When applying for Canadian PR as a couple, choosing the right principal applicant can make a big difference in your chances of success.
Selecting the Principal Applicant
Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates, considering factors like age, education, language skills, and work experience. To boost your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), it's best to pick the partner with a stronger CRS score as the principal applicant.
Key Differences Between Applicants
The principal applicant gets the most CRS points, while the secondary applicant adds some points based on education, language ability, and Canadian work experience. Only the principal applicant earns points for age and foreign work experience, which can affect your total score.
Also, the principal applicant must be the first to land in Canada, while the secondary applicant can arrive at the same time or later. This is important to consider if one of you needs to enter Canada before the other.
Comparing CRS Scores
Calculate both partners' CRS scores to see who would be a better choice. It's also worth looking into category-based draws, as having in-demand work experience or strong language skills could make one of you a better candidate.
The bottom line: take the time to compare both profiles and consider category-based draws. This way, you can choose the partner with the best chance of success as the principal applicant.
