GUIDE ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CRS SCORE

EXPRESS ENTRY AND COMPREHENSIVE RANKING SYSTEM (CRS) SCORE – WHAT IS IT?

Express Entry was launched on January 1, 2015. It is an application management system that allows
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to rank and select new immigrants to Canada
through the federal economic immigration programs.

These programs are:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Class;

• The Federal Skilled Trades Class; and
• The Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry is a two-step process. Step one involves potential candidates making an expression of
interest in immigrating to Canada by uploading an electronic profile to IRCC. Candidates for Canadian
permanent residence who are eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programs make an
expression of interest in immigrating to Canada by creating an online profile. Information about the
applicant’s skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other personal information must be
provided.

Candidates who meet the criteria of one of the aforementioned federal economic immigration programs
are placed in a pool of candidates who are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System
(CRS). Step two involves the Government of Canada selecting the highest ranked candidates from the
pool on a priority basis through rounds of invitations, also known as draws, from the pool. Candidates
selected by IRCC will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Canadian permanent resident visa, at
which point they will have 90 days to submit a complete and accurate application.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system that is used by IRCC to assess and
score candidates’ profiles in order to rank them in the Express Entry pool of eligible candidates. When
IRCC performs one of its draws, the top-ranked candidates are invited to apply. All candidates in the
IRCC pool are subject to the CRS, which awards points differently from how points are awarded under
the Federal Skilled Worker Class.

All Express Entry candidates will be given a score out of 1,200 points based on the three components of
the CRS formula: core human capital, skill transferability, and additional factors.

Up to 500 points may be awarded under the core human capital component where factors such as age,
education, language proficiency, and work experience are assessed. These individual factors are also
considered in combination with each other under the skill transferability calculation, which can give the
candidate up to 100 additional points.

A provincial nomination or a qualifying offer of arranged employment is not required in order to enter
the IRCC pool or to be issued ITA. However, if a candidate obtains either, additional CRS points are
awarded. The points awarded for a qualifying job offer were reduced significantly (from 600 to 50 or
200, depending on the job). However, a provincial nomination is particularly valuable as it is the only
factor to award 600 points.

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The highest-ranking candidates will be issued ITAs to immigrate to Canada.

HOW IS CRS CALCULATED?

For candidates without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, there are:

• a maximum of 500 points available for core human capital factors;
• a maximum of 100 points available for skill transferability factors; and
• a maximum of 600 points available under additional factors such as: a Provincial or Territorial
(PT) “Enhanced Nomination” and/or a qualifying offer of arranged employment and/or post-
secondary education in Canada.

For candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, there are:

• a maximum of 460 points available for core human capital factors of the principal applicant;
• a maximum of 40 points for the core human capital factors of the spouse or common-law
partner;
• a maximum of 100 points available for skill transferability factors; and
• a maximum of 600 points available under additional factors such as: a Provincial or Territorial
(PT) “Enhanced Nomination” and/or a qualifying offer of arranged employment and/or post-
secondary education in Canada.

FACTORS CONSIDERED FOR THE HUMAN CAPITAL COMPONENT

Core human capital component of the CRS formula includes factors such as age, education, language
proficiency, and work experience. Under this component, a maximum of 500 CRS points may be
awarded to a single Principal Applicant. The Principal Applicant, when accompanied by the spouse or
common-law partner, may obtain up to 460 CRS points. Please see the details provided below about the
Core Human Capital component:

• AGE: Maximum 110 CRS points for a single candidate, (with accompanying spouse or common-
law partner - 100);
• EDUCATION: Maximum 150 CRS points for a single candidate (with accompanying spouse or
common-law partner - 140);
• FIRST OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Maximum 136 CRS points for a single candidate (with
accompanying spouse or common-law partner - 128);
• Second Official Language: Maximum 24 CRS points for a single candidate (with accompanying
spouse or common-law partner - 22);
• CANADIAN WORK EXPERIENCE: Maximum 80 CRS points for a single candidate (with
accompanying spouse or common-law partner - 70).

FACTORS CONSIDERED FOR THE SKILL TRANSFERABILITY COMPONENT

Skill Transferability includes factors that when combined, result in better chances of being employed as
well as in higher earnings. Skill Transferability factors can award a maximum of 100 CRS points. There
are several combinations that can increase the potential CRS points under this category.

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Foreign work experience in combination with good official language proficiency results can be another
opportunity for awarding additional CRS points. A maximum of 25 CRS points can be awarded to
candidates with foreign work experience in combination with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or
more on all first language abilities, where as one or more is under CLB 9. A maximum of 50 CRS points
can be awarded to candidates with foreign work experience in combination with CLB 9 or more on all
four abilities of the first official language.

