Is joining the Express Entry pool with a low CRS score practical? Let’s explore the various aspects of this possibility. To begin with, Express Entry has acquired a prominent position among skilled newcomers who seek Canadian immigration. This is primarily due to IRCC’s official service standard of six months for Express Entry applications, highlighting its ability to expedite the process of Canadian permanent residence.
Joining the Express Entry pool with a low CRS score – Is it worthwhile?
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is a crucial factor in the Express Entry process. It significantly influences the chances of a candidate receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR status. Higher CRS scores often lead to significant chances of obtaining an invitation.
CRS scores are a blend of human capital characteristics, including age, education, occupation, work experience, language skills, etc.
The Express Entry pool is highly competitive. The latest draws, specifically general draws, have witnessed a minimum CRS score of over 500 points. From February 28 onwards, there are 18,106 candidates with scores over 500 in the current Express Entry pool. Overall, the same statistics indicate around 211,487 candidates in the Express Entry pool.
In short, fewer than one-tenth of Express Entry candidates have higher CRS scores than required to gain acknowledgment for an Express Entry general draw in 2024.
This is indeed a trick situation for those who have attained reduced CRS scores, less than 500. Considering their lower CRS scores, they are in flux regarding whether they can continue to enter the Express Entry pool.
The latest Express Entry draws
The Comprehensive Ranking System’s minimum score, which is essential for the issuance of ITA in each Express Entry draw, continues to change. Moreover, the type of draw, such as program-specific, general, or category-based, will impact the CRS score.
In addition, in 2024, the CRS scores in each Express Entry draw have displayed significant variation. From March 12 onwards, there have been ten Express Entry draws. Six out of ten draws emerged to be general, indicating candidates across all Express Entry categories and programs received invitations. The general draw had the CRS score range between 525 and 541.
In 2024, the rest of the four draws were held for candidates who qualified through category-based selection. CRS scores under the category-based selection draws have been relatively lower than the general ones. Based on the category, the score range has been between 336 and 437.
The category-based Express Entry draws gained recognition in May 2o23 as the medium for IRCC to focus on Express Entry candidates with particular in-demand characteristics.
The six categories are as follows:
- Healthcare Occupations;
- Trade Occupations – Carpenters, Plumbers and Contractors
- Transport Occupations;
- STEM Professions;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations;
- Solid proficiency in the French language
Candidates in the French language category witnessed the lowest CRS score of 336 in a draw on February 29 for 2,500 candidates. Yet another draw in the same category occurred on February 1 with 7,000 ITAs and a CRS score of 365.
Additionally, this implies that candidates with much lower CRS scores in general draws might receive an ITA under Express Entry if they qualify for the category-based draws. In 2023, IRCC issued 16,000 ITAs to Express Entry candidates under category-based draws.
Express Entry
The Express Entry system handles immigration applications, overseeing the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the FSTP, and the CEC. Candidates who seek to apply for any of the three programs must first self-examine their eligibility for the programs. This implies that they are supposed to fulfill the eligibility criteria for the specific program they look forward to.
Once the candidates are through with the eligibility criteria, they must proceed to upload their Express Entry profile to acquire the CRS score. After getting the CRS score, they must obtain an ITA via IRCC.
Joining the Express Entry pool with a low CRS score – Steps to boost your score
Express Entry candidates can surely enhance their CRS scores if they possess the lower scores, while they wait for an Invitation to Apply. They must also update the profile based on the updates in the human capital attributes.
Language Skills
Recently, Statistics Canada published a report depending on the economic results of skilled new immigrants based on their language skills. The report concluded that language emerged as a huge anticipator of successful economic integration. For instance, it claimed that newcomers with reading language proficiency levels of NCLC OR CLAB 10 attained 25 percent more compared to those with a language proficiency 7 level ability.
A candidate without an accompanying partner or spouse can only get a maximum CRS score of 136. This means 34 points for each of the four examined language skills, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Candidates have the chance to take any IRCC-recognized and accepted language test multiple times, based on the requirement. This way, they can attain their desired CRS score in either French or English or maybe both.
IRCC accepts the following language tests:
- CELPIP General Test;
- IELTS General Training;
- Pearson Test of English Core – PTE
- TEF Canada
- TCF Canada
Education
IRCC also provides points for enhanced education levels. Candidates without an accompanying partner who acquire a one-year post-secondary degree will attain 90 points for the education factor. On the other hand, those with a three-year post-secondary degree will acquire 120 points.
Depending on individual circumstances, getting back to school might be a great alternative for enhancing the total CRS score.
Age
Candidates looking forward to applying to an Express Entry program must do this at the earliest instead of pushing it off to another time. This is because young candidates tend to obtain increased points compared to those waiting until their 30s and 40s. Candidates entering the pool between the ages of 20 and 29 years without a spouse accompanying them will get 110 points. Once the candidate reaches the age of 30, this decreases to 95 points and will continue to do so until 40, when the maximum decline in the points comes at 50 years.
Obtaining a provincial nomination
Express Entry candidates who obtain a provincial nomination tend to get an additional 600 points, which are then added to their CRS scores. Furthermore, the candidate is sure to receive an ITA in a forthcoming draw.
Those in the Express Entry pool can apply for a nomination directly to the province in which they would like to settle. Alternatively, they could let the provincial government issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) in a Provincial Nominee Program draw before submitting their application. An EOI is similar to an Express Entry ITA.
Provinces send nominations to candidates most appropriate to establish themselves in the provincial workforce and effectively contribute to the local economy by bridging the labor shortage gap. These provinces ensure this with the help of Provincial Nominee Programs.
Each Canadian province comprises multiple streams focusing on in-demand characteristics within the province. For instance, provinces might focus on candidates with particular professions, international graduates, and entrepreneurs. Some even offer PNP streams to candidates who seek to work in rural regions and farms.
Notably, Express Entry candidates must understand that PNP is a distinct immigration program and submit a separate application and fee to the nominating province.
A nomination is different from acquiring a permanent residence in Canada. However, it indicates the candidate’s potential, which emerges as beneficial for a PR application to IRCC.
Do you have any queries on Canada Express Entry? Get in touch with our immigration representatives at MakeHomeCanada by writing to us at [email protected].
