Express Entry CRS scores show a downward trend in recent draws

Canada Express Entry has issued 34,300 invitations to apply (ITAs) in the first four months of 2020, and the most ever for the first quarter since 2017, despite the Coronavirus pandemic.

Figures show that 34,300 ITAs of 2020 were issued in January, February, March, April and the first week of May through 13 draws.

The first quarter of 2020 also featured Express Entry's biggest draw in history, with 4,500 ITAs issued on February 19 draw.

These are encouraging trends that Canada is keen to achieve the immigration target it has set for 2020. It also indicates the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) desire to keep the immigration programs despite the limitations posed by COVID-19.

Draw	ITA Date	# of issued ITAs	Min CRS points
#146 (CEC)	01-May-20	3,311	452
#145 (PNP)	29-Apr-20	589	692
#144 (CEC)	16-Apr-20	3,782	455
#143 (PNP)	15-Apr-20	118	808
#142 (CEC)	09-Apr-20	3,294	464
#141 (PNP)	09-Apr-20	606	698
#140 (CEC)	23-Mar-20	3,232	467
#139 (PNP)	18-Mar-20	668	720
#138	04-Mar-20	3,900	471
#137	19-Feb-20	4,500	470
#136	05-Feb-20	3,500	472
#135	22-Jan-20	3,400	471
#134	08-Jan-20	3,400	473
		34,300

Drop in CRS points

In the latest Express Entry draw announced on May 1, Canada issued 3,311 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

The Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS points dropped to 452, 3 points lesser than the previous CEC draw. Another draw was conducted on April 29 targeting PNP candidates where 589 ITAs were issued.

The latest EE draw utilized the implementation of the tie-breaking rule on October 10, 2019. This means that in this invitation round all CEC candidates with a CRS score above 452, as well as those candidates with scores of 452 who submitted their profile before that date and time, received an ITA.

The latest round was the 13^th of the Express Entry draws held in 2020.

Targeted programs for invitation rounds

The latest draws also indicated the IRCC’s desire to target CEC and PNP candidates ever since the implementation of travel restrictions due to COVID-19.

This is because candidates under these two programs are more likely to be already staying in Canada because candidates belonging to most of the other Express Entry linked programs are required to travel to Canada which is not possible at the present time.

In fact, the CEC specific draws issued 13, 619 invitations to apply (ITAs) in the four program-specific draws held so far with the largest CEC specific draw held on April 16 with 3782 ITAs.

Till date, Canada has conducted eight draws, four targeting PNP candidates and four targeting CEC candidates. It has issued 1981 ITAs to PNP candidates and 13,619 ITAs to CEC candidates.

The focus on program-specific draws is a shift away from the all program Express Entry draws held before the Coronavirus outbreak.

The last program Express Entry draw was held on March 4 where 3,900 ITAs were issued with a CRS score of 471.

All this indicates that the IRCC is trying to provide uninterrupted immigration services for those who are in the process of applying for a Canadian visa or intend to apply for one.

By making your visa application now, you can improve your chances of being in the pool and increase your chances of selection in draws and getting an ITA.