special provision previously available to physicians. Formerly, physicians could be considered as having valid arranged employment even with job offers of less than one year's duration. This policy has now been removed from the latest Ministerial Instructions.
IRCC Reminder: Score Updates May Be Delayed
IRCC has indicated that CRS score updates following the implementation of the new policy may take several days to complete. Candidates should only contact IRCC if their scores remain incorrect after one week.
Despite the cancellation of extra points, a valid job offer remains an important eligibility requirement for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Government Strengthens Immigration Integrity and Combats Fraud
Former Canadian Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, had stated clearly in December 2024 that this adjustment aims to curb the illegal practice of "buying LMIAs." The federal government has recently introduced several new measures to combat immigration fraud, including establishing a compensation fund for victims.
The Canadian government emphasizes that removing the extra CRS points for arranged employment is intended to enhance the fairness and transparency of the immigration system. It will continue to monitor and provide updates on the development of this temporary measure.