A maximum of 25 CRS points can be awarded to candidates with foreign work experience in
combination with one year of Canadian work experience. A maximum of 50 CRS points can be awarded
to candidates with foreign work experience and two years or more of Canadian work experience.

SPOUSAL/COMMON-LAW PARTNER FACTORS

The spousal or common-law partner factors are only taken into consideration if the candidate has a
spouse or common-law partner. These factors are known to result in better economic success for both
the spouse or common-law partner and the candidate.

(a) Spouse/Common-law Partner & Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report

a. Your spouse/common-law partner may provide a copy of his/her ECA report in order to
obtain additional CRS points. Up to ten (10) CRS points can be awarded. The ECA report
is only required for foreign educational credentials.

For example, if your spouse/common-law partner’s has completed a Bachelor’s degree and the ECA
report confirms the claimed level of education, eight (8) CRS points can be awarded. Additionally, if your
spouse/common-law partner has received an ECA report stating the Canadian equivalency to be a
Master’s degree, the maximum of ten (10) CRS points can be awarded.

Please consult the following CanadaVisa webpage for more

information: http://www.canadavisa.com/comprehensive-ranking-system.html

(b) Spouse/Common-law Partner & Language Proficiency Exam

a. A maximum of twenty (20) CRS points can be awarded if your spouse/common-law

partner demonstrates first language proficiency in English or French. Although your
spouse/common-law partner’s language proficiency results are not required to submit
the Express Entry profile to the IRCC pool of eligible candidates, obtaining these results
can improve the CRS score.

For example, if your spouse/common-law partner demonstrates language proficiency above Canadian
Language Benchmark (CLB) seven (7) or eight (8) per ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening), an
additional three (3) points per ability resulting in twelve (12) CRS points can be awarded. Moreover, if
your spouse or common-law partner demonstrates language proficiency above CLB 9 or more, the
maximum of five (5) points per ability resulting in twenty (20) CRS points can be awarded.

Please consult the following CanadaVisa webpage for more

information: http://www.canadavisa.com/comprehensive-ranking-system.html

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o How does improving Language Proficiency results increase the CRS score?

IMPORTANT: Please note that improving your language proficiency results can lead to increased CRS
points under the Core Human Capital factor, as well as potential additional CRS points under the Skill
Transferability factor.

(a) First Official Language:

a. A maximum of 136 CRS points (or 128 with a Spouse) can be awarded under the first
official language proficiency factor. In general, improving one ability (reading, speaking,
writing, or listening) by one CLB can raise the score by up to 8 points (single applicant
going from CLB 8 to 9) or 36 points total (all 4 abilities).

For example, a single applicant that initially scored 6 on all four (4) abilities on the IELTS exam would be
awarded a CLB 7 on each of these abilities. CLB 7 would result in 17 CRS points per ability for a total of
68 CRS points. In the event the IELTS exam was re-taken and the applicant’s score improved one (1)
point in each of the 4 abilities (from a score of 6 to 7), the CRS score awarded would increase to 110
points.

Please consult the following CanadaVisa webpage for more

information: http://www.canadavisa.com/comprehensive-ranking-system.html

b. For your convenience, we have created a language proficiency conversion calculator to

compare possible scores and convert language proficiency scores into the CRS points
that can be awarded. Please visit the calculator at: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-
immigration-language-converter.html

(b) Skill Transferability Factor

NOTE: For any educational credential obtained outside Canada you MUST provide an ECA report in
order to obtain CRS points.

a. Combination of Education and Language Proficiency:

i. Language Proficiency results in combination with certain Educational credentials

can award additional points under the Skill Transferability section discussed
above. Language proficiency results with a CLB of 9 or more in all categories will
increase the maximum possible CRS points to 50 that is otherwise worth 25
points with a lower CLB score.

For example, a single applicant achieving a CLB 8 on the IELTS examination would be awarded 92 CRS
points under the First Official Language factor. Under the Skill Transferability factor, the language result
in combination with the candidates ECA report having completed a Master’s degree would result in 25
CRS points under this factor. If the applicant were to re-take the IELTS exam and achieve a CLB 9 in all 4
abilities, the First Official Language score would increase to 124 CRS points. Additionally, under Skill
Transferability, since the applicant has achieved a CLB 9 in all four abilities in combination with the ECA
report of a completed a Master’s degree, the maximum of 50 CRS points would be awarded under this
factor. In all, the applicant’s CRS score increased from 360 to 442 CRS points.

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b. Combination of Foreign Work Experience and Language Proficiency

i. Under the Skill Transferability factor, if you have 3 years of foreign work
experience or more in combination with a CLB of 9 or more on all four first
official language abilities, you can be awarded the maximum of 50 points.
However, if you have 3 years or more of foreign work experience in combination
with CLB 7 and above on all first official language abilities, one or more under 9,
you can be awarded only 25 points.

