Highlights: IRCC Cuts off the LMIA-based job offer points from the CRS of the Express Entry system
- IRCC officially declared the removal of the LMIA-based job offer points on Express Entry’s CRS.
- Marc Miller released an official statement on December 17, 2024, but has yet to announce the date of implementation.
- Candidates with a valid employment offer will continue to receive 50 additional points through the Calculator until further notice.
- Upon implementation, Express Entry applicants will not get additional points on the CRS tool for having an LMIA-based job offer.
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What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is an online tool that evaluates Express Entry candidates based on several factors. Applicants with a high score have a better chance of receiving a Canada PR via the Express Entry draws.
To qualify for any of the three immigration pathways under the Express Entry system, the applicant must first create an Express Entry profile.
Points are allotted out of a maximum of 1,200 for the below factors:
- Age
- Language proficiency
- Job offer
- Work Experience
- Education
The Core Human Capital has factors that are assessed differently depending on whether the applicant is applying alone or with a spouse.
A maximum of 600 points can be allotted to candidates under the Core Human Capital through the below factors:
- French language proficiency skills
- Arranged employment
- Have a sibling residing in Canada as a PR holder or a citizen
- Nomination from a province/territory
- Have completed their Post-secondary education in Canada
Candidates now receiving 50 points for an LMIA-based job offer via the CRS tool will no longer be able to obtain it once the new rule is implemented. The 200 points given for occupations in the NOC TEER 0 in major group 00 will also likely be canceled.
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How do you get an LMIA-Based Job Offer in Canada?
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is one of the primary pathways through which Canadian employers can recruit foreign workers on a work permit. The Canadian employer must first acquire a positive or neutral LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), proving that the foreign national would not negatively affect the job market for the native Canadian citizens or PR Holders.
According to the latest Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027, around 82,000 new TFWP work permits will be issued.
Some of the recent changes announced to the TFWP are as follows:
- The suspension of LMIA processing for TFWP’s low-wage stream in September
- Hiked the pay requirements for TFWP’s high-wage stream to 20% more than the median wage offered in that particular region in November
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Marc Miller further announced that measures would be introduced to end LMIA frauds. To support this idea further, the IRCC will stop giving additional points to individuals with LMIA-based job offers. The government has yet to release a final date for implementation.
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For recent immigration updates on Canada, check out the Y-Axis Canada Immigration News Page!