Maple News reports that certain Express Entry candidates may unexpectedly receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence even before their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score increases. This lesser-known scenario occurs when applicants are nearing a new threshold of qualifying work experience, such as moving from one to two years or from two to three years of skilled employment.
In these cases, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can issue an ITA in anticipation that a candidate will meet the next work experience milestone within the standard 60-day validity window of accepting the invitation. This consideration applies to both Canadian and foreign skilled work experience.
CRS points for work experience are awarded in brackets, with points increasing significantly at the one-year, two-year, and three-year marks. However, the system usually calculates this experience by months rather than specific dates. For instance, someone working from January 2025 to January 2026 may be counted as having completed a full year by the start of January 2026, even if their official start date was mid-month.
As a result, IRCC sometimes issues an ITA just ahead of the candidate reaching the next skill threshold, assuming they will complete the necessary experience before the application deadline. This allows applicants to begin preparing their permanent residence (PR) application early, but it also comes with critical responsibilities.
If an ITA is issued in this so-called ’60-day gap,’ it is vital that candidates ensure they actually meet the increased work experience requirement by the time their PR application is submitted. Submitting an application too early—before officially meeting this increased experience threshold—can result in refusal.
To minimize risk, applicants in this position must time their application carefully. They should only submit once they have completed the experience required to justify their CRS score, even if the ITA was received based on future eligibility within the allowed timeline.
This nuanced aspect of the Express Entry system underlines IRCC’s reliance on anticipated eligibility and the importance of accurate self-assessment by candidates. Those navigating this space are advised to stay meticulous in tracking their work history and adhering strictly to the documentation and submission guidelines.
Maple News encourages all Express Entry candidates to verify their eligibility and be cautious when proceeding during transitional periods of work experience that could affect CRS calculations and application outcomes.