Express Entry: CRS Points Requirement Remains at Lowest Ever Level in Latest Draw

The number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points needed in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration has remained at its lowest ever level.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued 1,530 ITAs in the eighteenth draw from the Express Entry pool, which took place on October 2. Candidates in the pool with 450 or more CRS points were invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. CIC aims to process complete applications within six months, with applicants and their families then able to complete the Canadian immigration process by landing in Canada as permanent residents.

The previous Express Entry draw, which took place on September 18, marked a landmark moment in the short history of the Express Entry selection system, as it was the first occasion where the CRS requirement had dipped to 450, a cut-off point that was repeated for the eighteenth draw. Consequently, each candidate who received an ITA in the eighteenth draw had either entered the Express Entry pool at some stage over the previous two weeks or increased his or her CRS score in that time.

While a number of candidates who received an ITA did so without obtaining a qualifying job offer or enhanced provincial nomination certificate, many other candidates have taken advantage of one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that have offered an Express Entry stream so far this year.

Moreover, many candidates for Canadian immigration through Express Entry have spent time networking and making contact with Canadian employers in their field, leading to them receiving qualifying job offers. If a candidate in the pool obtains a qualifying job offer or an enhanced provincial nomination certificate, he or she is awarded 600 CRS points and will receive an ITA at a subsequent draw from the pool.

Over recent weeks and months CICnews.com has featured PNPs in the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan, as well as the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In addition, it was announced recently that Nova Scotia has been given an increased allocation for its Express Entry streams. PNPs are a dynamic and constantly evolving set of immigration programs, and candidates are encouraged to remain updated on them regularly.

Candidates can also increase their CRS score by improving language proficiency, gaining additional work experience, and/or completing an education credential.

Click here to learn more about all Express Entry draws that have taken place so far.

Realizing Canadian immigration goals by taking action

“It has been noticeable over recent weeks that a number of individuals interested in immigrating to Canada who may have been unsure whether or not they should create an Express Entry profile have now done so. They have become aware of the reality that candidates in the pool are visible, so to speak, to the Canadian provinces that are looking to welcome newcomers through the Provincial Nominee Programs. People are also realizing that a candidate in the pool has far more leverage when discussing a possible job opportunity with a Canadian employer than a candidate who is not in the pool,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“Moreover, candidates already in the Express Entry pool who are serious about realizing their Canadian immigration goals have a number of ways in which they can be proactive. They can try to improve their core human capital factors, while also building a successful strategy to connect with Canadian recruiters and employers. In addition, they can stay up to date with the latest news on enhanced PNP streams — gathering supporting documents and getting a head start is an important factor on this front, because it has been shown that some of these opportunities only present themselves for a short time.”

Important information for all candidates and applicants

Once an ITA has been issued to a candidate, he or she has 60 days to file a complete application with all supporting documents; no extensions will be granted. Candidates who have been issued an ITA are encouraged to submit their complete applications in good time to avoid missing their opportunity, while those who have not yet been selected from the Express Entry pool are encouraged to gather documents in advance.

Moreover, it is important that the information provided and documents submitted are completely accurate in order to avoid a refusal or, worse still, being penalised for misrepresentation. Penalties for misrepresentation may include a five-year ban on applying to immigrate to, or even visit, Canada.

Express Entry is not an immigration program in itself, but rather a system used by CIC to select candidates for immigration to Canada using the following economic immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker
Federal Skilled Trades
Canadian Experience Class
a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs

To find out if you are eligible for any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, including the federal economic programs that are processed under Express Entry, please fill out a free online assessment today.