Effective March 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removed the bonus Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under the Express Entry system for those with arranged employment. This means that both prospective Express Entry candidates and existing candidates who previously received points for having a valid job offer that are still in the pool will no longer benefit from this advantage. The points that existing candidates were previously awarded for arranged employment, such as one supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), will automatically be removed from their Express Entry profile in the coming days, and their overall CRS score will be adjusted accordingly. Prior to this change, Express Entry candidates with arranged employment could receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points to their Express Entry profile.
How will this affect CRS Cut-Off Scores in Future Draws?
One of the key questions following this change is how it will impact future Express Entry draws. While it is not yet clear how this change will impact the CRS cut-off score in future Express Entry draws, we can expect to see a decrease in the cut-off score in future rounds of invitations. As Express Entry candidates will no longer benefit from additional points for having arranged employment, the overall pool of applicants will likely have lower CRS scores on average, which could lead to lower cut-off scores in upcoming draws.
This change may provide new opportunities for candidates who were previously just below the threshold to receive an Invitation to Apply. However, it is also possible that competition for other pathways, such as through a Provincial Nominee Program, will intensify, as more applicants look for alternative ways to secure a higher CRS score. We will provide a more in-depth analysis of the impact of this change as we monitor upcoming Express Entry draws.
Impact and Next Steps
For candidates who were relying on arranged employment points, this change could significantly alter their position in upcoming draws as their scores would be compared relatively to those without arranged employment. Some applicants may also find themselves significantly below the required cut-off score to be invited to apply for permanent residence.
If your Express Entry profile is affected by this change, you may wish to contact us for a consultation to discuss alternative options that may be available to you.
