Can I still apply for permanent residency if my CRS scores change after I receive an invitation to apply?

Express EntryIf their Comprehensive Ranking SystemAfter receiving an updated score, the CRS will change their score. Invitation to ApplyYou can either decline your ITA or continue with your Application for PR.

Through the Express Entry application management system, which handles immigration applications from three different economic immigration programs*, the only way to apply for Canadian PR is by receiving an ITA from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) whenever the department conducts a Express Entry draw.

*The Express Entry system manages applications from the Federal Skilled Worker Program(FSWP) Canadian Experience Class(CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

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Click hereVisit to learn more about Express Entry This link for more information on IRCC’s new category-based selection draws for Express Entry.

Once an express entry candidate receives their ITA they will transition to “applicant”IRCC gives individuals 60 days to submit APR.

What happens if the CRS score I received after receiving an ITA changes?

However, in some cases, there may be a material change that impacts a candidate’s eligibility for the ITA they received from IRCC (both negatively and positively). Examples of such changes that may impact a candidate’s CRS score will be outlined below.

IRCC clarifies at this time that “if a candidate realizes … that their circumstance has changed or that the information in their profile, [based on] which they were issued an ITA, is no longer accurate”There are two ways to proceed.

Note:Before choosing one of the options below, IRCC advises candidates to recalculate CRS scores based on any changes in circumstances.

Option 1: Reject the ITA

Express Entry applicants who have experienced a change in circumstances that could negatively impact their CRS score will be eligible to apply. “encouraged”IRCC declines their ITA. Candidates can only revise their Express Entry profile by declining an ITA.

A negative change in circumstance can mean anything that either negatively impacts a candidate’s ability to meet the minimum entry criteria (MEC) for the program they applied to or drops their recalculated CRS score below the minimum CRS score for their round of invitations.

Option 2: Continue with the APR

Candidates who have a change of circumstance but don’t want to decline their ITA can still submit their APR. Candidates who continue to submit their application should ensure that any change in circumstances is accurately reflected in the APR.

This means, that whether the change of circumstance was positive, or negative, that the candidate must take time at this stage to correct the information IRCC brought from their Express Entry to their APR profile before submitting the application.

Examples of changes which may affect your CRS Score

The following outlines different ways that a change in circumstance may affect an applicant’s CRS score after they receive an ITA.

The applicant’s CRS score may increase if they:

• Graduate from higher education
• Work experience threshold for additional year in Canada
• Get a certificate of qualifications
• Improve their language test scores

The applicant’s CRS score may decrease if they:

• Retake the language test if your original scores have expired but you still get lower results
• Loss of a qualifying offer for arranged employment

An applicant’s CRS score may either increase or decrease depending on the addition of aYou can also call your spouse or common-law partnersThis can be done by adding their Express Entry Application. This addition can have a positive or negative impact on the CRS score for a principal applicant, as their score may increase or decrease depending on the human resources of their spouse or partners.

Note:The CRS score of an applicant is not affected by a change in their birthday if it occurs after they received their ITA. Although age is a prominent factor in the human capital section of an applicant’s CRS score calculation, IRCC provides an exemptionIn this case, ITA recipients do not lose CRS points.

What happens if I decline an ITA?

When an Express Entry applicant declines his or her ITA, it is returned to “candidate” status.

At this time, the candidate’s profile will be returned to the Express Entry pool and remain active for as long as the profile maintains its validity. Once a candidate’s profile is returned to the pool, they can update their profile and continue to be considered in future Express Entry draws if they continue to meet MEC.

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