What is a good enough EE score

I attended an online course a few days ago with other practitioners, and one of the poll questions was about the kind of clients we encounter the most. Most of my peers chose "unrealistic."

That was not surprising, although it was not my pick. I see it almost daily on social media: Facebook posts, Instagram reels, and TikTok videos with exaggerated titles and content about how easy it is to immigrate to Canada. Recently, there has been more focus on the idea that the TR (temporary resident) to PR (permanent resident) pathway will return as it was in 2021. In my view, misleading information online is the major cause of unrealistic clients. It is not their fault, and to some degree, some practitioners contribute to this issue as well, but that will be the topic of another post.

I do not foresee the TR to PR pathway returning anytime soon, and I hope I am wrong. With the Express Entry (EE) General draws consistently requiring scores over 520, many graduates holding expiring PGWPs (Post-Graduation Work Permits) are facing the very real possibility that they may have to leave Canada before being selected, and they may never get selected.

So, what is a good enough score for EE these days?

I saw a post online the other day. The original poster’s PGWP is expiring in two months, and they have not yet received an ITA (Invitation to Apply). They were hoping to get their boss on board for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) to gain extra points. If that works out, with the 50 additional points, the original poster would have over 550 points, almost a "guarantee" as other commenters agreed.

Nothing is guaranteed in immigration, and every individual case is different. Take the example above, 

• Since the category draws were introduced in 2023, the cut-off scores have varied widely, with the French category going as low as 336 (February 2024) and General as high as 561 (December 2023). What if, even with the added score, the category OP fits in is not happening before their PGWP expires?
• The current LMIA processing timeline is 80 business days for the PR stream. Additionally, taking into account the time needed to prepare and submit an LMIA application, it is going to take longer.
• What if the boss does not want to invest time and money on the LMIA? What if the LMIA application decision is negative?
• Finally, recall the PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) policy changes in BC, Manitoba and PEI in the first half of 2024. Many “for sures” became impossible, and some “maybes” get a little bit more hope.

In most cases, it is not the end of the world if someone has to leave Canada when waiting for the draw, knowing that their score is high enough to be selected based on where they are in the pool. It is a psychological question for many candidates in the EE pool:

Does leaving Canada mean the end of my PR dream? 
Most of the time, it does not.

On the other hand, LMIA is a path to consider, but it should never be relied upon as the magic that makes an ITA happen. The core of a successful LMIA application is to demonstrate that there is no Canadian citizen or PR that can be hired to do the job at this moment other than this foreign national. Is it easy? It is not.

Now we come back to the question, what is a good enough score for EE these days?

In my view, a good enough score varies. Being fixated on one specific score with a tight timeline that relies on external factors (e.g. LMIA) is a very risky route. Riskier still is waiting and wishful thinking for a possible policy change or the sudden invite of 10,000 candidates in one General draw. Even when that happens, not being able to prove all the scoring factors renders a good score useless, and this happens more often than you think. Most of the time, it results applicants misinterpreting legal requirements without consulting legal professionals.

A good enough score comes from good preparation that starts early and a complete assessment that identifies areas where applicants can improve, or a better pathway that sometimes applicants do not know about. Regardless how EE might change, it is certain that Canada is looking for skilled individuals who satisfy the labor market needs. It is always wise to get yourself assessed by professionals early so you are informed and can work towards a higher score while you still have time. 

I do not believe there is a such thing as a 100% unrealistic client. Often, it is a matter of not being properly informed and trying to hold onto hope as time runs out. This is human nature, but we do not have to put ourselves in that position. Connect with me for a complete assessment and strategies for your PR, and we will work out plans so your future self can feel at ease.

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