Canada has made an important change in how it chooses immigrants. If you are applying through the Express Entry system, you no longer get extra points for having a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
This change aims to enhance the fairness and integrity of Canada's immigration process by eliminating incentives for candidates to purchase LMIAs to increase their CRS scores.
What Is Express Entry?
Express Entry is a system Canada uses to invite skilled workers to become permanent residents. To be invited, you need a good Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Your CRS score is based on things like:
- Your age
- Your education
- Your work experience
- Your language skills (English or French)
Before, having an LMIA-backed job offer gave you 50 or 200 extra points. This made it easier to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
However, concerns have arisen over the misuse of this provision, with reports indicating that some individuals have been purchasing fraudulent LMIAs to artificially inflate their CRS scores.
To address these issues, the government has decided to remove the allocation of CRS points for LMIA-backed job offers. This measure is expected to deter the purchase of LMIAs and promote a more equitable immigration system.
What does this mean for You?
The removal of LMIA-related CRS points will have several implications for prospective immigrants:
Increased Emphasis on Core Human Capital Factors
You will need to focus on enhancing factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience to improve their CRS scores.
Exploration of Alternative Pathways
With LMIA-backed job offers no longer providing a points advantage, you should consider Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which offer a substantial CRS boost of 600 points.
Potential Increase in CRS Cutoff Scores
The absence of LMIA points may lead to higher CRS cutoff thresholds in Express Entry draws, intensifying competition among candidates.
What does this mean for Employers?
1. New Hiring Strategies
Since LMIA-backed job offers no longer give extra CRS points, employers might need to look for other ways to hire. They can support candidates through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) or use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
2. Real Job Offers Matter
This change highlights the need for honest job offers. It will help stop fake offers and make sure foreign workers are hired for real jobs that are needed in the labor market.
While the announcement has been made, the exact timeline for implementing this change has not been specified. Candidates and employers should stay informed through official channels to understand when the new policy will take effect and adjust their strategies accordingly.
In summary, the removal of CRS points for LMIA-backed job offers represents a significant shift in Canada's immigration landscape, aiming to promote fairness and integrity within the Express Entry system. Prospective immigrants and employers alike should reassess their approaches to align with this new policy direction.