A member with CRS 406 (NOC 2175) was confused why Alberta invited 148 candidates with a CRS as low as 301, while their own higher score went unnoticed.
What the thread clarified:- AINP selects candidates by specific NOC codes, and does not publicly disclose which NOCs were targeted in a given draw. A lower CRS score doesn't mean the draw was purely CRS-based — it may have specifically targeted occupations different from yours.
- A real connection to Alberta — commonly a job offer or already working there under an LMIA — was observed as a common factor among those who got invited, even at lower CRS scores. One member's friend who received an invite was already working in Alberta with an LMIA.
- Recent draws appeared to be limited mainly to people with an existing connection to Alberta (like already living/working there), based on member observations, with a draw specifically for outland candidates without such ties seemingly less frequent.
The practical takeaway: a lower-CRS invitation from Alberta doesn't mean CRS alone determines selection — AINP targets specific undisclosed NOCs, and having an actual connection to Alberta (job offer, LMIA, or already working there) appears to significantly improve your chances, more than CRS score alone.