I previously reported that, since Express Entry began on January 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) had issued four rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”). An ITA allows a foreign national to submit their application for permanent residence under one of the following categories:
- The Federal Skilled Worker (“FSW”) Class;
- The Canadian Experience Class (“CEC”);
- The Federal Skilled Trades (“FST”) Class; or
- Members of the Provincial Nominee Class who fall within the Express Entry Stream of a Provincial Nominee Program (“PNP”).
Express Entry applicants were selected to receive an ITA based on how many points they were assigned under the Comprehensive Ranking System (“CRS”).
CIC has now issued two additional rounds of ITAs, bringing the total to six since Express Entry commenced. A summary of all six Express Entry rounds to date appears below:
- In Round #1 (January 31, 2015), CIC issued 779 ITAs. Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 886 CRS points.
- In Round #2 (February 7, 2015), CIC issued 779 ITAs. Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 818 CRS points.
- In Round #3 (February 20, 2015), CIC issued 849 ITAs. Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 808 CRS points.
- In Round #4 (February 27, 2015), CIC issued 1187 ITAs. Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 735 CRS points.
- In Round #5 (March 20, 2015), CIC issued 1620 ITAs. Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 481 CRS points.
- In Round #6 (March 27, 2015), CIC issued 1637 ITAs. Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 453 CRS points.
CIC is clearly increasing the number of ITAs that it issues in each round and is also lowering the minimum CRS score that applies in each round. In fact, during the last two rounds, the lowest eligible CRS score dropped below 600. This means that at least some of the ITAs issued during the last two rounds were sent to applicants who did not have arranged employment or a nomination certificate issued under an express entry stream. This is a welcome trend, which I hope will continue for the balance of the year.
Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP
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