Canada: Path to Permanent Residency Express Entry Update

The latest Express Entry draw took place on May 17, 2017.  Invitations to Apply (ITA’s) for Canadian permanent resident status were issued to 3,687 candidates in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 415 or above. This is the second time the minimum CRS requirement has dropped to 415 points, the lowest point total since being introduced in January, 2015.

Year to date 2017 a total of 43,456 ITA’s have been issued which is more than the total for all of 2016. Candidates who received an ITA in the May 17 draw are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent resident status to the federal government. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant. The objective of IRCC is to process submitted applications within six months. The trend for 2017 has been a decline in CRS requirements and increase in the numbers of ITA’s issued.

This is in line with IRCC communications that changes to the Express Entry system and CRS would result in a greater number of ITA’s being issued, and consequently a drop in the CRS score requirements.

For additional information or a more comprehensive discussion please contact Oneterra Business Immigration Law.