The number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued to Express Entry candidates for immigration to Canada has increased to 1,000 in the latest draw from the pool, which took place on September 7, 2016. The past nine draws have each seen between 750 and 800 ITAs issued, with only 750 candidates having been invited to apply in the previous draw, which took place exactly two weeks ago. The minimum number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required in order for a candidate to be issued on ITA in the September 7 draw was 491, representing a drop of 47 points since the previous draw.
Until today, the number of ITAs issued in any one draw had not reached the 1,000 mark since April, 2016. The increase on this occasion, though not as substantial as some candidates may have hoped for, may reflect a desire on the part of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to issue more invitations through the fall season in order to reach the annual intake levels set earlier this year for the federal economic immigration programs that receive applications through Express Entry. An IRCC representative made comments earlier this year to that effect, and it is quite possible that we are now seeing the beginning of an increase in the number of ITAs issued per draw. Other things being equal, this should have the corresponding effect of the CRS cut-off point coming down.
Candidates who have been issued an ITA are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant.
Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada’s immigration management system for the federal economic immigration programs, namely: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Eligible candidates may submit a profile into the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked according to the CRS. The government of Canada selects the top-ranked candidates on a priority basis when it performs one of its frequent draws from the pool. Candidates who are issued an ITA for permanent residence then have 60 days to submit a complete e-application, from which point the government of Canada aims to process the application within six months.
Candidates in the pool may increase their CRS score — and therefore their ranking against other candidates — in a number of ways. To learn more about increasing CRS score and ranking, click here.
For more information on draws from the Express Entry pool that have taken place so far, click here.
Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015 to September, 2016
- Launch date: January 1, 2015
- First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
- Most recent draw from the pool: September, 2016
- Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 450 (September 18, 2015 October 2, 2015)
- Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 1,637 (March 27, 2015)
- Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 715 (April 17, 2015)
- Largest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 273 (from May 22, 2015 to June 12, 2015 draws)
- Smallest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on three occasions)
- Largest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 302 (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)
- Smallest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on three occasions)
- Longest gap between two consecutive draws: 35 days (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)
- Shortest gap between two consecutive draws: 7 days (on seven occasions)
- Total number of ITAs issued in 2015: 31,063
- Total number of ITAs issued in 2016: 19,292
- Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 50,355
