Canada to Remove Extra Points for LMIA-Supported Job Offers in Express Entry to Curb Fraud

Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced a significant change to the Express Entry system, eliminating additional points for job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The move, aimed at reducing fraudulent activities, was revealed during a press conference on Tuesday.

The Express Entry system, an online platform managing Canada’s skilled immigration programs, has faced challenges with fraudulent LMIAs being sold to boost applicants’ scores. Minister Miller emphasized that the decision seeks to address these concerns.

“We are implementing further measures to reinforce program integrity and reduce potential LMIA fraud,” he stated. “This includes removing additional points for LMIA-supported job offers. By doing so, we aim to eliminate the incentive for candidates to purchase an LMIA, ensuring fairness and maintaining trust in the system.”

Previously,

LMIA-supported job offers could add 50 to 200 points to an applicant’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, significantly increasing their chances of securing permanent residency.

The change comes as Canada faces rising unemployment and a housing crisis, alongside its slowest population growth since early 2022, according to recent data from Statistics Canada. The federal government’s latest measures reflect broader efforts to control immigration levels while addressing systemic issues within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Employers use the TFWP to hire foreign workers when no suitable Canadian candidates are available, often requiring an LMIA to justify their hiring decisions. However, reports of illegal LMIA sales—ranging from $30,000 to $90,000—highlight the system’s vulnerabilities.

The demand for LMIA-supported roles has surged, driven by recent changes to Canada’s points-based immigration system, which made it harder for applicants to qualify. Many temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, rely on LMIAs to boost their scores in the Express Entry pool, where candidates are evaluated on education, work experience, language proficiency, and age.

Approximately 71,300 LMIAs were approved in the first quarter of 2024, up from 63,300 during the same period in 2023. Most approvals were for roles such as farm workers, cooks, truck drivers, and construction laborers.

Despite recent government efforts to enhance inspections, a United Nations report last year described Canada’s TFWP as a “breeding ground for slavery.” Insufficient oversight has allowed unscrupulous practices to persist, with fraudulent LMIAs exacerbating exploitation within the system.

While no specific date has been announced for the implementation of the new policy, industry insiders believe it could reshape immigration pathways for thousands of skilled workers. By removing LMIA-related points, Canada aims to restore fairness and transparency to its immigration system, ensuring that qualified candidates are selected based on genuine merit.