Why High CRS Scores Are No Longer Enough: How Canada’s Express Entry System Has Changed

“How can someone with a lower score get invited before me?”

A recent article by the Toronto Star highlights a major shift in how Canada selects permanent residents — and why many strong, English-speaking candidates are now being passed over despite high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.

Understanding this shift is critical if you want to protect your pathway to permanent residence.

What Changed in Express Entry?

Express Entry was originally designed as a merit-based system. Candidates were ranked primarily on factors such as:

• Age

• Education

• Work experience

• English or French language ability

Higher CRS scores meant better chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, since 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced category-based (targeted) draws, allowing the government to prioritize certain groups of applicants — even if their CRS scores are lower.

One of the most significant changes has been the prioritization of French-speaking candidates outside Quebec.

Why Is Canada Doing This?

The federal government has stated that its goal is to:

• Increase the number of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec

• Support minority francophone communities

• Preserve Canada’s bilingual identity

While these cultural objectives are clear, the policy shift has had real consequences for skilled workers who would have easily qualified under previous Express Entry rules.

In practical terms, Express Entry is no longer purely a ranking system. It is now a policy-driven selection system, and policy priorities can change quickly.

What This Means for High-Scoring Candidates Looking for an Immigration Lawyer Near You

If you are a skilled worker with a strong CRS score and are searching for an Express Entry immigration lawyer near you, you are not alone. Many candidates in Toronto and across Ontario are now discovering that even competitive profiles — including CRS scores in the 470–520 range — are no longer enough to guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Candidates who speak French are increasingly prioritized, even when their CRS scores are lower. For English-only applicants, this has created longer wait times, uncertainty, and frustration — especially for those who believed their score alone would secure permanent residence.

If you are asking:

• Why haven’t I been invited yet?

• Should I be worried about my work permit expiring?

• Is Express Entry still the right pathway for me?

These are questions an experienced immigration lawyer in Toronto can help you answer..

Why Waiting Without a Strategy Is Risky

Many people searching for an immigration lawyer near me are in time-sensitive situations. Delays under Express Entry can lead to:

• Loss of CRS points due to age

• Expiring work permits or maintained status issues

• Missed opportunities through Provincial Nominee Programs

• Increased stress and uncertainty for families and employers

Because Express Entry is now driven by government priorities — not just rankings — waiting without legal guidance can mean falling further behind each draw.

Strategic Options an Immigration Lawyer Can Assess

Depending on your circumstances, an immigration lawyer in Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario may help you evaluate options such as:

• Re-positioning your Express Entry profile based on current draw trends

• Provincial Nominee Programs aligned with your occupation or location

• Whether learning French is a realistic and strategic option for you

• Employer-supported pathways or work permit strategies

• Protecting your legal status while waiting for permanent residence

• Challenging unreasonable delays when IRCC fails to act

Not every option fits every applicant — which is why individualized advice matters.

For skilled workers searching for a Canadian immigration lawyer near you, understanding how these changes affect your options is critical — especially if you live or work in Toronto or Ontario.

If you are unsure whether Express Entry still works in your favour, or if you want clarity before taking your next step, speaking with an immigration lawyer can help you move forward with confidence.

High scores still matter — but strategy matters more.