CRS points cut-off changes for IEC work permit holders. The employer-specific work permit no longer receives CRS scores for arranged employment if their work permit was issued after December 18, 2024.
This transition, resulting from changes to the authority under which IEC work permits are issued, affects work permit holders under the IEC’s Young Professionals work permits category.
The Young Professionals category of the IEC is the only work permit category of the IEC under which candidates could get an additional 50 or 200 CRS points for having a valid employment offer.
IEC work permit holders who had their permits issued before December 18, 2024, will continue to get points for arranged employment, provided that they meet all other requirements for a valid employment offer.
This points removal comes sooner than the planned removal of all bonus CRS points for valid job offers, which is planned for the spring 2025.
Impact On IEC Work Permit Holders In The Express Entry Pool
CRS points cut-off changes for IEC work permit holders.
Well, Express Entry candidates presently receive points for new confirmed offers of employment, provided that the employment offer meets eligibility requirements.
Applicants can obtain an additional:
- 200 CRS points for employment offers at the National Occupation Classification Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (NOC TEER) 0 level that are part of major group 00
- 50 CRS points for job offers under the NOCs
The NOC system is Canada’s method of categorizing as well as describing occupations in the country, organizing them by sector and industry. Parallel to this, the TEER system assigns a level to each profession in the NOC system based on the requisite amount of training, education, and experience required to perform the responsibilities of the role.
The government has announced that the pending removal of all CRS points for arranged employment will take effect in the Spring of 2025.
IEC work permit holders in the Express Entry candidate pool will, therefore, face an expedited timeline for the removal of CRS points associated with their arranged employment.
This removal of these points implies that some candidates in the Express Entry pool who currently claim arranged employment points via a Young Professionals work permit will lose either 50 or 200 CRS points. This illustrates a substantial shift in their chances of receiving an ITA, i.e., invitation to apply through the Express Entry system.
In addition, IEC work permit holders who got their work permit after December 18, 2024, will see their points removed sooner than candidates who claim arranged employment points through other work permits. This might further negatively impact their chances of receiving an ITA since some other candidates in the Express Entry pool can continue to benefit from the additional CRS points for valid employment offers until the spring.
According to an IRCC officer, the immigration department is currently in the process of updating its system as well as web content in accordance with the removal of these points.
What Led To This Change?
CRS points cut-off changes for IEC work permit holders. However, it is not clear why this transition to arranged employment through the IEC Young Professionals category has taken place before the broader changes in spring.
The immigration department first announced in December of 2024 that they intended to remove CRS points for candidates with arranged employment based on the desire to ‘reduce the potential for LMIA fraud.’
IRCC later confirmed that they planned to eliminate CRS points allocations for arranged employment in spring 2025. IRCC also confirmed that this change will impact candidates in the Express Entry pool, but not those who have already submitted an application for permanent residence nor candidates who have received an ITA based on a previous CRS score that included points for arranged employment.
CWRVisa, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at CWRVisa.ca.