Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has announced plans to remove the additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points awarded to Express Entry candidates with job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Previously, candidates could receive an extra 50 or 200 CRS points for such job offers, which often made the difference between receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency or not.
This change aims to address concerns over fraudulent practices where candidates have been purchasing fake LMIAs to artificially boost their CRS scores.
By removing these additional points, the Express Entry system will place greater emphasis on core human capital factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.
While the exact timeline for implementing this change has not been specified, candidates and employers are advised to monitor official updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to understand when these adjustments will take effect and adapt their strategies accordingly.
This policy update underscores Canada’s commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent immigration process, ensuring that the selection of candidates for permanent residency is based on genuine qualifications and contributions to the Canadian economy.
On December 17, 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced plans to remove the additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points awarded to Express Entry candidates with Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-backed job offers.
As of December 18, the government’s online points calculator continues to award 50 or 200 points for valid LMIA-backed job offers, indicating that the change has not yet been implemented.
The exact date for the implementation of this change remains unspecified. Candidates and employers are advised to monitor official updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to understand when these adjustments will take effect and to adapt their strategies accordingly.
This policy update underscores Canada’s commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent immigration process, ensuring that the selection of candidates for permanent residency is based on genuine qualifications and contributions to the Canadian economy.
Understanding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals through work permits.
To employ a foreign national under the TFWP, an employer must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) with a positive or neutral outcome. This assessment, issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), confirms that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market or disadvantage Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
In September, the federal government halted the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Additionally, starting in November, new pay requirements were introduced for the high-wage stream. Employers hiring under this stream must now offer wages that are at least 20% higher than the median wage for that occupation in the region. Previously, the requirement was only to match or exceed the median wage.
These adjustments to the TFWP align with broader immigration policy changes outlined in the latest Immigration Levels Plan. Notably, this year’s plan is the first to include targets for temporary resident levels, including net new TFWP work permits. The target for net new TFWP work permits in 2025 has been set at 82,000.
Reasons Behind the Recent Changes to the TFWP
“We will be introducing additional measures to strengthen the program and minimize the risk of LMIA fraud,” Miller announced.
He explained that by eliminating the extra points awarded in Express Entry for having a job offer, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to reduce fraud and enhance the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
“This change is intended to eliminate the incentive for candidates to buy an LMIA, promoting greater fairness and integrity in the Express Entry process,” Miller added.
