LMIA Job Offer Points No Longer Count in CRS

December 20, 2024

Ishita Soni

No More Bonus Points for LMIA Job Offers

In a significant shift for Express Entry candidates seeking Canadian permanent residency, additional points for having an LMIA-based job offer will soon be removed from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This change, announced on December 17 by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, marks a key moment in Canada’s immigration policy.

The Importance of LMIA Points in Express Entry

Before this change, Express Entry candidates could receive extra CRS points if they had a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). These points were crucial—up to 50 or 200 points—and could make or break a candidate’s chances of getting an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency. A candidate with just 50 extra points might easily move from the rejection pile to the ITA list.

What Does This Mean for Future Applicants?

Starting soon, Express Entry candidates will no longer earn these additional points for having an LMIA job offer. The exact date of this change remains unclear, but as of December 18, the official points calculator still awards 50 points for a valid job offer.

What Is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?

The CRS is the scoring system used by the Canadian government to assess and rank Express Entry candidates. It assigns points out of 1200 based on several factors:

• Age
• Education
• Language proficiency
• Work experience

These are known as the core human capital factors, and they can contribute up to 600 points. If a candidate has a spouse or partner included in their profile, the scores are adjusted accordingly.

Candidates can earn additional points (up to 600) for factors like:

• Arranged employment (e.g., having a job offer)
• Provincial/territorial nominations
• French language skills
• Post-secondary education in Canada

The LMIA-based job offer will soon be removed from this list of factors granting extra points.

Changes to LMIA Points: A Closer Look

• A 50-point bonus applied to candidates with a job offer in any NOC TEER (National Occupational Classification, Training Education Experience, and Responsibilities).
• A 200-point bonus applied to those with a job offer in a NOC TEER 0 occupation, such as top-level executive positions.

With the upcoming change, these bonuses will no longer be available, altering the CRS score structure.

Why Make These Changes?

The government’s reasoning behind removing these extra points is to strengthen the integrity of the immigration system. According to Marc Miller, this decision aims to combat the issue of LMIA fraud—where some candidates may try to purchase LMIA certificates rather than securing legitimate job offers. By eliminating these extra points, the government hopes to increase fairness and reduce opportunities for fraudulent activity.

Canada’s Immigration System and the TFWP

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) also plays a role in these changes. Employers who want to hire foreign workers on a work permit must receive an LMIA, which confirms that hiring a foreign worker won’t harm the Canadian labor market. The TFWP has seen recent changes, such as the suspension of low-wage LMIA processing and increased pay requirements for high-wage workers.

These changes are aligned with Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, which sets ambitious targets for work permits and temporary residents in the coming years.

What’s Next for Express Entry Candidates?

As we move into 2024, many Express Entry draws have seen cut-off CRS scores above 500 points, particularly for general and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) categories. For candidates who may have relied on LMIA points to boost their score, this adjustment could make it harder to receive an ITA.

A New Era for Express Entry

The removal of LMIA-based points marks a significant change for Express Entry candidates. While the exact date is still pending, the shift is set to reshape how applicants approach the process and what they need to qualify for permanent residency. For those still in the system, staying updated on the latest CRS requirements will be crucial to navigating this change successfully.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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