May 27th, 2024 at 05:35 am

NO Express Entry Draw to Lead to Higher CRS Score Cutoffs | Canada Immigration

Significant ramifications result from the recent Express Entry halt, especially for the extensive ranking system needed to be invited to apply for permanent residency. If you are using or intend to use the Express Entry system, keep reading to see how this change may impact your immigration process and your prospects of relocating to Canada.

No Express Entry Draw to Lead to Higher CRS Score Cutoffs

It appears that another week will pass without an Express Entry draw, as a batch of invites for May has not yet been released. With a cutoff score of 410 for francophones, the most recent Express Entry draw was announced on April 24. On April 23, a general draw with a cutoff score of 529 was published.

There was a common expectation that the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff would decline from its record high of 549 in the same month. But since there hasn’t been a draw yet this month, the CRS cut-off score will be even higher than it has ever been for the general round of invitations.

Express Entry Draws: CRS Trend in 2024

As of right now, 35,960 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been sent out by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has announced 17 Express Entry drawings in 2024. Approximately 40% of the invites were general, and approximately 34% were francophone. All of the 2024 category-based draws have been viewed, except the skill trades invitation round.

What about the Upcoming Draws?

The next Express Entry drawings are most likely to happen on or around May 28. General draws will probably come first, followed by Francophone or trade draws. As of now in 2024, trades-targeted draws have not been observed; this is the next most anticipated round of invitations based on categories.

In 2023, the IRCC announced a two-trade draw and awarded 2,170 ITAs to participants with CRS cutoff scores of 388 and 425. Since many Express Entry applicants in the pool have strengthened their credentials to qualify for the trades category, we may anticipate that this year’s CRS cutoff score in the trade draw will be approximately 430+.

Until the IRCC surprises us with something significant from their upgrades, we might witness a new high for the CRS cut-off score in general drawings, which is likely to be around 550+. The number of invitations will have a significant impact on the cutoff score, therefore, it will be fascinating to observe how big the next draws are.

Should the drawing process continue next week, this will be the last week in May that rounds of invites are sent out, and if the IRCC chooses to make up for this entire month, we might see huge draws. If not, it is anticipated that the CRS cut-off score will be higher for all draws, including the one for applicants with exceptional French proficiency.

Why Express Entry Draws Delayed

Although the cause of the Express Entry draw delays has not been established, it is thought that the IRCC may have stopped the draws to process the current inventory. The fact that candidates in the pool have until May 27 to update their profiles in compliance with the new proof of funding criterion is another anticipated factor.

When is the Next Express Entry Draw?

After missing two by-weekly Express Entry draws, the IRCC is currently anticipated to announce the next draw on or around May 28, 2024.