Age is an important factor in immigration through Express Entry and certain applicants are penalized because of their age. Here are several strategies one can employ to maximize their Express Entry CRS score as an applicant over the age of 30.
Express Entry is Canada’s largest source of immigration.
When applicants apply to immigrate to this country through Express Entry, eligible Express Entry applicants are ranked through a point allocation grid called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Introduction to Express Entry and the CRS
The CRS is a grid of points that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to classify aspiring Canadian immigrants who apply through any of the three programs contained in the Express system application management system. Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The CRS begins by assessing what the Canadian government calls “fundamental human capital factors,” which include the following characteristics: age, education, first language ability (English or French), second language ability (English or French), and work experience in Canada. .
For these purposes, we will focus on the first item in the list above, age.
Canada’s CRS system provides the most age points to Express Entry applicants aged 20-29 (100). If you are 30 years of age or older, the points you receive in the age category will progressively decrease each year (95 points for a 30-year-old applicant, 90 points for a 31-year-old applicant, etc.). Applicants age 45 and older receive 0 points in the CRS age category.
Fortunately, just being 30 or older doesn’t mean an applicant’s Express Entry hopes have gone with the wind. There are many ways potential Express Entry applicants can maximize their CRS score if they apply at age 30 or older.
Strategy 1: Getting a provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
One way applicants can increase their CRS score is to receive a nomination through any of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program enhanced streams that are linked to Express Entry. In fact, a provincial nomination through a PNP is the best way to maximize a CRS score and receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada because receiving a nomination before applying through Express Entry can earn the applicant 600 additional points.
PNPs exist in all Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) as a tool for each individual region to nominate candidates for permanent residence who are interested in settling in a particular area within Canada.
Designed to spread the benefits of immigration to Canada, especially as Canadian immigration has historically been disproportionate to Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, there are currently more than 80 PNP streams across the country available to prospective Canadian immigrants in Canada’s 11 PNPs. Canada.
If an Express Entry applicant applies for a PNP and receives an invitation to apply, then applies for and receives a provincial candidate certificate, they can proceed to upload their certificate to their Express Entry profile and receive the available 600 CRS points. Again, this will virtually guarantee that they will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Strategy 2: Getting a job offer
Another way an applicant can maximize their CRS score is to apply through Express Entry while having a valid job offer that is in writing and details all the requirements of the job, including pay, duties, and employment conditions. job. In fact, this strategy is one of the best ways to increase an applicant’s CRS score because candidates with a valid job offer can earn an additional 50 or 200 CRS points depending on the position.
Strategy 3: Evaluating work experience
Work experience can help improve an applicant’s CRS score in several different ways. First of all, simply gaining additional work experience can help an applicant improve their score. Additionally, doing a better job of articulating current work experience can do the same to help applicants.
Strategy 4: Improving language ability
Language ability is another crucial element of the CRS scores that falls under the “basic human capital factors” category. As mentioned above, language as a broader category is divided into first language ability and second language ability to assess the applicant’s proficiency in English and French. This component of an applicant’s CRS score can add up to a significant number of points, making it an essential part of any Express Entry application.
Language, broken down into proficiency in writing, reading, speaking, and listening, can earn a single applicant between 128 and 136 points (depending on spouse/partner status, but more on that later).
Additionally, the language category is valuable in maximizing CRS scores due to its ability to count points across multiple sections. More specifically, language as an individual CRS element can count for points within the following four larger categories: human capital factors; marital factors (if applicable); transfer of skills and “additional factors”.
Additionally, language can also be combined with other factors, such as education, to further improve an applicant’s CRS score.
Example 1: An applicant with a post-secondary program credential of one or more years + a first language Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in one or more skills (and one skill in CLB 9) can earn 13 CRS points Example 2: An applicant with two or more post-secondary program credentials (one at least 3 years) + CLB 9 or more in all first language skills can earn 50 CRS points.
Strategy 5: Strengthening educational credentials
Education, another element of the “fundamental human capital factors,” can count between 200 and 250 CRS score points depending on where the applicant received their credential (within Canada or outside of Canada). Therefore, obtaining additional credentials, such as another degree or obtaining an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) for an existing degree, can help applicants maximize their Express Entry CRS score.
Strategy 6: Considering using spouse/partner as the principal applicant (if applicable)
In certain cases, Express Entry applicants may find that their spouse or common-law partner has a better CRS score. In situations like this, it may be advisable to consider exchanging the primary applicant and dependent spouse or common-law partner.
