IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Canada conducted two Express Entry draws Wednesday, issuing a total of 795 invitations to apply for permanent residency to applicants in the Provincial Nominee and Federal Skilled Trades programs.

What does the change mean? The draws marked a rare occasion in which Canada used Express Entry to target specific classes of applicants. The number of invitations issued was much lower than typical draws, but in the case of the draw for applicants in the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the minimum qualifying score of 241 was dramatically lower. The minimum qualifying score in the draw for applicants in the Provincial Nominee Program, in which applicants are automatically awarded at least 600 points, was 673.

Date Invitations Score   Date Invitations Score
Jan. 3 2,902 468   May 25** 400 199
Jan. 11 3,334 459   May 31 3,877 413
Jan. 25 3,508 453   June 28 3,409 449
Feb. 8 3,664 447   July 12 3,202 440
Feb. 22 3,611 441   Aug. 2 3,264 441
March 1 3,884 434   Aug. 9 2,991 433
March 24 3,749 441   Aug. 23 3,035 434
April 5 3,753 431   Sept. 6 2,772 435
April 12 3,923 423   Sept. 20 2,871 433
April 19 3,665 415   Oct. 4 2,801 438
May 4 3,796 423   Oct. 18 2,757 436
May 17 3,687 415   Nov. 1* 290 673
May 25* 143 775   Nov. 1** 505 241

*PNP nominees only
**Federal Skilled Trades Program applicants only.

BAL Analysis: Wednesday’s draws marked just the second time this year that officials used draws to target specific classes of applicants within the Express Entry program. The minimum qualifying score of 241 in the Federal Skilled Trades Program draw was significantly lower than the qualifying score in standard Express Entry draws, indicating that IRCC opened up Express Entry to a number of candidates who would not have qualified to apply for permanent residence in most draws.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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