Express Entry Draw #8: Canada Issues 715 Permanent Residence Invitations (ITA’s) including many without Job Offer or PNP Nomination

(Fourth successive draw with Comprehensive Ranking Score Under 600)

Canadian Immigration authorities invited 715 applicants for permanent residence with the lowest Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of 453.  It was the fourth successive draw under the new Express Entry System where the lowest CRS score was less than 600 points.  Successful applicants included federal skilled workers, federal skilled trades and provincial nominees from provinces participating in the express entry immigration system.

Under the initial draws applicants were required to have either an approved job offer or nomination by a province under a skilled worker Provincial Nomination Program (PNP).

It is expected that the majority of applicants to be issued (ITA’s) under Canada’s Express Entry Immigration system in 2015, will require a CRS score of less than 600 points, enabling applicants admission to Canada without a job offer or nomination under a provincial immigration program.

Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.

Read more
No Comments

Express Entry Draw: Canada Issues 925 Permanent Residence Invitations (ITA’s) including many without Job Offer or PNP Nomination

(Third successive draw with Comprehensive Ranking Score Under 600)

Canadian Immigration authorities invited 925 applicants for permanent residence with the lowest Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of 469.  It was the third successive draw under the new Express Entry System where the lowest CRS score was less than 600 points.

Under the initial draws applicants were required to have either an approved job offer or nomination by a province under a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). 

It is expected that the majority of applicants to be issued (ITA’s) under Canada’s Express Entry Immigration system in 2015, will require a CRS score of less than 600 points, enabling applicants admission to Canada without a job offer or nomination under a provincial immigration program.

Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.

Read more
No Comments

Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Components

Officers would need to determine whether a foreign national, included in the express entry pool of candidates, occupies the rank required for receiving an invitation. For this, they would need to use:

  • The total number of points assigned to the foreign national based on the information given in the individual’s expression of interest and,
  • The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that comprises the following aspects:
    • The core human capital factors
    • The accompanying spouse or common-law factors
    • The skill transferability factors and,
    • The factors that pertain to a provincial nomination or a qualifying offer of arranged employment

This is in accordance with the specifications outlined under paragraph 10.2 (1) (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

The total number of points that individuals could receive under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is 1,200 points. The allocation of these points could be as follows:

  • For foreign nationals who have no accompanying spouse or common-law partners
    • A maximum of 500 points for the core human capital factors
    • A maximum of 100 points for the skill transferability factors and,
    • A maximum of 600 points for either a provincial nomination or a qualifying offer of arranged employment
  • For foreign nationals who have accompanying spouses or common-law partners
    • A maximum of 460 points for the core human capital factors
    • A maximum of 40 points for the accompanying spouse or common-law partner factors
    • A maximum of 100 points for the skill transferability factors and,
    • A maximum of 600 points for either a provincial nomination or a qualifying offer of arranged employment

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

The Points for Provincial Nomination

Express Entry Points for Provincial Nomination

A foreign national could receive 600 points if the government of a province names them in a nomination certificate. Typically, the government of a province issues these nomination certificates. This is in accordance with the specifications mentioned in subsection 87 (2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). These provinces would typically comprise:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Northwest Territories
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan and,
  • Yukon

Foreign nationals could end up receiving these points if:

  • They have a nomination certificate bearing their names issued by the government of the province
  • The province has verified the nomination certificate and,
  • The foreign nationals have accepted the nomination certificates

However, foreign nationals could lose their entitlement to the 600 points offered under the provincial nomination if:

  • The province that issues the nomination certificate revokes it later or,
  • The foreign national declines the nomination

In this scenario, the authorities would adjust the total number of points assigned to the foreign national under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) accordingly. 

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

The Settlement Funds

The Settlement Funds

It is worth noting that settlement funds do not form a part of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) – refer to Appendix C. However, these funds do pertain to the program requirements specified for the following programs:

  • The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and,
  • The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Therefore, the authorities would include them in the Minimum Eligibility Criteria (MEC) for Express Entry as well (refer to Appendix D).

A change in the applicant’s family circumstances might affect the applicant’s eligibility. However, this would typically depend on the settlement funds required by the program to which the applicant is applying.

For instance, consider that an applicant submits the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR) under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). Subsequently, the applicant informs Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) of the birth of a child in the family. In this scenario, the officer would need to re-assess the application for determining whether the applicant still meets the prescribed minimum settlement funds as specified by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).

Officers might come across situations where the applicant might not have the required settlement funds. In this scenario, they would have no other alternative but to refuse the application on program requirements.

