Express Entry CRS Requirement Continues to Tumble: 415 in April 19 Draw

More Invitations to Apply issued so far in 2017 than in entire year of 2016

More and more Express Entry candidates for immigration to Canada are receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, and the number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required has decreased to a new record low of 415 in the April 19 draw. A total of 3,665 candidates received an ITA in this draw.

This is the third draw to have taken place so far this month. In total, 11,341 ITAs have been issued over these three most recent draws, and the number of ITAs issued so far this year (35,973) now surpasses the number issued over the entire year of 2016 (33,782).

At the same time, the CRS requirement has tumbled from 497 just over four months ago to a threshold of 415 today — the sixth occasion so far this year in which a new record low has been reached. As a result, there is now a greater range and diversity of candidates being invited for permanent residence.

The busy start to the second quarter of this year follows a stellar first quarter; if the first three weeks of April are any indication, it may well be the case that the number of ITAs issued through the spring months and into summer could eventually surpass the number issued over the opening quarter of the year.

Last November, IRCC determined that the CRS should be balanced to put greater weight on human capital, skills and experience’. Consequently, the number of CRS points awarded for a job offer was changed to either 50 or 200, depending on the job offered, from a previous bounty of 600 points. IRCC stated that ‘a reduction of points to candidates with arranged employment means the CRS cut-off will decline,’ and so this factor, together with the sharp increase in ITAs issued since November, has contributed to the decrease in the CRS threshold over recent months.

Another set of improvements are scheduled to come into force on June 6. For the first time, candidates with a sibling in Canada will be allocated additional points, as will candidates with French ability. In another change to be made to Express Entry, though not to the points system, registration in the Canada Job Bank will become voluntary. These changes are not expected to adjust the make-up of the Express Entry pool as much as the first set of improvements, introduced last November.