HOW COMPREHENSIVE RANKING SYSTEM (CRS) SCORES WORKS

Immigration law

07 Apr

If you are chasing Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry, mastering the CRS is your secret weapon for cranking up your score and boosting your chances of getting that golden "invite to apply" for PR. Think of it as your personal cheat code to Canadian immigration.

Canada has welcomed hundreds of thousands of permanent residents based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, with the Canadian federal government using the CRS to decide which candidates will receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence (PR) through the Express Entry system.

Your CRS score is basically the gatekeeper between you and Canadian PR – it’s either your ticket to maple syrup-filled dreams or a one-way trip back to the drawing board.

To get permanent residence through Express Entry, you need an invitation to apply (ITA), which the Canadian federal government hands out through regular draws. Each candidate in the system gets a CRS score between 0 and 1200, and the higher your score, the better your chances of getting an ITA. To be selected in a draw, you must meet the draw’s requirements, and your CRS score has to meet or exceed the cut-off score for that particular draw.

To get a CRS score, it is mandatory to first enter the Express Entry pool and show your intention to settle in a province or territory outside of Quebec, since Quebec has its own immigration system, and immigration there is not handled through Express Entry.

To join the pool, you need to meet the eligibility criteria for one of the three immigration programs managed by Express Entry:

1. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC),
2. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or
3. The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

IRCC conducts the following types of draws:

General draws: These include eligible candidates with a valid profile in the Express Entry pool for any of the three Express Entry programs.

Program-specific draws: These focus on eligible candidates from a specific Express Entry program (like CEC).

Category-based draws: These are for candidates who meet the criteria of a specific category set by IRCC.

 

The established categories, such as French-language skills and select occupations within five specific fields, are like the VIP sections of the Express Entry draw. If you fit the bill, you might just find yourself with a golden ticket to a faster immigration process.

 

The categories are:

1. Agriculture and agri-food

2. Healthcare

3. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)

4. Trades

5. Transport

 

Scores or Points are calculated by many factors such as Age, Arranged employment, Education, Family ties to Canada, Language proficiency, Skills, Work experience and factors such as Provincial or Territorial nomination.

 

RRM Law can assist with CRS by offering expert guidance on how to maximize your CRS score and improve your chances of being selected for permanent residence. We can help assess your profile, identify opportunities for boosting your score (such as through language proficiency, work experience, or provincial nominations), and guide you through the complexities of the Express Entry system. Our legal team can also ensure your application is complete, accurate, and fully aligned with the latest immigration rules, increasing your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

 

You can always boost your scores by: There’s absolutely no shame in jumping into the pool and then slowly working on boosting your CRS score – it’s like entering the race and then deciding to hit the gym for a bit before sprinting to the finish line. Just a reminder - Don’t forget to upload your converted test results into your Express Entry profile.

One way is by receiving a provincial or territorial nomination, which can earn you an additional 600 points. When creating your Express Entry profile, you can specify which provinces or territories you’d like to be considered for. To be eligible for a nomination, you must follow the specific process for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream you are interested in.

Another way is  having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer can earn you an extra 50 or 200 CRS points. To qualify, your job offer must meet specific criteria, such as being backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or being LMIA-exempt. However, be aware that these additional points for a valid job offer will be removed from the CRS in the Spring of 2025.

And lastly you can increase you score by Language proficiency that plays a significant role in your CRS score. You can earn up to 160 points for Core Human Capital and Spousal language skills, up to 100 Skill Transferability points when combining language with other factors, and up to 50 extra points for high proficiency in French.

In addition to immigration services, RRM Law offers support in other legal areas, such as criminal defense attorney, real estate lawyer, and family law attorney. They can represent you in communications with the government and help you navigate the application process, including the next steps toward applying for permanent residence with the Canadian federal government.

"Looking for the best? Contact RRM Law today."