Express Entry draws of Canada are witnessing a downward trend in Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-specific draw's score thresholds, as the May 15 draw saw the lowest points cut off since January 2019.
As many as 3,371 invitations were issued to CEC candidates with CRS scores 447 or higher in the new Express Entry round.
The cut-off score of 447 is a five-point decrease from the previous CEC draw on May 1, which had a minimum score of 452 and was previously the lowest 2020 CRS requirement.
The May 15 draw was the second round of invitations to grant Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence in 24 hours.
Another 529 ITAs were issued yesterday, May 14, to Express Entry candidates nominated via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). For these candidates, the minimum CRS score was 718.
Canada's Express Entry system manages candidate profiles for three of Canada's major economic-class immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class and the Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates are classified on the basis of a score given under the Comprehensive Ranking System of Express Entry, which takes into account factors such as age, educational qualification, professional work experience and English or French language skills.
A fixed number of highest-ranking applicants obtain an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada, or ITA, through frequent, draws from the pool and usually aims to process applications for permanent residence within six months.
Today's draw continued a pattern which has witnessed the decrease in the cut-off CRS score in each of the last four CEC draws. Draw time is an important factor that can affect the CRS cut-off score. Shorter intervals between draws mean fewer candidates have time in the Express Entry pool to enter a profile.
The date and time of tie-breaking rule applied in this draw was 10:01:06 UTC on Dec. 23, 2019. This means that in this invitation round all CEC candidates with a CRS score 447 and higher, as well as who submitted their profile before that date and time, received an ITA. With the latest draw, a total of 38,200 ITA’s have been issued in 2020 so far.
