On August 2, Express Entry draw resulted 3,264 candidates from the selection pool receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. Invited candidates each had score of 441 points or above. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant. IRCC aims to process complete submitted applications within six months.
The CRS cut-off threshold this time around was just one point higher than for the previous draw, which took place on July 12. However, it may be noted that the gap of three weeks between these draws was longer than on numerous previous occasions, allowing more candidates to enter the pool and giving existing candidates a longer-than-usual opportunity to increase their points totals. This may have created upward pressure on the cut-off threshold.
If or when the gaps between draws become shorter, as they have been in the past, it is entirely possible that the cut-off threshold will decrease. Apart from candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Class, the record low threshold so far is 413*, in a draw that took place on May 31.
*Note: Draws of May 26 invited provincial nominees with a minimum CRS score of 775, and candidates in the Federal Skilled Trades Class with a minimum score of 199.
Today’s draw brings the total number of ITAs issued since Express Entry was first launched to 122,596. Of these, nearly half (54,487) have been issued in 2017. The increase in ITAs issued this year is a consequence of Express Entry becoming the main driver of economic immigration to Canada, with the backlog of applications submitted before 2015 now whittled down to just a handful of cases.