Similarly, situations might arise where the applicant fails to declare a child in the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR). However, the applicant subsequently informs Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) of the existence of the child – in particular that the said child existed when the applicant submitted the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR). In this scenario, the officers would need to assess the application on A11.2.

Processing offices typically bear the responsibility of determining whether the applicants meet the program requirements for settlement funds. Therefore, they would need to apply the principles of procedural fairness in this regard.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

Applicable for Candidates Who Have a Birthday After the Invitation to Apply (ITA)

The Exemption Given to A11.2 – Applicable for Candidates Who Have a Birthday After the Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Situations could arise where applicants have their birthdays after they receive the Invitations to Apply (ITAs), but before they submit their electronic Applications for Permanent Residence (e-APRs). This change in their ages could result in reducing their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.

Some individuals could find that their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores have become the lowest scores in the draw. Another spin-off of this situation could be that it might result in the applicants no longer meeting the minimum requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). As a result, these individuals might no longer meet the Minimum Eligibility Criteria (MEC) as well. Therefore, the officers would have no other alternative bit to refuse the applications based on A11.2.

In this scenario, the officers could consider applying the Public policy to exempt applicants for permanent residence from certain age-based requirements between invitation to apply and application (refer to Appendix F), based on A25.2. This policy is useful for granting exemptions in case of refusals based on A11.2. Officers would ideally use this when a change in age results in:

  • The candidate no longer meeting the Minimum Eligibility Criteria (MEC) or,
  • Reducing the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points scores of the candidate below the lowest points score in the draw

This public policy also provides an exemption to applicants who receive refusals based on the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) requirements for having birthdays after they receive the Invitations to Apply (ITAs), but before they submit their electronic Applications for Permanent Residence (e-APRs).

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

The Requirement of Maintaining the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score

The Requirement of Maintaining the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score

A10.3 (1) (h) provides certain authorities to the Ministerial Instructions (refer to Appendix A) that determine the basis on which the ranking of Express Entry candidates takes place. Applicants would need to maintain the qualifications that resulted in giving them a spot in the top rankings for receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a particular draw. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in A11.2.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) regularly conducts draws. Thereafter, it invites the highest ranked Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence. It has devised a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It uses this system to rank candidates against each other in the Express Entry pool.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) developed the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) through evidence-based research. The system relies on objective criteria, known to contribute to an immigrant’s economic success in Canada.

Express Entry candidates will typically score Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points based on their:

  • Human capital
  • Human capital and a qualifying offer of arranged employment or,
  • Human capital and a provincial or territorial nomination

Therefore, candidates in the pool receive ranks based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) as well as on the self-declared qualifications given in their profiles. After each draw, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) publishes the score of the lowest ranked candidate to receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA) in that draw (refer to Appendix A).

The Global Case Management System (GCMS) automatically records the applicant’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score when:

  • Provinces and territories (PTs) issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) and,
  • Applicants submit their electronic Applications for Permanent Residence (e-APRs)

At the time of the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR), processing offices would need to compare both sets of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. This would enable them to determine the next applicable steps.

  • If the officers find that the applicant’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is equal to or higher than the lowest ranked score in the draw
    • The authorities would not refuse the application on A11.2
    • However, they would do this only if:
      • The applicant’s supporting documentation verifies their claims and,
      • The applicant continues to meet the Minimum Eligibility Criteria (MEC) for Express Entry (refer to Appendix D)
        • This would also involve meeting the minimum requirements of the program for which they received Invitations to Apply (ITAs)
  • If the officers find that the applicant’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is lower than the lowest ranked score in the draw
    • The officers would need to refuse the application on A11.2
    • This is because the application does not maintain the qualifications needed for justifying the Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

The Requirement of Maintaining the Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC)

The authorities formulated Ministerial Instructions (refer to Appendix A) under the authority of A10.3 (1) (e). These Ministerial Instructions list the Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC) – refer to Appendix D – for Express Entry. For gaining acceptance into the Express Entry pool, the applicants would need to meet the Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC). Similarly, applicants would also need to meet the Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC) when they:

  • Receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) and,
  • Submit their electronic Applications for Permanent Residence (e-APRs)

Situations could arise where candidates find that changes in their circumstances negatively affect their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. In this scenario, the applicant’s situation would typically change between the time they receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the time they submit their electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR).

As a result, the applicants could find that:

  • They no longer meet the Minimum Eligibility Criteria (MEC) of the federal immigration program to which they received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) or,
  • Their recalculated Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores fall below the lowest ranked candidate in their round of invitations

In this scenario, these individuals would need to decline their Invitations to Apply (ITAs). This is in accordance with the Express Entry Ministerial Instructions.

