What is a Valid Job Offer for Express Entry?

February 17, 2024BY By Ingress Immigration

If you’re lucky enough to have a job offer from a company in Canada, you’re in for some good news! This could give you extra points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Arranged Employment, which is part of the Express Entry system for immigration to Canada. But hold on, it’s not as simple as having a Canadian firm that’s eager to have you on board. Not all job offers will earn you those sweet Arranged Employment points. There are some specific criteria tied to any Express Entry job offer that need to be met before you can bag those bonus CRS points.

Here’s the kicker – only specific employment situations will qualify you for the additional Express Entry CRS points linked with a Job Offer. Your Canadian job offer needs to tick two crucial boxes for Express Entry – the type of employment situation and your NOC code. So, make sure you’ve got these covered!

Types of employment situations that qualify as a valid job offer for Express Entry include:

Guess what? If you have a work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), it counts as a valid job offer for Express Entry. Pretty cool, right?
Even better, a dual intent LMIA is also considered a valid job offer for Express Entry. The cherry on top? You don’t even need the work permit to be issued yet! Just make sure you apply for PR while the LMIA is still in effect.
Now, here’s another interesting bit. Suppose you have an employer-specific work permit that didn’t require an LMIA but falls within certain categories. In that case, you’re still in luck! This can also be a valid job offer for Express Entry. The catch? You need to be working for the employer mentioned on the work permit, and you should have been with them for at least a year. So, keep these points in mind, and you’re good to go!

How Does my NOC Code Affect Arranged Employment points?

Good news for those with a NOC code 00 job! You’ll be scoring a whopping 200 Express Entry CRS points for Arranged employment. For everyone else, if your job falls under any other NOC codes, including Tier 0, 1, 2, or 3, you’re still in for a treat – you’ll bag 50 Express Entry CRS points for Arranged Employment.

Now, here’s a little heads up. The 200 CRS points for Arranged Employment are exclusively for those in Senior Management Positions. So, if you’re rocking titles like Vice President or CEO and managing departments run by middle managers, these points are for you. However, if your managerial role isn’t exactly ‘Senior Management’, don’t worry! You’ll still receive 50 CRS points as a NOC 0 role. Not too shabby, right?

How Should I Answer the Express Entry Question “Do You have a job offer in Canada?”

Express Entry can be a bit sneaky with its nuances, but here’s a tip for you. If you’re working in Canada and your job doesn’t exactly qualify for those extra Arranged Employment points, don’t fret! When Express Entry asks if you have a job offer in Canada, give them a big ‘Yes’. Why, you ask? Well, many provinces use this question as a sort of radar to spot potential candidates for a Notification of Interest. So, if you’re working in their province and you’ve shown interest in living there, you might just catch their eye!

But wait, there’s more. When you’re filling out that section of your profile, take it slow and answer each question carefully. You wouldn’t want to accidentally rack up extra points for Arranged Employment in your Express Entry profile. For instance, if you’re on an open work permit, you should answer ‘No’ when asked if your employer’s name is on your work permit. These additional questions are there to sort out who truly qualifies for the Arranged Employment Comprehensive Ranking System points. So, keep these tips in mind and you’ll navigate through Express Entry like a pro!

What Do I need to provide as evidence of Arranged Employment for Express Entry?

So, you’re wondering what counts as proof of Arranged Employment? Well, it’s pretty straightforward. You need to show a Job Offer that includes specific details about your role. But hang on, that’s not all! You also need to present documents that shine a light on your employment situation. Make sure you include both of these in your Express Entry support documents. Why? Because they’re your golden ticket to show that you truly deserve those Arranged Employment points you’ve been awarded. Simple, right?

