Newcomers with siblings get express entry points boost
Prospective immigrants with siblings in Canada deserve extra Express Entry points, Toronto immigration lawyer Robin Seligman tells the Lawyers Daily.
Seligman, principal at immigration law boutique Seligman Professional Corporation, was commenting on recent updates by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to its scoring system.
From June 6, applicants with siblings who are permanent residents or citizens living in Canada will get an extra 15 points.
“In my experience, it’s very helpful if they have a sibling,” Seligman told the legal news outlet. “They have a good foundation if they have a sibling in Canada. This is now giving Comprehensive Ranking System points under express entry recognizing that element of connection and establishment, so I think it’s a good point.”
The changes also offer a boost to French-speaking applicants, providing for up to 30 extra points for candidates who can demonstrate French skills strong enough to achieve level seven under the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens test, as long as they are also assessed at level five or above for the English equivalent, the Canadian Language Benchmark. French-speaking candidates can still get 15 extra points if their English standards fall short of level five.
In the article, Seligman said that while she welcomes the changes, she thinks IRCC could do more potential immigrants over the age of 30.
“I understand what they’re [the government] doing, but I think again the age would be the most critical thing for me to think about for the next round of amendments,” Seligman said.
Currently, applicants who have a spouse and are aged between 20 and 29 score 100 points, the maximum number available for age. Once they hit 30, they lose five points for every extra year until the age of 40. After that milestone, the points come off at a rate of 10 per year until 45. At that point, candidates get no points for their age.
“I feel that an area where they really haven’t paid attention to is the negative treatment of people once they hit 30,” Seligman said in the article, noting that most people in post-secondary education don’t finish until their mid-20s, leaving them little time to establish themselves professionally before they start losing points.
Every point counts in the express entry system, Seligman told the outlet, adding that removing points from people as young as 30 could mean losing out on the positive contributions older applicants can make to the workforce.