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Major Adjustment to Canada's Express Entry: Extra CRS Points for LMIA Officially Cancelled

On March 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a significant change to its immigration policy: the Express Entry system will no longer grant additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for valid Arranged Employment, including job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Previously, Express Entry candidates with valid arranged employment could receive an extra 50 or 200 CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. However, these latest Ministerial Instructions explicitly cancel this bonus, directly impacting the scores of all current Express Entry candidates. IRCC specifically noted that this change is a temporary measure, although no end date has been announced.

It is important to note that candidates who have already received an ITA or whose permanent residence applications are currently being processed are not affected by this change.

Significant Impact of CRS Score Changes on Candidates

Due to the removal of the extra points, candidates who previously benefited from arranged employment points will see their CRS scores decrease by 50 or 200 points accordingly. For example, in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) scenario, two candidates, Alex and Bob, initially had CRS scores of 540 (including 50 points for valid arranged employment) and 500, respectively. After the new policy implementation, Alex's score drops to 490, lower than Bob's score of 500 (who had no arranged employment). If the next CEC draw cutoff score is 495, Alex would lose eligibility for an ITA, while Bob would successfully receive an invitation.

Conversely, candidates without a valid job offer, whose CRS scores remain unaffected, may find their chances of being invited increase as a result.

Special Policy for Physicians Also Cancelled

This adjustment also eliminates a special provision previously available to physicians. Formerly, physicians could be considered as having valid arranged employment even with job offers of less than one year's duration. This policy has now been removed from the latest Ministerial Instructions.

IRCC Reminder: Score Updates May Be Delayed

IRCC has indicated that CRS score updates following the implementation of the new policy may take several days to complete. Candidates should only contact IRCC if their scores remain incorrect after one week.

Despite the cancellation of extra points, a valid job offer remains an important eligibility requirement for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

Government Strengthens Immigration Integrity and Combats Fraud

Former Canadian Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, had stated clearly in December 2024 that this adjustment aims to curb the illegal practice of "buying LMIAs." The federal government has recently introduced several new measures to combat immigration fraud, including establishing a compensation fund for victims.

The Canadian government emphasizes that removing the extra CRS points for arranged employment is intended to enhance the fairness and transparency of the immigration system. It will continue to monitor and provide updates on the development of this temporary measure.

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Latest data released by Statistics Canada on September 24, 2025, reveals that Canada is facing a major demographic turning point. Affected by federal government immigration policy adjustments, Canada's population growth rate in Q2 2025 was only 0.1%, marking the lowest post-war level (excluding pandemic period). Meanwhile, population aging trends are accelerating again, posing severe challenges to the national labor market and economic development.
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According to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as of August 31, 2025, the department's application backlog reached 958,850 cases, continuing to rise from July's 901,700 cases, representing a 6.33% increase. This marks the fourth consecutive month of worsening backlog issues for IRCC, with study permit applications experiencing particularly severe delays, surging from 23% in July to 32% in August.
09/25/2025
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Manitoba Issues Provincial Nomination Invitations to Over 900 Skilled Workers
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09/23/2025
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09/22/2025
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Alberta Issues Over 1,300 Provincial Nomination Invitations in Early September Draws
In early September 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted a series of seven immigration draws, issuing a total of 1,376 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. These draws primarily targeted applicants in the Alberta Express Entry stream and the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, focusing on inviting candidates with Alberta job offers who can help fill labor gaps in high-demand sectors. The number of invitations issued in the first half of September alone has already surpassed that of any other single month in 2025, indicating that the province is accelerating its efforts to meet its economic development needs.
09/20/2025
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Canada Holds First Express Entry Draw of 2025 for Trade Occupations, CRS Score Rises Sharply
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of the year for trade occupations on September 18, 2025. A total of 1,250 candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score soared to 505, significantly higher than the previous draw for this category. The primary reason for the score increase is the long interval between draws, which led to an accumulation of high-scoring candidates. Additionally, internal documents suggest IRCC plans to issue more invitations to trade candidates in the second half of the year.
09/19/2025
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Canada Conducts Express Entry Draw for Education Professionals, CRS Cut-off Score Drops to 462
On September 17, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the second-ever Express Entry draw targeting candidates in the "education" category. A total of 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 462. Compared to the inaugural draw for this category, this round featured a significantly lower cut-off score and a larger number of invitations, reflecting the flexibility and strategic focus of Canada's immigration policy on attracting professionals from specific fields.
09/18/2025
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Alberta's Provincial Nomination Allocation for 2025 Raised to 6,403
The Canadian federal government has recently approved an increase to the 2025 allocation for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The province's nomination spots have been raised from the previously set 4,875 to 6,403, a net increase of 1,528. This adjustment comes after the federal government had drastically reduced overall PNP immigration targets in response to pressures such as housing shortages. The increased allocation is viewed as a positive response to lobbying by provinces to meet local labour demands, and it is anticipated that the new spots will be prioritized to support key industries and regional economic development. In addition to Alberta, several other Canadian provinces and territories have also received increased allocations.
09/17/2025
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