If you’re a foreign national aiming for Canadian permanent residence (PR), receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry is one of the most exciting milestones. Recently, the Canadian immigration system has seen significant changes, particularly through the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) program, which encourages family reunification, and the super visa health insurance threshold reduction. However, if you’re not eligible for these programs, boosting your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score can significantly increase your chances of receiving an ITA.
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One often-overlooked but powerful strategy is acquiring foreign work experience. Many foreign nationals don’t realize that returning to your home country to gain additional work experience can have a significant impact on your CRS score. Read on to explore how you can leverage foreign work experience, language proficiency, education, and other factors to improve your CRS score and secure a coveted ITA for Canadian PR.
Understanding the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Before diving into how you can increase your CRS score, let’s first clarify what it is and how it works. The CRS is a points-based system used by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to evaluate candidates applying for Canadian immigration through Express Entry. It assesses factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria.
The maximum score in the CRS is 1,200 points. While some factors, like your age, are fixed and cannot be changed, there are several ways you can boost your CRS score, including work experience, language skills, and additional education. Achieving a higher CRS score increases your chances of being invited to apply for Canadian PR, especially during Express Entry draws, which select candidates based on their CRS scores.
Boost Your CRS Score with Foreign Work Experience
One of the most effective yet overlooked strategies to increase your CRS score is by obtaining foreign work experience. The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily require you to stay in Canada. In fact, returning to your home country could be the key to unlocking a higher CRS score.
Foreign work experience is considered under the Skill Transferability Factors category, and it can add up to 50 points to your CRS score. The more years of skilled foreign work experience you accumulate, the greater the potential to earn CRS points, especially when combined with Canadian work experience or language proficiency.
Real-World Example: How Foreign Work Experience Boosts Your CRS Score
Take the case of Aisha, a 28-year-old marketing specialist who had two years of work experience in Canada. Despite her Canadian experience and education, her CRS score was 482 points, which wasn’t enough to receive an ITA in recent draws. After her Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expired, Aisha returned to Mumbai and secured a job in her field. After two more years of foreign work experience, her CRS score skyrocketed to 532 points—well above the typical threshold for ITAs in Express Entry draws.
In Aisha’s case, the foreign work experience, combined with her Canadian education and work history, made a substantial difference in her CRS score. Foreign work experience isn’t just about accumulating points; it can also act as a tiebreaker in competitive draws.
Key Considerations for Gaining CRS Points with Foreign Work Experience
To maximize your CRS points, foreign work experience must meet certain criteria:
- Skilled Work Experience: To qualify for points, your foreign work experience should fall under TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3, which represent skilled occupations.
- Minimum Work Duration: For maximum points, it’s best to have at least three years of foreign work experience. However, even one or two years can add between 13 to 25 points to your CRS score.
- Complementing Other Factors: The highest point allocation (50 points) occurs when you combine foreign work experience with Canadian work experience or strong language skills (CLB 9 or above).
While it may seem daunting, remember that leaving Canada doesn’t disqualify you from being eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws. As long as you’ve accumulated at least one year of Canadian work experience within the past three years, you’re still eligible for the CEC program, which often has lower CRS score thresholds.
Maximize Your CRS Score with Language Skills
Language proficiency is one of the most influential factors in the CRS, with the potential to contribute up to 160 points if you’re applying alone. If you’re currently outside Canada, consider investing time in language learning or retaking language tests to improve your scores.
Improving your language skills can have a dramatic effect on your CRS score. For example, moving from CLB 9 to CLB 10 on an English test like IELTS or CELPIP could add valuable points. Additionally, learning French can also make a significant difference, as bilingual applicants can earn up to 50 additional CRS points.
Further Boosting Your CRS Score: Education and More
Education is another critical factor in the CRS. With a maximum of 150 points available for education (if applying without a spouse), adding another degree or improving your qualifications while outside Canada could significantly boost your score.
Whether you’re completing a higher degree or getting a Canadian-equivalent credential assessment, investing in your education can improve both your CRS score and your appeal to potential employers in Canada.
IRCC Resolves Major PGWP Eligibility Issues
IRCC Issues Invitations to (PNP) Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
IRCC Increases Off-Campus Work Hours from 20 to 24 for International Students
Canada relaxes post-graduation work permit regulations for college graduates
IRCC Issues Invitations to 7,500 Express Entry Candidates in Second Draw of the Week
Wrapping Up: Stay Active in the Express Entry Pool
The good news is that once you’ve submitted your Express Entry profile, it remains active for 12 months. This gives you plenty of time to make adjustments and improvements, even if you’re currently outside Canada. Use this time to:
- Research provincial nomination streams that align with your skills and experience (Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, for example).
- Retake language tests to improve your CLB level.
- Seek out foreign work opportunities to enhance your CRS score.
By focusing on strategic areas like foreign work experience, language proficiency, and education, you can significantly increase your chances of receiving an ITA for Canadian PR.
Conclusion: Strategic Moves for a Successful Express Entry Application
Whether you’re in Canada or abroad, taking steps to improve your CRS score can dramatically increase your chances of securing Canadian permanent residence. Foreign work experience, enhanced language skills, and further education are all powerful ways to strengthen your application. So, make sure you’re maximizing every opportunity to improve your profile and get one step closer to calling Canada home.