CRS Cut-Off Threshold Decreases in July 12 Express Entry Draw

Candidates in the Express Entry pool for immigration to Canada with 440 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points have been invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the July 12 Express Entry draw. A total of 3,202 candidates were invited this time around.

The CRS cut-off threshold has decreased by nine points since the previous draw, which took place on June 28.

Today's draw is the second to have taken place since changes were made to the CRS last month. Following those changes, and as CICNews explained a couple of weeks ago, it was expected that the CRS threshold would go up temporarily to allow for the fact that some candidates in the pool, specifically those with a sibling in Canada and those with French ability, received a boost in their score last month. In addition, the longer-than-usual gap between draws last month would have also been a contributing factor to the threshold going up before the June 28 draw.

While the threshold has not decreased again to its historic low of 413 or beyond, candidates remaining in the pool may take heart that the threshold has indeed decreased on this occasion — even more so when it is also taken into account that there were slightly fewer Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued this time around than previously.

*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.

Following the July 12 draw, a total of 54,487 ITAs have been issued so far in 2017, far surpassing the total that were issued in the whole of last year. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Express Entry is now the main driver of economic immigration to Canada.

How are candidates getting an invitation?

The following hypothetical examples showcase the diversity of candidates being invited to apply for permanent residence.

Diego is a 29-year-old single candidate with advanced English ability. He has completed three years of skilled work abroad, and has never worked or studied in Canada. His highest level of education is his Bachelor's degree. His CRS score of 441 was enough for him to obtain an ITA in the July 12 draw.

Sophie, 31, has adequate intermediate language ability in English. She has a Master’s Degree and three years of work experience, both obtained outside Canada, but she has also completed a year of work in Canada. This gives her 442 CRS points.

Alexei is a 39 year-old candidate who has never been to Canada, though he has six years of skilled work experience abroad. He and his spouse both have a high intermediate language ability and Bachelor's degrees. Alexei had 308 CRS points, but when he noticed that his occupation was on Saskatchewan's list of in-demand occupations for the International Skilled Worker - Express Entry sub-category, he gathered and reviewed all his documents in anticipation of this sub-category reopening, which it duly did earlier this year. Later, when he received his provincial nomination and uploaded it to his Express Entry profile, Alexei received a 600-point boost in his CRS score and was invited to apply for permanent residence on July 12.

Lara is 33 years old. She has a Bachelor’s degree, as well as a certificate. After completing her education, Lara then worked full-time for three years. Lara took the IELTS and scored a CLB 9 (equivalent to a 7 in IELTS in speaking, reading, and writing, and an 8 in listening). Her CRS score of 440 was sufficient for her to be invited on this occasion.

"With the July 12 draw, we see that the CRS threshold has begun to decrease once again after the recent changes. How low may it go? Nobody can say for certain, but candidates will likely be pleased to see it heading in that direction," says Attorney David Cohen.

"As more provinces offer innovative ways for candidates to obtain a nomination, and as Express Entry remains unpredictable in terms draw sizes and thresholds, the message is clear — creating an Express Entry profile and being proactive thereafter is the best way to take advantage of Canada's generous economic immigration policy."