.png){kind=small}
In today's Express Entry Draw, IRCC issued 4,500 invitations to individuals with a cut-off score of 470+. This is the largest draw size ever seen since the Express Entry program was introduced in 2015.
During 2020, there will be 85,000 individuals who will be invited to apply for Permanent Residence. To be considered a good candidate for PR, you will need a CRS score of 460 or higher.
In previous years, the draw sizes were random which led to larger swings in the CRS cut-off selection score. At the beginning of 2018, the IRCC implemented a more methodical approach where draw sizes are kept the same for 4 or 5 draws, then increased by 250 or 500 for another 4 or 5 draws. The result of this change has kept the CRS score in a very narrow range between 438 and 475 in 2019.
With the increasing number of foreign students entering Canada to study, the CRS score is anticipated to hold at this level or trend slightly higher in 2020. Having an existing CRS score of 470, it is now impossible for someone outside of Canada to apply directly for PR via Express Entry. Individuals need to come to Canada as a student or obtain a work permit to gain the additional points necessary to score 470 points. In most cases, a foreign worker must be sponsored by a Canadian company to obtain a work permit which is challenging. However, there are a couple work permits that do not require sponsorship, such as a working holiday visa or an individual buying a business in Canada and obtaining an Owner Operator Work Permit to manage their own business.
Individuals who study or work in Canada earn between 55 and 125 additional points more than an individual from outside Canada. It has now reached a point where no individual can apply for PR from outside Canada without having Canadian schooling or Canadian work experience.
IRCC will invite 85,000 individuals to apply for Permanent Residence in 2020. The ideal candidate under Express Entry has a score of at least 460+. To calculate your Express Entry score, use our Express Entry CRS Calculator.
If you are unsure of your eligibility to apply, we can provide a professional assessment and evaluate your immigration options.
Contact us today, we can help you make Canada home.
Matkowsky Immigration Law