The Job Offer letter for Express Entry

Alright, let’s talk about job offer letters for Express Entry. The IRCC has some specific requirements for these letters. So, your Canadian employer needs to write the letter following a particular format. Here’s how it goes:

Print the letter on company letterhead and include the following details:

applicant’s name
company’s contact information (address, telephone number, email address)
name, title, signature of the company contact
expected start date for position
statement that the position is continuous, full time, and non-seasonal and the job offer is for at least
one year after the employee becomes a permanent resident
job title and duties
number of hours per week
annual salary plus benefits
signature from both employer and applicant (employee)

Keep in mind, for your Express Entry application, you need a fresh, tailor-made job offer letter. Your standard employment contract probably won’t cut it because it might not have all the nitty-gritty details the IRCC is looking for. And let’s not even talk about your old contracts – they’re likely too outdated to be of any use for your current application. So remember, when it comes to your Express Entry application, fresh is best!

What do I upload for Arranged Employment if I didn’t get any CRS points for a Job Offer?

Okay, let’s say you didn’t score any CRS points for Arranged Employment, but you still see an upload field for AE in your Express Entry document checklist because you answered ‘yes’ to the job offer question. Here’s what you do: simply upload a note in that section stating, “No points were awarded for Arranged Employment, so I didn’t provide any job offer documents.” Easy peasy, right?

Arranged Employment vs. Employment Records for Express Entry

Alright, so if your current job is what’s getting you those Arranged Employment points for Express Entry, you’re going to need two separate letters from your boss. One is a job offer letter and the other is a reference letter. Here’s how they differ:

The job offer letter is all about the future – it outlines what’s going to happen. The reference letter, on the other hand, is like a blast from the past – it details what has already happened.

Say, for instance, a straightforward reference letter might go something like this: “Just so you know, our dear applicant has been (or was) working with us in this role, during this timeframe, performing these duties, full-time, and earning this amount.” This letter is signed only by the employer and serves as a record of your work history to date.

A sample job offer letter for Express Entry might read something like, “We’re thrilled to offer you this position, starting on this date, where you’ll be doing these duties, full-time, and your paycheck will look like this. If you’re up for it, please sign below.” This letter needs both your signature and your employer’s. It’s basically a contract stating what’s going to happen in the future.

How to get Arranged Employment in Canada

Okay, let’s talk about securing a job offer from Canada while you’re still overseas. It might feel like a tough nut to crack, but trust me, it’s doable and thousands of people manage it every year. Your first move? Hunt down a Canadian employer who’s keen to hire you.

Next, figure out what kind of approval they’ll need to bring you on board as a foreign worker. This could involve getting a Labour Market Impact Assessment, using the IRCC employer portal to submit an e-job offer, or seeking permission from a Province to hire a foreign worker through the Provincial Nominee Program. It all depends on the job offer and where you’re from.

Once your employer has all the permissions sorted based on your situation, you can either apply for Permanent Residence from overseas, or apply for a work permit from overseas and then submit your application for a Permanent Resident visa once you’re working in Canada.

Now, when it comes to the LMIA process for Express Entry, you’ve got two options – an LMIA for Permanent Residence only, and an LMIA that also allows you to apply for a work permit. The key differences between these two are as follows:

LMIA to Support Permanent Residence Only:

The Canadian employer doesn’t have to cough up any government fees.
You, as the worker, need to use the LMIA to apply for Permanent Residence before the LMIA’s expiry date sneaks up on you.
Just so you know, you can’t use this LMIA to get a work permit.

LMIA for Work Permit or Dual Intent LMIA

Alright, let’s break this down in a more approachable way:
The Canadian employer has to shell out a $1000 government fee for each worker.
You as the worker can get a work permit based on this LMIA.
And here’s the best part – you can apply for Permanent Residence before your work permit (which you got based on this LMIA) expires.

Let’s simplify this:

Some job situations involving workers from certain countries can score LMIA exempt job offers. In these cases, the Canadian employer has to submit an e-job offer via the IRCC employer portal. The worker ends up with a work permit that mentions the employer, work location, and job title.

The Express Entry job offer often causes a lot of head-scratching because it’s such a complex part of the Express Entry Program. If you’re feeling lost, reach out to The Way Immigration. They’ll make sure your Express Entry process for Canadian immigration is handled smoothly, giving you the best shot at securing the Canadian Permanent Resident Visa you’re dreaming of. Remember, your application has to be spot-on when you submit it – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada won’t help you fix any problems after you’ve submitted it.