What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and how does it work?

The Comprehensive Ranking System is a fresh modern system which is created to score Express Entry applicants and it is also helpful to choose best candidate from pool and those candidates will be more economically successful as a newcomer to Canada.

The CRS will score candidates on the base of following factors:

  • Skills
  • Work experience
  • Language ability
  • Education
  • Any other factor that shows that candidate will be successful when he moves to Canada

All the above factors are given by candidate in his/her profile. Once candidate provide his/her information for Express Entry profile then he or she will obtain score and rank in the Express Entry pool. The rank of candidate will change frequently but score of candidate will only change at that time when candidate update his/her Express Entry profile.

The candidates who have highest score will only receive Invitation to Apply (ITA). The candidates will also receive additional points (except above listed factors) for any of those:

  • Job offer
  • A provincial/territorial nomination
  • Skills and experience factors that proves candidate success in Canada

Invitation to Apply

How does a candidate get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence?

The candidates who will obtain Invitation to Apply in the Express Entry pool, they must have to have one of the following:

  • Candidate has a job offer from Canadian employer and that job offer is supported by Labour Market Impact Assessment (LIMA), or
  • Candidate has a nomination from any province or territory and that nomination is subject to immigration nominee program, or
  • Candidate has enough high rank in the pool which qualify candidate for one of the three federal programs under Express Entry.

Do I need a job offer to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

No, you do not have to have job offer for Invitation to Apply. However, if candidate do have a job offer from the Canadian employer then it is an asset for candidate. The candidate can get Invitation to Apply for provincial or territorial nomination. The candidate can also obtain Invitation to Apply if candidate have enough high score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). If provinces or territories need candidates to fulfil labour market needs, they can also choose candidates from Express Entry pool.

How long is an Invitation to Apply (ITA) valid for?

Candidates have 60 days or two months to submit their online application once they have received Invitation to Apply (ITA). There is no Extension for this.

Processing Times

How will Express Entry result in faster processing times?

In Express Entry system, the CIC only accept applications of those candidates who received Invitation to Apply (ITA). This strategy is use to not accumulates so many application. According to Express Entry only those candidates will be choosing who seems to be more successful in Canada, not those who apply first for immigration.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) make sure to process most of complete applications within six months or sometimes less than six month from the day of application. Those applications have to be complete, accurate, and submitting with all supporting documents.

When does the six months processing timeline begin and end?

As you know now the application processing time period for Express Entry is six months. This six months start from the day applicant submits his/her complete application online with CIC and will end when final decision is made.

The CIC is not responsible for that extra time which is not control by CIC. For instance, if Canadian employer need a LIMA and he or she needs extra time to obtain LIMA or candidate needs to obtain provincial or territorial nomination. CIC does not include that time in six months. Sometime applicant needs medical assessment, so it might take extra time and application processing can be more than six months.