A relatively low record start to the new express entry draw in 2018.

On January 24th the government of Canada invited 2750 candidates to apply for permanent residency under the express entry program. The Comprehensive Ranking System CRS score for the draw was 444, which was less 2 points from the previous score that was 446 on Jan 10th.

In accordance with the five draws prior to this one, The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship, Canada (IRCC) developed a tie-break rule. Under this rule, the specified date and time of the tie-break was 17-01-2018 at 12:33:00 UTC. Which denotes that before this deadline, candidates with existing profiles in the express entry pool with a score above 444 or scoring 444 points will obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Both the draws in 2018 had CRS scores comparatively below the first two draws of 2017, which led to setting of a number of express entry records.

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In the first half of 2017, the first sixteen draws saw a recorded low CRS cut off score, dropping as low as 413 on 31st May. Under the three year immigration levels plan that came to light last November, the IRCC set a target of getting 74,900 applicants for the Express entry 2018, which is 3200 openings more than the 2017 openings.

Incase there are excessive admissions in 2018 leading to several draws. The CRS cut-off scores might touch a new height.

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The touchdown of 2018 witnessed an increase in the activities of express entry- aligned with the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which flooded Manitoba and Ontario. Such PNPs have become a popular speedy option for candidates in Express Entry.

On January 22, 340 notifications of Interest for express entry candidates were issued by Ontario’s Human Capital priorities stream for candidates whose profiles were submitted in between Jan 1 and Jan 19. Manitoba issued 155 letters of Advice under the express entry pathway on Jan 11 which enables candidates who have submitted their profiles to the Manitoba provincial nominee program MPNP to apply to the express entry program.

Candidates in the express entry pool who have acquired a provincial nomination receive a good 600 CRS points, and they can be further put within the ITA in a future draw.

The following example will help you understand the CRS cut off entry in the recent draw:

The profile of Samuel Keith.

Age: 35 years.

Occupation: Management Consultant.

Work Experience: 4 years.

Education Qualifications: Completed MBA.

IELTS: Scored 8 in each category.

Situation: Samuel hasn’t studied or worked in Canada but has obtained a CRS score of 445. In this case his score is sufficient enough to obtain an ITA during the 24th Jan draw.

Case 2: Liam is 29 years and had worked in Canada as a programmer for the past 2 years and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Alberta. His english language proficiency is intermediate and before going to Canada he worked as a retail manager overseas for a year.

Liam recently wedded Paige, who hold a bachelor’s degree from an overseas institute, and has intermediate language proficiency in the listening and speaking categories and an initial intermediate proficiency in reading and writing. Liam’s CRS score is 444, so do you think he will be eligible to obtain an ITA during the draw on Jan 24.

“The recent CRS cut off may not have experienced a huge drop as compared to the previous draws, but it’s a better start as compared to the preceding year’s scores under the express entry system.- The words of Attorney David Cohen, Senior Partner with the Canadian Immigration law firm Campbell, Cohen.

2017 started with a relatively higher score but eventually witnessed a drop in the scores as low as 413.”

The CRS Calculator

The CRS Calculator allows you to find out what your score would be under the CRS.

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