A work offer has a big influence on your CRS score in the Express Entry system, however not all job offers get points under “arranged employment.” Gaining an ITA from IRCC and improving your CRS score depend on your ability to comprehend the requirements for these employment offers. Let’s understand how job offers impact your Express Entry CRS score.
Because it compares candidate profiles within the Express Entry pool, the CRS score is a crucial component of the application process. Higher CRS scores are usually associated with an increased frequency of invitations to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Therefore, in order to maximize your CRS score and go forward in the immigration process, make sure that your employment offer complies with the conditions set forth by the IRCC.
Candidates for immigration to Canada through Express Entry, regardless of their application route Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC), are constantly looking for methods to improve their CRS scores.
Get “arranged employment” before you travel to Canada as one way to improve your CRS score. You can gain an additional 50 or 200 CRS points with this kind of employment offer, which can be a big benefit.
IRCC underlines that not all employment offers are eligible for CRS points, nevertheless. The requirements for qualifying for work through an agency differ based on the particular immigration scheme. To make sure your job offer may actually add those important points to your CRS score, it’s imperative that you comprehend these conditions.
Eligibility Criteria for CRS Points – FSWP and CEC
Candidates must have a job offer that satisfies the following requirements in order to get CRS points for “arranged employment” in the FSWP or the CEC:
- The job must be with a single employer and must align with an occupation under the NOC 2021 system in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- The job offer must be continuous, paid, full-time, with a minimum of 30 hours of work per week.
- The position should not be seasonal.
- The job offer must be valid or continue for at least one year after IRCC issues the candidate a PR visa.
- The employer must either have a new positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) naming the specific position and worker, or the candidate must hold a work permit granted based on a positive LMIA.
Candidates who are currently employed in Canada must have a work visa that corresponds to a position in NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Work for an employer named on their work permit.
- Be legally allowed to work in Canada both when applying for a permanent resident (PR) visa and when it is granted.
- Your current employer(s) must offer you a full-time job if your PR application is approved.
For a position falling under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3, foreign nationals with a valid work visa that is exempt from the LMIA may also accrue CRS points for “arranged employment” if they meet the following criteria:
- Currently employed by an employer indicated on the work permit.
- Possess one year of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time work) with that employer.
- Hold a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year starting from the date IRCC issues the candidate’s permanent resident visa.
FSTP
To earn CRS points for “arranged employment,” Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) workers must have a job offer that meets the following requirements:
- Require a total of at least 30 hours of work per week (this can be from separate job offers from up to two individual employers*)
- Involve continuous, paid, full-time work for at least 30 hours per week over a period of at least one year
- Apply to a job within a qualifying skilled trade occupation under a recognized NOC code.
The qualifying employer(s) must either possess a work permit issued based on a positive LMIA or have a fresh, positive LMIA that validates the employment offer and identifies the worker and their role.
Foreign nationals working in skilled trade positions in Canada are subject to this requirement.
Applicants for the FSTP should be aware that if a foreign national obtains a work permit obtained through a favorable LMIA, they are required to:
- Work for an employer specified on their work permit.
- You must legally be allowed to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent residency (PR) visa and also when the visa is granted.
- Receive a full-time job offer from their current employer(s) if accepted as a permanent resident.
The full-time employment offer needs to fit into the same three-digit NOC category as your current position and be valid for at least a year.
A foreign citizen may also receive points for “arranged employment” under the CRS if they are in one of the following categories and have a valid work permit that exempts them from the LMIA:
- Employed by a company listed on the work permit.
- Accumulated one year of full-time work experience (or the equivalent in part-time work) with the specified employer(s) on the work permit who is extending a job offer.
- Possess a valid job offer from the employer for at least one year from the date IRCC issues the permanent resident visa.
Determining If Your Work Permit Qualifies as a Job Offer for Express Entry
According to IRCC, a work permit does not count as a job offer for the purposes of earning CRS points as an Express Entry application, regardless of whether the candidate is holding the permit domestically or overseas.
A job offer needs to comply with the following in order to meet Express Entry requirements:
- Employment Status: The position should be full-time and non-seasonal.
- Duration of Employment: Guarantee a minimum employment duration of one year from the date of obtaining Canadian permanent residency.
- LMIA Requirement: Include a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), unless exempt from this requirement.
- Employer’s Nature: The job offer must not originate from an embassy, high commission, or consulate in Canada.
- Job Specifics: The job offer must specify critical details like salary, deductions, responsibilities, and other employment conditions, including working hours.
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