2025 was the year of Refusals, especially for Express Entry candidates. Due to limited spots available for permanent residence, Officers were closely reviewing files to ensure only those applicants who truly met the requirements for the program were issued PR.

The following are some of the major reasons why files were refused, along with solutions on what could have been done to avoid it:

Copying and Pasting NOC Code duties for your role:

 In order to gain points for work experience, your job duties must match both the lead statement and substantial duties of your selected NOC Code. Therefore, the NOC Website is just the starting point. Many applicants just copy and paste those duties, including some that they have never actually performed and end up with a refusal. The best method to avoid such a refusal is to set aside some time to think about your job. What is your daily routine at work? How do you actually perform the duties assigned to you by your employer? What is expected from you and how do you accomplish all your commitments?

Once this is clear, review the NOC code line by line and see how your duties fit under it. Then paraphrase and write them out in your own words. In your submission letters, provide extensive details on how each of those tasks were performed by you and include proof such as emails, photographs, invoices etc.

Claiming Foreign Work Experience Never Declared in Previous Files:

As you are aware, a year of foreign work experience can increase your CRS score by 50 points in most cases. Therefore, many applicants who had worked in their home country began declaring that experience in their Express Entry profiles. They never cross-checked or referenced whether this experience was declared in their study or work permit applications. The officers rejected such applications without even giving the Applicant a chance to clarify or rectify the situation. This mistake is easily avoidable by reviewing the forms before you submit your application and providing a clear explanation why that experience was not declared in previous applications. 

Claiming Foreign Work Experience but providing insufficient documents:

Another pitfall that comes with foreign work experience is providing insufficient documentation. Either the employment letter does not contain all the relevant details or there are no documents or explanation provided for proof of remuneration. In order to gain points for foreign work experience, it must have been paid by either wages or commission. Meaning, you need to provide your payslips, bank statements and tax documents to show you were paid for the job you were doing or services you were providing. If you were paid cash or income taxes were not filed, do not assume the Officer will understand- provide a detailed explanation why these documents are not available, along with attaching other proof to show that you were paid.

For how to structure a good employment letter, please see our other blog https://www.tamberlawpc.com/how-to-draft-a-good-employment-letter-for-your-immigration-application/

Submitting File without completing the actual numbers of hours required for a program:

IRCC is aware that the Express Entry system does not allow for exact dates to be entered for work experience, which sometimes leads to the system rounding up your work experience to a whole full year when you might have only worked there for only 11 months. As an applicant, you have the duty to be truthful, and it is your responsibility to count your hours and days to ensure you have the full 12 months to claim points.

If you do not have the full work experience, you will lose points. At that time you have a decision to make. On the date of submission- will you have completed the entire 12 months of experience? If no, how much is your total score dropping? If it is not going to be lower than the minimum CRS Score for your round- are you prepared to submit arguments to justify why your file is not refused.

A drop in your CRS Score and the overall impact it will have on your file is highly personal and determinable upon a case-by-case basis.

Failure to Declare Non-Accompanying Spouse inside of Canada:

For your PR Application, you must declare all your dependants including your spouse/common-law partner and children. IRCC requires that they be examined for inadmissibility, because having an inadmissible family member will prevent you from getting PR. Failure to declare your dependents and having them examined will later prohibit you from ever sponsoring them to Canada.

Lots of refusals this year focused on failure to explain or declare a non-accompanying spouse inside of Canada. IRCC is aware that many applicants do not declare their spouse to increase their CRS points. However, this is not allowed by their policies. Therefore, if your spouse is inside of Canada you must provide an upfront explanation as to why they are not accompanying you to Canada at this time.

Express Entry files are complicated and now require extensive documentation and explanations to get approvals. File with confidence by booking a consultation with us today!