In addition, the officers would also need to assess whether they could refuse the application for failing to meet the minimum requirements of the federal program to which the applicants have applied. On refusing the applications, the officers would need to invoke all the relevant and applicable grounds. Officers would also need to consider situations to find misrepresentations, wherever applicable.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

Express Entry – Assessing an e-Application on A11.2

This document contains policy, procedures and guidance used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) staff. Stakeholders would be able to refer to this by visiting the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Situations could arise where processing offices will come across:

  • Trends of concern or,
  • Trends that could serve to inform policy and procedures pertaining to Express Entry including:
    • Observations about the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) [refer to Appendix C]
    • Application triage criteria

In this scenario, processing offices would need to notify CIC-NH-OMC. Officers who come across trends to report would need to send a description of the trend to CIC-NHQ-OMC. The staff at CIC-NHQ-OMC would need to share the information with the appropriate leads within Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) thereafter.

Officers would need to note the difference between the stages when an individual is a candidate and when the individual becomes an applicant. When an Express Entry candidate submits an electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR) to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the individual ceases to be a candidate. Instead, from that point onwards, the individual becomes an applicant.

Section 11.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) comprises a new authority. This authority serves the purpose of supporting the Express Entry system.

Officers would not be able to issue a visa to an applicant who:

  • Did not (or does not) meet the Express Entry Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC) – refer to Appendix D or,
  • Did not (or does not) possess the relevant qualifications for which they received their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores at the time where:
    • The applicant received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) (refer to Appendix E) or,
    • Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) received the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR)

Similarly, when reviewing an application, the processing offices would need to determine whether:

  • The applicant possesses the relevant qualifications specified in their electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR), based on the supporting documentation provided by the applicant and,
  • The applicant has not materially changed the information provided in their Express Entry profile to the extent that the authorities would not have issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in that draw, when the applicant submits the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR)

Therefore, officers would need to refuse an application on the grounds of A11.2 if they find that:

  • The applicant did not (or does not) meet the Express Entry Minimum Entry Criteria (MEC) at the time of Invitation to Apply (ITA) or when the applicant submits the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR)
    • This would typically include the requirements of the program to which the authorities invited the applicants to apply OR,
  • The recalculated Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of the applicant has fallen below that of the lowest-ranked candidate invited to apply in that draw (refer to Appendix A)

In addition, processing offices would need to enter a decision on A11.2 in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). Only then will they be able to finalise the application.

Situations could arise where officers come across cases having a change in circumstance after the submission of the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR). To understand how to deal with these kinds of situations, they would need to refer to the instructions specified subsequently in this document.

Similarly, situations could arise where the authorities refuse an application on A11.2. In this scenario, the officers would also need to assess whether they could refuse the application for failing to meet federal program requirements. On refusing the applications, the officers would need to invoke all the relevant and applicable grounds. Officers would also need to consider situations to find misrepresentations, wherever applicable.

It is worth noting that the templates for refusal letters for the following programs include options for refusal on various grounds:

  • The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
  • The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and,
  • The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The options for refusal could include:

  • A11.2 or,
  • Program requirements or,
  • Both A11.2 and program requirements

Related Links:

  1. The Change in Circumstance Declared in the e-Application
  2. Appendix A – The Ministerial Instructions for the Express Entry Application Management System
  3. Appendix B – A40
  4. Appendix C – Express Entry: The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
  5. Appendix D – Express Entry: Creating an Express Entry Profile and the Requirements for Entering the Pool

Source: Citizenship and Immigration

Read more
No Comments

Canada Issues 1620 Permanent Residence Invitations (ITA’s) (Audio)

(First Draw with Lowest Comprehensive Ranking Score Under 600)

Lowest Comprehensive Ranking ScoreCanadian Immigration authorities invited 1620 applicants for permanent residence with the lowest Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of 481.  It was the first draw under the new Express Entry System where the lowest CRS score was less than 600 points.

Under the previous four draws conducted under Express Entry in 2015, the lowest CRS score has been steadily declining.But each applicant has been required to have either an approved job offer or nomination by a province under a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP).

It is expected that the majority of applicants to be issued (ITA’s) under Canada’s Express Entry Immigration system in 2015, will require a CRS score of less than 600 points, enabling applicants admission to Canada without a job offer or nomination under a Provincial Immigration Program.

Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.

Read more
No Comments