Express Entry
Canada to Make Remote Learning Eligible for Express Entry Points
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada is planning to temporarily make remote learning eligible for Express Entry points. They are recommending applicants to update their profiles by 2nd August to benefit from the latest reform. The public health restrictions over the last two years have changed the education system and made the process virtual. Now, IRCC is relaxing the policies for Express Entry applicants who studied online during COVID-19.
Usually, virtual education doesn’t qualify for Comprehensive Ranking System points in case more than 50% of education is completed through distance learning. However, according to the latest IRCC update, Express Entry applicants will now qualify for Canadian educational credential points for the course completed online between March 2020 and August 2022. According to the information provided by IRCC, the latest reform applies to those who have earned a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate online during the eligibility period. These applicants will now qualify for CRS points even if the program was:
- Completed Online
- Outside Canada
- Completed through part-time studies
The authority also demands the applicant to update their Express Entry profile. Applicants in the pool may have received an email from IRCC stating that the applicant who has completed education must update their profile by answering three questions mentioned in the education history section. The questions ask how much in-person study, study tenure in Canada, and full-time studying the applicant completed to get the credential. In case these fields remain incomplete, the applicant may experience their CRS score drop. The letter notifies as follows:
“This is to inform you that there have been modifications to how Express Entry measures Canadian education credentials that may affect your Express Entry profile. If you’ve requested to have a Canadian education credential, you must update your profile by answering the three questions mentioned in the education history section. In case these fields remain incomplete, the Comprehensive Ranking System points may decline and you could miss the opportunity to be invited to apply for permanent residence status. Please update your Express Entry profile by 2nd August 2022 to qualify to receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.”
The next Express Entry draw is expected to be held on August 3 as IRCC had resumed all-program draws since July 6.
