Alberta Picks up Applicants with Scores as Low as 302 CRS Points

Great news for all those keen to migrate to Canada on a permanent basis, but who don’t have high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores! The Canadian province of Alberta has sent invites to Express Entry applicants with Comprehensive Ranking System scores (CRS) of as low as 302, in one of the two Alberta Express Entry Stream draws (September 11 & September 18) conducted hitherto in September 2019.

What does it mean?

It means you can still migrate with a Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) route even if you have low CRS scores.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

It enables the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) to explore the Express Entry system for the qualified federal applicants, who:
Exhibit strong links to the province
or
Are involved with a line-of-work that supports the region’s economic development & diversification preferences.

Though it’s not mandatory for you to have an offer of employment in Alberta, you won’t harm your cause in any way, if you have one. As per AINP, in such a case, your chances of getting an invite will jump. And, if you get picked-up, the OINP will send you a Notification of Interest (NOI).

If you manage to get nomination from the province, you will get 600 extra points. And, this will swell your Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The result: In a following invitation round for Express Entry, you will 100% receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR in the nation.

Significantly, on September 18, the province sent invites to 139 people to apply with CRS scores as low as 350. And on September 11, it sent invites to those 339 people to apply who–as mentioned earlier—had CRS scores of as low as 302.

Alberta Express Entry Stream Preferred Most

Among the different PNP Express Entry-aligned streams, the Alberta Express Entry Stream is one of the most favored. The reason: it picks-up those candidates from the pool who have scores that are frequently well below federal cut-off scores.

While the lowest Alberta draws this year sent invites to applicants with scores of 300, the lowest all-program federal Express Entry draw this year necessitated candidates to have scores of 438+.

Hitherto, in 2019, the AINP has proffered 4,378 nomination certificates.

Alberta

Nicknamed the nation’s energy province, it’s the westernmost of the three Prairie Provinces. Renowned the world over for its high living standards, it’s also one of the most affluent provinces and one of the best destinations for movement to the popular destination.

Express Entry System

This federal immigration program–run by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)–administers the bank of candidates for:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Class
• Canadian Experience Class
• All Express Entry-aligned PNP streams

Eligible applicants, who have an Express Entry profile, receive a score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It considers certain parameters, including age, education, skilled employment experience, and English/or French language skills.

A pre-decided figure of the highest-scoring candidates receives ITAs for PR, via the draws carried-out regularly–roughly on a fortnight basis–by the IRCC.