Lowest Ever CRS Points Requirement in Latest Express Entry Draw for Canadian Immigration

Seventeenth Express Entry Draw sees 1,545 candidates receive Invitations to Apply

A landmark moment in the history of the Express Entry selection system for Canadian immigration took place on September 18, when Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence to candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of 450 and above. This is the lowest CRS points requirement so far this year.

A total of 1,545 candidates in the pool received ITAs, the largest number of invitations issued in any single draw for more than two months. These candidates are now in a position to submit an application for permanent residence, with processing times of six months or less.

While a number of candidates who received an ITA did so without obtaining a qualifying job offer or enhanced provincial nomination certificate, many other candidates have taken advantage of one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that have offered an Express Entry stream so far this year. Moreover, many candidates for Canadian immigration through Express Entry have spent time networking and making contact with Canadian employers in their field, leading to them receiving qualifying job offers.

If a candidate in the pool obtains a qualifying job offer or an enhanced provincial nomination certificate, he or she is awarded 600 CRS points and will receive an ITA at a subsequent draw from the pool.

Over recent weeks and months CICnews.com has featured PNPs in the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan, as well as the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In addition, it was announced recently that Nova Scotia has been given an increased allocation for its Express Entry streams. PNPs are a dynamic and constantly evolving set of immigration programs, and candidates are encouraged to remain updated on them regularly.

How are people getting Invitations to Apply?

(The following scenarios are hypothetical and do not represent real people who have received an ITA.)

• Ali is 35 years old, with a Master’s Degree, seven years of skilled work experience obtained outside Canada, and advanced English ability. He wishes to immigrate to Canada with his spouse and two children. His spouse has a Bachelor’s Degree and advanced English ability. Despite not getting the maximum number of CRS points available for age and despite not having sat a test for a second official language, Ali was awarded the maximum number of points for his skills transferability factors, bringing his CRS points total to 452.
• Having worked full-time for the past six years as a software engineer, 39 year-old Manuel noticed that his occupation was on the list of skilled eligible occupations for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. As such, he made a particular effort to make connections with employers and recruiters in his industry in Nova Scotia, which ultimately led to him receiving a valid offer of permanent employment from a Nova Scotia employer. Having entered the pool earlier this year with a bachelor’s degree and high-intermediate English ability, he was awarded 305 CRS points. The nomination certificate from Nova Scotia boosted his score to 905, resulting in him receiving an ITA.
• 26-year old Charlotte initially moved to Canada in 2010 to continue her education at undergraduate level. After graduating in 2013, she took advantage of Canada’s post-graduation work permit program to land a skilled job in her field in Canada. With advanced English skills, Charlotte entered the Express Entry pool with 469 CRS points, more than enough to receive an ITA when the latest Express Entry draw was performed

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