Maple News reports that candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Canada’s Express Entry system must ensure their profiles remain accurate and up to date—even after receiving the ITA. While updates to your profile are simple prior to receiving an invitation, the rules change significantly once your profile is submitted into the government’s Global Case Management System (GCMS).
Before being invited, applicants are encouraged to update their Express Entry profiles with any relevant life changes, like improved language test scores or new credentials, to strengthen their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and overall eligibility. However, once you receive an ITA, the information in your profile is effectively locked in.
At this stage, any inconsistencies between your supporting documents and your Express Entry profile information can have serious consequences. If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finds that you misrepresented your situation—even unintentionally—you could be barred from applying to immigrate to Canada for up to five years.
IRCC officers thoroughly review your application package for both completeness and truthfulness. Incomplete applications may be returned without being processed, although this isn’t considered a refusal. Applicants have a 90-day window from receiving the ITA to submit their permanent residence application.
If you’re unable to gather all required documentation in time or discover that your submitted information contains inaccuracies, one option is to formally decline the ITA. This keeps your profile active in the Express Entry pool—as long as it’s still valid—and you may receive another invitation in a future draw, especially if your CRS score remains competitive.
Importantly, there’s a distinction between declining an ITA and failing to respond. Declining maintains your position in the pool, which can provide an edge in future draws where a tie-breaker rule is applied. Failing to respond within 90 days, on the other hand, results in your removal from the pool and would require you to create and submit a new profile from scratch.
In rare cases where it’s impossible to obtain a necessary document on time, candidates may submit a Letter of Explanation (LOE) with their application, detailing their efforts to meet requirements. However, LOEs are reviewed on a discretionary, case-by-case basis by IRCC officers.
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s wise to consult with a qualified immigration expert. Taking proactive steps—such as improving your CRS score through language retesting or seeking a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination—will strengthen your chances of receiving another ITA in the future.
Ultimately, the key takeaway shared by Maple News is clear: accuracy and transparency are critical when dealing with Canada’s immigration system. Your long-term success depends on the integrity of your Express Entry profile.