IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Canada conducted its fifth Express Entry draw of the year Wednesday, issuing 3,350 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System score was 454.

Analysis & Comment: Wednesday’s draw was the third consecutive draw in which 3,350 invitations were issued. The minimum CRS score was 454, down three points from the last draw. So far this year, the government has issued 17,850 invitations compared with 11,500 around the same time last year, a significant increase and a positive overall trend for Express Entry applicants.

The following chart lists Express Entry Draws to date in 2019:

Date               Invitations Minimum Score
Jan. 10 3,900 449
Jan. 23 3,900 443
Jan. 30 3,350 438
Feb. 20 3,350 457
March 6 3,350 454

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 CRS 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.