The Government of Canada invited 3,600 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence in a new draw held November 13.

Nov 13’s draw brings the total number of invitations to apply (ITAs) issued so far this year through Canada’s Express Entry system to 75,300.

The minimum required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in today’s draw was 472. This is a three-point decrease from the previous draw, which was held October 30 and had a cut-off score of 475.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High Skilled economic immigration categories — the  Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates are ranked in the Express Entry pool based on a score awarded under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which provides points for factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French.

A job offer is not required in order to be eligible for an Express Entry ITA, though additional points are awarded if a candidate has one.

A set number of the highest-ranked candidates are issued an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws from the Express Entry pool, which typically take place every two weeks.

The 3,600 ITAs issued in today’s draw bring Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to within 14,500 ITAs of tying 2018’s invitation record of 89,800 with six weeks left in the year.

It was expected that IRCC could exceed its 2018 ITA record this year given its higher admissions targets for the three Express Entry-managed economic immigration categories and Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program for both 2019 and 2020.

The 3,600 ITAs issued today put IRCC 1,100 ahead of last year’s record-setting pace as of November 13.

The fact the minimum score decreased in today’s draw may be attributed to IRCC maintaining a two-week interval between this latest invitation round and its previous Express Entry draw on October 30.

The time between draws can influence the cut-off CRS score, as this graph shows: #casansaar (Source - CIC News)