Express Entry draw finally resumes after a long pandemic-led dry spell
The much-anticipated Express Entry draw, after a hiatus of over one-and-a-half years, resumed on July 6, 2022. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was a high 557 and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited a total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence.
This was a significant all-program draw, which also included Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates (the last time before this was in December 2020) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates (draws for which were last held in September 2021). The draws for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under Express Entry, however, continued without being impacted adversely by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announcing the resumption, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser told CIC News, “I am pleased to announce that Express Entry draws have officially resumed and applications will be processed at our 6-month processing standard. I want to thank the candidates from around the world for their patience, as we worked to reduce the backlog before resuming Express Entry draws. I look forward to welcoming skilled workers who will be essential in addressing Canada’s labour shortages.”
????Important update on Express Entry
Starting July 6th, 2022, qualified candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residency from the following programs:
1.Federal Skilled Worker program
2.Federal Skilled Trades program
3.Canadian Experience Class pic.twitter.com/kzemWB4P0b— Sean Fraser (@SeanFraserMP) July 4, 2022
The high CRS cut-off score of 557 comes as a shock to many
In this July 6, 2022 draw, the minimum CRS score was 557. The previous draw for FSWP on December 23, 2020, saw a CRS cut-off score of 468 with invitations to apply sent to 5,000 candidates. Owing to the tremendous jump in the minimum CRS score, candidates applying from outside of Canada largely feel excluded.
Want to understand what this Express Entry draw means for you?
We spoke to Immigration Consultant Kerry Molitor about this week’s Express Entry draw. She explained who benefits from it and the options available for those who didn’t make the cut. Watch now!
One key piece of advice from Kerry that we’d reiterate here is to enter the Express Entry pool irrespective of whether or not you feel that you might meet the CRS cut-off in a future draw. If this week’s score was incredibly high, Canada has pleasantly surprised candidates with an unexpected low cut-off, too, in the past. Let’s see what happens the next time around. All the best!
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