Canada, December 26, 2024: In another major setback, the Canadian government announced that starting in 2025, applicants for Permanent Residency (PR) through Express Entry will no longer receive an additional 50 to 200 points for a job offer. This change is being implemented to prevent fraud in the system.
The biggest impact of this change will be felt by young Punjabis who applied for PR after receiving job offers. The Canadian Immigration Department stated that this step will apply to candidates planning to obtain PR through Express Entry.
Impact on Indian Candidates
Experts have called this move effective in preventing fraud but warned that it could harm genuine skilled workers and their employers. They suggested that the government should adopt a better screening process rather than completely eliminating job offer points. Currently, there are about 135,000 PR applications that include job offers.
At present, an Express Entry candidate with a valid job offer can receive an additional 50 or 200 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. These extra points can significantly impact candidates’ chances of receiving an invitation for permanent residency or may prevent them from receiving one altogether.
The Immigration Department clarified that removing additional points for valid job offers is a temporary measure, but it has not stated when it will end. Once job offer points are removed from the CRS, the change will apply to all new and existing candidates in the Express Entry pool, including those like “Parvinder Montu, a visa expert based in Edmonton, Canada, currently working temporarily in Canada.”
They emphasized that the Canadian Immigration Department has not differentiated between job offers in different economic sectors, but once the changes are implemented, they will apply to all candidates.
Summary: Canada’s removal of extra CRS points for job offers impacts Indian candidates, with experts suggesting improved screening. The change will apply to all Express Entry candidates.