Ways to Improve your CRS Scores for Canada Express Entry.

by Immig Toronto Best Canada Immigration Experts

Canadian government introduced the Express Entry immigration system for efficient organization and filtration of applications for Canadian permanent residence. Programs included in Canada’s Express Entry system are highly competitive. Applicants with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores stand maximum chances to receive an ITA through Express Entry.

Various short-term and long-term ways can be adopted to improve CRS score before and after submission of your Express Entry profile. There might be a possibility that you have not checked your eligibility for different Express Entry-aligned programs, leaving multiple points unclaimed. Thus, it becomes important to understand the calculation process of CRS points, that you do not miss on any criteria.

Calculation of CRS points

Following a passive approach towards your application for Express Entry will result in poor rank under the Comprehensive Ranking System. There is a possibility that you might have not claimed all the CRS points that you are entitled to. It is important to check your eligibility under all the Express Entry-aligned programs, so that you can claim maximum points and improve your chances to be invited for Canada immigration.

Express Entry system is a dynamic system, CRS scores once decided can be boosted up through certain improvements. Few steps can improve your CRS scores by up to 600 points, which will increase your probabilities to be invited to apply for permanent resident status.

Review these factors: Check if you have claimed all the points

There are a few criteria under which you might miss on the points, review these factors before submitting your Express Entry profile. Check these factors and if you have not claimed all the points that you are eligible for, claim them now to improve your CRS ranking.

Education

This factor is specifically for candidates from Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). As candidates from FSTC and CEC, do not have to give an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or Canadian Credential, like Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC). It means that you are leaving almost 200 points unclaimed if you fall under the stated category. Education criterion offers 150 points, and can provide an additional 50 points when integrated with Canadian work experience and/or your language ability.

Also Read: How to get Canada PR visa? Step by step guide.

In your Express Entry profile, do not miss on mentioning all the eligible education credentials. You should not confuse your education qualifications with your current job profile. If you have completed a diploma years ago, and it is not relevant to your current job, you can still obtain an ECA. Express Entry offers points for education irrespective of area of study and current job, as long as it is completed in Canada.

Sibling with permanent residency in Canada

If you or your spouse/common-law partner have a sibling living in Canada as a permanent resident or enjoys Canadian citizenship, then just by proving the relationship you can improve the CRS score by 15 points. The relationship is considered if it is through blood, adoption, common-law partnership, or marriage.

Language proficiency

If you are skilled in both English and French, then claim this on your Express Entry profile. To prove your competence, it is important to take an approved language test for each language. Bilingual candidates are offered more CRS points and few nomination program streams prefer only French-speakers.

If you have checked all the above factors but still do not have a competent CRS score, you can follow various short-term and long-term improvement measures.

Short-term measures to improve your CRS score

There are few short-term or quick ways to boost your CSR ranking. This majorly includes:

Reattempt your Language test

If you have not scored competent marks in your approved language test, then maximizing scores through a reattempt can improve your CRS score.

Language ability is considered as the most appreciated human capital factor under Comprehensive Ranking System and can offer up to 260 points. Incremental gains under this criterion can result in competitive CRS ranking.

Also Read: How to Move to Canada through Express Entry?

Additional points are rewarded for improvement in test results across all four language abilities. Candidates can also trigger an improvement in points under the skill transferability factors after achieving the threshold of a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 9 in all abilities. A single enhancement in your language ability can cause a great effect on your CRS score. Through skill transferability factors, you can obtain up to 100 points.

To achieve CLB 9 on the CELPIP general exam, candidates have to score at least 9 in each ability.

And, to achieve CLB 9 on the IELTS General Training exam, candidates have to score below-mentioned minimum scores:

Listening: 8.0
Speaking: 7.0
Reading: 7.0
Writing: 7.0

Long-term measures to improve your CRS score

There are many long-term ways that can help you in immigrating to Canada through Express Entry. These steps may take from a few weeks to a few years to improve your CRS score.

Increase your work experience

While working outside Canada, it becomes essential to obtain full-time work experience of at least three years (or equivalent temporary work experience). This work experience will reward you points under the skill transferability section.

For candidates working in Canada on a work permit, gaining work experience can lead to positive results, as points are rewarded for Canadian work experience. However, it is important to maintain legal work status.

If you keep your employment details updated on your Express Entry profile, you will be rewarded additional CRS points as soon as you meet another benchmark under this section.

Educational program

Completing another educational program is a long-term measure to improve CRS score. You can be rewarded up to 100 points under skills transferability factors section by gaining more education. To maximize your points under this criterion, the level of education includes:

At least two post-secondary credentials, and at least one of them should be for three-years or longer.

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree can complete a program for at least one year to improve points under this section.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

To get a direct improvement of 600 points in your CRS score, Provincial Nominee Program plays a key role in the immigration process. You can also apply for an invitation in your favorite province or territory under the immigrant nominee program. Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is offering additional allotment to the different provinces. Provinces are considering the Express Entry immigration system under the provincial program for newcomers.

The government of Canada has allowed temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and international students to travel to Canada

Provinces have been using foreign worker and occupational programs under Express-Entry aligned PNP streams to welcome new immigrants, especially skilled workers. British Columbia invites applicants under its distinct system; Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan are taking invitations of applicants from various occupations; Ontario has aimed at applicants with occupation in the IT sector; Alberta and Manitoba have new Express Entry-aligned streams; and other provinces including Quebec are also issuing nomination certificate to candidates under Express Entry stream for Canadian immigration.

Get a Job in Canada

To meet eligibility criteria under this factor, make sure to get a job offer that meets the pre-set conditions. In most cases, the value of a qualifying job offer is less than 50 CRS points against a value of 600 CRS points.

Can spouse/partner factors affect CRS scores?

If you want to immigrate to Canada with your spouse or partner, the language ability is for up to 20 points and Canadian work experience and education are for 10 points each. When an individual applies for immigration to Canada, these 40 points will be distributed accordingly.

Thus, while applying with your spouse or partner, the principal applicant should be the one with a higher CRS score. You can submit only one application for permanent residence, under this both members of the application will receive Invitation to Apply simultaneously.

Is moving to Canada your dream? Do not worry our immigration consultants at Immig Toronto will show you the path to settle in Canada permanently.