Double Your CRS Points: How Work Experience Makes a Difference

Gaining work experience, especially in Canada, can significantly boost your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score under the Express Entry system, even if you do not have a job offer. It provides an opportunity to gain valuable CRS points that can make your application more competitive.

The Canadian government values work experience as a key factor in assessing an applicant’s ability. Whether it is Canadian or foreign work experience, having a strong professional background can enhance your profile and make you a more attractive candidate for immigration.

How Komal Patel Boosted CRS Score with Work Experience?

Komal Patel is a 25-year-old Indian national who came to Canada on a Study Permit to complete her Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. After graduating, Komal successfully secured a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and began working as a Software Engineer at a well-established Canadian tech firm located in Vancouver.

Her job is in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) code 21232. Komal had 1 year of Canadian work experience when she first checked her CRS score, which was 501. Recently, Komal received an exciting offer from an international technology company based in her home city, Bangalore, India. Although the job is located outside of Canada, it aligns perfectly with her expertise, and she would be working remotely while continuing her employment in Canada.

After evaluating her situation, Komal decides to accept the job offer from the Indian company while keeping her current job in Canada. This means she will be working two full-time jobs simultaneously-one in Canada and one remotely for her Indian employer.

By doing this, Komal will gain both Canadian and foreign work experience. She plans to work for a full year with the Indian employer while continuing to work with her Canadian employer. This will give her three years of foreign work experience and three years of Canadian work experience.

After completing a year of dual employment, Komal updates her Express Entry profile to reflect her new work experience. The IELTS Score were as follows:

• Speaking - 8
• Listening - 9
• Reading - 8
• Writing - 8

Komal’s new CRS score jumps from 501 to 575, a significant increase due to the combined foreign and Canadian work experience. This new score not only makes Komal more competitive but also increases her chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency through the next CEC draws.

The combination of her Canadian and foreign work experience ultimately boosts her CRS score, helping Komal move closer to her dream of becoming a permanent resident of Canada, even though she did not initially have a job offer when she started her immigration journey.

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Work Experience Requirements Under Express Entry

Work experience plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for the Express Entry system, which is the primary method used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residency. There are three main immigration programs under Express Entry that require specific work experience:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is designed for individuals who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada and wish to apply for permanent residency. This program is particularly beneficial for individuals who have completed a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or who have worked in Canada under other temporary work permits.

Work Experience Requirements for CEC:

• At least 12 months (1 year) of full-time skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years before applying.
• The work must be in skilled occupations classified under National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER Level 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• You must have worked at least 1,560 hours of full-time work (or the equivalent part-time hours) in a skilled occupation. Full-time work is generally considered as at least 30 hours per week. If you worked part-time, the hours must add up to the equivalent of 1 year of full-time work.
• You need to meet the language proficiency requirements (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, and CLB level 5 for NOC B jobs).

2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is designed for individuals who have skilled work experience outside Canada and want to apply for permanent residency. Unlike the CEC, this program allows applicants to include foreign work experience.

Work Experience Requirements for FSWP:

• At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of full-time skilled work experience in the last 10 years.
• The work experience must be in a skilled occupation classified under NOC TEER Level 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• The experience must be in paid work. Unpaid internships or volunteer work do not qualify.
• Full-Time or Equivalent Part-Time: If you worked part-time, the total hours must add up to at least 1 year of full-time work.
• You do not need a job offer to apply under the FSWP, but a job offer will give you additional CRS points.

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3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is for individuals who have work experience in a skilled trade and wish to apply for permanent residency. Skilled trades include jobs such as electricians, welders, carpenters, and chefs.

Work Experience Requirements for FSTP:

• At least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years.
• The work experience must be in a skilled trade occupation classified under NOC TEER Level 2 or 3.
• The experience must be full-time (1,560 hours in total) or equivalent in part-time work.
• You must meet the language requirements of CLB 5 in English or French for the speaking and listening sections, and CLB 4 for reading and writing.
• Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in the skilled trade for at least 1 year.
• Have a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority in the skilled trade.

Conclusion

Gaining work experience, whether Canadian or foreign, can significantly improve your CRS score, even without a job offer. It is one of the most impactful ways to enhance your profile under the Express Entry Program. Komal Patel’s story highlights how gaining both Canadian and foreign work experience helped her boost her CRS score.

Source: canada.ca

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