What happens if CRS changes after receiving an ITA?

If your Comprehensive Ranking System score has changed after receiving your Invitation to Apply for Canada PR, you are left with two options only. 

Though Express Entry handles Canada PR applications from three economic immigration programs (FSWP, FSTP, CEC), the only way to apply for Canada PR from India is after you receive an ITA from IRCC when they conduct an Express Entry draw.

The minimum CRS score for Canada PR is decided by the IRCC in each Express Entry draw. To get selected for an ITA in the first place, get higher scores in the CRS score calculator. Otherwise, use tips to boost your score. 

Once you have an ITA in hand, you are given 60 days to submit a complete application for a permanent residence visa. During this time, if your CRS score changes, will you still be able to apply for Canada PR? Let’s find out. 

Your Options if the CRS score changes after receiving an ITA

Option 1: Decline the Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If something changes in your life that makes it harder for you to qualify for Express Entry Canada or lower your chances, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) suggests that you don't accept their invitation to apply. 

By doing this, you can update your information in the system and improve your chances before officially applying. This change could be anything that affects your eligibility or reduces your score for getting selected.

Option 2: Proceed with submitting the PR application

If something in your life changes, but you still want to apply for Express Entry, go ahead & submit a complete application for Canada permanent residence. 

Make sure to keep in mind that any changes in your situation are accurately updated in your application. This is whether the change is good or bad - you need to fix the information that the government already has from your initial application before you send it in.

What could impact your CRS score?

Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score may increase or decrease if you add your spouse or common-law partner to your application when you apply for Canada PR visa. This may also impact the CRS score of a principal application (positive or negative) as their score can either increase or decrease depending on the human capital of their spouse or partner.

Here are the ways that could change circumstances, affecting your CRS score after receiving an ITA:

Your CRS score may increase if you:

• Complete your graduation from a higher level of schooling

• Get to the threshold for an extra year of work experience in Canada

• Acquire a qualification certificate

• Boost your language test scores

Your CRS score may decrease if you:

• Take the language test again after your original scores expire but finish the test with lower scores.

• Lose a qualifying job offer 

When you do not accept an ITA from IRCC

If you refuse to accept the ITA, you will be returned to “candidate” status. 

Your profile will go back to the Express Entry pool and stay active for as long as it is valid. Now, you will be able to update new information to your profile while continuing to be considered for a new Invitation to Apply (ITA) in future Express Entry draws - as long as you meet the requirements. 

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