Many Express Entry applicants believe that once they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), approval is mostly procedural. In reality, the ITA marks the start of IRCC’s most detailed review, not the end of the selection process.
After ITA, IRCC conducts a structured audit of your Express Entry profile to confirm that every point you claimed was accurate, supported, and still valid. A failure at this stage often leads to refusal—even for candidates who were genuinely eligible.
This article explains how IRCC audits Express Entry profiles after ITA, what officers verify, and where most applicants go wrong.
1. The Legal Standard After ITA (Why Refusals Happen)
Under section 11.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), IRCC must confirm that:
You still meet the criteria and still deserve the CRS score that led to your ITA at the time your PR application is assessed.
This means:
- Your points are not locked in
- IRCC can remove points
- If your recalculated CRS falls below the draw cut-off, your application can be refused—even if everything else is genuine
This is one of the most common refusal grounds in Express Entry.
2. What IRCC Audits First After ITA
IRCC does not review files randomly. Officers focus first on high-impact CRS factors.
Priority audit areas:
- Work experience (Canadian and foreign)
- NOC accuracy
- Language test validity
- Education claims
- Timeline consistency
Any issue that affects CRS ranking is reviewed aggressively.
3. Work Experience Audit: The Most Scrutinized Area
IRCC verifies whether your claimed work experience is:
- Paid
- Full-time (or equivalent)
- Continuous (where required)
- In an eligible NOC
- Accumulated with valid authorization (for Canadian work)
What officers compare:
- Reference letters vs NOC duties
- Job titles vs actual responsibilities
- Claimed hours vs payroll records
- Dates across all applications
Common failure points:
- Duties do not sufficiently match the NOC
- Missing or vague reference letters
- Hours not clearly stated
- Experience gained while not authorized to work
If IRCC excludes part of your experience, your CRS score may drop below the ITA cut-off.
4. NOC Code Verification: Duties Matter More Than Titles
IRCC does not assess NOC codes based on job titles.
Officers verify:
- Whether most duties align with the selected NOC
- Whether the role truly matches the TEER level
- Whether the NOC selection inflated CRS eligibility
Even experienced applicants are refused when IRCC concludes:
“The applicant has not demonstrated that their work experience corresponds to the claimed NOC.”
This can invalidate all work experience under that NOC.
5. Language Test Audit
IRCC confirms:
- Test type is approved
- Test results are authentic
- Scores meet minimum program thresholds
- Test results were valid on the date of application
If a language test expires before submission, or scores were mis-entered, the application can be refused.
6. Education and Credential Audit
For education points, IRCC verifies:
- Canadian credential authenticity, or
- ECA report accuracy and validity
- Correct equivalency claimed
- Consistency with study history
Even small discrepancies between:
- ECA report
- Express Entry profile
- PR application
can trigger delays or refusals.
7. Timeline Consistency Audit (Silent but Dangerous)
IRCC cross-checks timelines across:
- Express Entry profile
- Work permits
- Study permits
- Tax records
- Travel history
- Previous applications
Common issues:
- Overlapping work and study
- Work claimed during status gaps
- Dates adjusted after ITA
- Conflicting employment histories
These inconsistencies may lead to:
- CRS recalculation
- Credibility concerns
- Procedural Fairness Letters
- Refusals
8. What IRCC Does Not Do After ITA
IRCC does not:
- Give the benefit of the doubt
- “Assume” eligibility
- Ignore weak documentation
- Fix unclear evidence for you
The burden of proof is entirely on the applicant.
10. Why Genuine Applicants Still Get Refused
Many refusals happen because:
- Applicants misunderstood CRS rules
- Employers provided weak reference letters
- Consultants focused on eligibility, not audit risk
- Applicants assumed approval was automatic after ITA
These are technical refusals, not findings of fraud—but they are final.
