More candidates were invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence during the second quarter of 2017 than in any other quarter since the Express Entry immigration system was launched in January 2015.
The latest official government data reveals that 26,653 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued in the second quarter of 2017. This was more than the 24,632 ITAs over the first quarter, and more than double the 13,202 issued over the course of the final three months of 2016. To give this some context, the fourth quarter of 2016 figure had been the previous record period, prior to the start of this year.
Along with the increase in ITAs, there has also been a decrease in the number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required in order for a candidate to be issued an Invitation to Apply.
There were nine Express Entry draws conducted over the second quarter of 2017, four of which set new record lows for the minimum CRS required. This threshold went down to as low as 413 on 31st May for candidates in the pool eligible under Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
One of the reasons given for the sudden surge in ITAs, is an increased willingness for provinces to use the Express Entry system has part of their Provincial Nomination Programmes.
In recent months, the provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia have been particularly active with their enhanced Express Entry aligned PNP streams.
A provincial nomination is the most valuable single factor under the CRS, worth 600 points alone. Most Canadian provinces dedicate a portion of their Provincial Nominee Programs to select candidates from the Express Entry pool.
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Article published 26th July 2017