Express Entry CRS score drops to 496

On October 26 Canada’s held its most recent all-program Express Entry draw.

This is the ninth draw since all-program draws resumed on July 6.

Invitations were issued to 4,750 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 496. Candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) were all eligible to receive invitations. All are programs that operate under the Express Entry system.

Starting in December 2020 Express Entry all-program draws were paused for over 18 months. During the pause, only candidates from the CEC or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were issued invitations to apply (ITAs). The draws were paused because of a backlog in applications caused by COVID-19 related travel restrictions. In September 2021, IRCC also paused draws for the CEC.

This draw marks the first time since draws resumed that the CRS has dipped below 500. The last time the score was this low was on December 23, 2020 with a score of 468. After that draw, all-program Express Entry draws were paused to avoid creating a larger backlog of applications for permanent residence.

By lowering the CRS score, IRCC is able to increase the number of ITAs it issues, as demonstrated by the eight previous draws in which the number of candidates increased as the CRS score gradually decreased.

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Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 is expected in the coming days

IRCC releases a new plan year each year that sets a goal for the number of immigrants Canada hopes to welcome in each of the coming three years. The numbers are further broken down into the class of immigration and their programs. For 2022, the Immigration Levels Plan targeted 55,900 new permanent residents through Express Entry. So far, between January and August 31, Canada has admitted just over 28,000 new permanent residents through Express Entry programs. A new Immigration Levels Plan is expected to be announced by November 1 this year.

What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry is the application management system oversees three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

The system employs a points-based method, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidates’ profiles. Candidates who meet or exceed the minimum cut off score for a draw will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates who receive an ITA are already in the Express Entry pool.

Statistics Canada recently released “Immigration selection factors and the earnings of principal applicants”, a report that is an update of the 2015 investigation that was influential in the creation of the Comprehensive Ranking System.

The report analyzed which characteristics at the time of landing were most impactful in the short, medium, and long-term earnings of new permanent residents. Education, language ability and pre-landing work experience were found to still be among the deciding factors. In particular, pre-landing work experience, especially within Canada, was judged to be the most influential factor in an individual's economic outlook.

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