FACTORS CONSIDERED UNDER ADDITIONAL POINTS COMPONENT

A PT nomination, previous Canadian study or a qualifying offer of arranged employment are not
required in order to enter or be selected from the EE pool of eligible candidates. These additional
factors, however, can contribute to gaining of additional CRS points.

A PT nomination from a province or territory is particularly valuable, as it will place the candidate at the
front of the line for selection by IRCC in a subsequent draw from the pool. PT nominations issued via
Express Entry are called “Enhanced Nominations”. Therefore, if a candidate is nominated by a province
or territory an additional 600 CRS points are awarded.

o Why didn’t I receive additional points for my job offer?

If you are currently outside Canada, to get CRS points for arranged employment, your employer will
need to get a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for your offer of arranged employment
in Canada. Therefore, you should only select “Yes” to the questions “Do you have a job offer in Canada?”
if a Canadian employer has offered you a full-time, non-seasonal job, and that job offer is supported by a
positive LMIA. Please note that you may get up to 200 CRS points depending on the position being
offered in Canada.

If you are currently working in Canada, please note the following important information:

• A qualifying job offer, supported by an LMIA, will allot 200 points, if the offer is in an occupation
contained in a Major Group 00 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
These occupations are:
• 0011 Legislators
• 0012 Senior government managers and officials
• 0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
• 0014 Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership
organizations
• 0015 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c.
• 0016 Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities

• A qualifying job offer, supported by an LMIA, will allot 50 points, if the offer is in an occupation
contained in other skilled NOC codes (A, B, and 0 level), except for the Major Group 00.

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Starting on November 19th 2016, candidates, with a qualifying job offer that is not supported by an
LMIA, may add either 50 or 200 CRS points (depending on the NOC level) if the following conditions are
observed:

• Candidates hold a Canadian work permit issued under an international agreement, for example -
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); OR
• Candidates hold a Canadian work permit issued under the ‘significant benefits to Canada’ criteria,
for example - the Intra-Company Transfers.

In addition, in both cases above, the candidate must have been working continuously in Canada for at
least one year and the job offer must be made by the same employer named on the work permit.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO IMPROVE YOUR CRS

(a) Second Official Language Test

o For a single applicant, a maximum of 24 CRS points (6 per ability) can be awarded by
demonstrating proficiency in a SECOND official language of Canada. For an applicant with a
spouse or common-law partner, a maximum of 22 CRS points can be awarded. For example, a
single applicant who achieves a CLB 7 or 8 in all four abilities can be awarded 12 CRS points
towards their application.

(b) Completed Additional Educational Degree

o Additional CRS points are awarded for a completed degree. For example, an applicant (without a
spouse or common-law partner), who has completed a Bachelor’s degree is awarded 120 CRS
points.

Some candidates are close to completing their next degree or diploma. This can help take them to the
next level and obtain additional CRS points under the core human capital factor. If at the time when
your EE profile is submitted to the EE pool of eligible candidates, you had a degree in progress, outside
Canada, and the degree has now been completed, this can result in additional CRS points, if you provide
an ECA. An ECA is not required if you completed your post-secondary education in Canada.

(c) Educational Credentials obtained in Canada

IRCC changes introduced in November 2016 now allow for CRS points to be assigned for a Canadian
educational credential as follows:

• 0 points, if the candidate has a secondary school educational credential;

• 15 points, if the candidate has an eligible credential from a one-year or two-year post-secondary
program; and
• 30 points, if the candidate has either:
• an eligible credential from a post-secondary program of three years or more,
• an eligible credential from a university-level program at the master’s level or at the level
of an entry-to-practice professional degree for an occupation listed in the National
Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial
regulatory body is required, or

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• an eligible credential from a university-level program at the doctoral level.

Points are only assigned for Canadian educational credentials if, for the purpose of obtaining the
credential, the candidate:

• studied in Canada at a Canadian educational institution;

• was enrolled in full-time study or training for at least eight months; and
• was physically present in Canada for at least eight months.

INVITATION TO USE THE CRS CALCULATOR

We invite you to use our updated CRS Calculator to find out your preliminary CRS score by visiting the
following link: https://www.canadavisa.com/comprehensive-ranking-score-calculator.html

You may wish to assess your preliminary CRS score for both you and your spouse/common-law partner,
if applicable. In order to validate the preliminary CRS points all the information must be supported by
the documents required by IRCC.

Once again, we thank you for choosing Campbell, Cohen as your immigration representative. Please do
not hesitate to email or call your Documentation/Submission Specialist if you have any questions.