IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Canada conducted its third Express Entry draw of the year Wednesday, issuing 3,350 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System score was 438.

Analysis & Comment: While the number of invitations dropped in Wednesday’s draw, it was conducted just one week after the last draw. Overall, Canada continues to issue a high number of
invitations for permanent residence, and the minimum score of 438 was down five points from last week.

The following chart lists Express Entry draws from November, December and January.

Date               Invitations Minimum Score
Nov. 15 3,900 449
Nov. 28 3,900 445
Dec. 12 3,900 445
Dec. 19 3,900 439
Jan. 10 3,900 449
Jan. 23 3,900 443
Jan. 30 3,350 438

Background: The Express Entry system prioritizes permanent residence candidates in four skilled migration programs—Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program—on a points system that considers such factors as current job offer, education, skills, work experience and age, among others. Candidates register their profiles online through the Express Entry system. Draws are conducted roughly every two weeks, usually for all four categories but sometimes limited to one or two of them. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration publishes the results of each draw, indicating the number of invitations for permanent residence that are issued and the minimum score needed to earn an invitation. Individuals who receive an invitation must apply for permanent residency within 60 days. Under tie-breaking rules, applicants with the same Comprehensive Ranking System score are ranked according to the date and time they submitted their profiles, highlighting the importance of submitting Express Entry profiles as early as possible.

This alert was prepared by Garson LLP, an independent law firm, allied with Deloitte LLP in Canada.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.