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On the predicted lines, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the second Express Entry draw in two days with an exuberant draw size of 3,300 invitations for Canada PR.
The 161st draw held yesterday selected 3,300 candidates with prior work experience in Canada from the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry pool consists of applications qualifying for three immigration programs- the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP). Each application is evaluated based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). A CRS score is dependent on mainly human capital factors like age, work experience, education, language proficiency in English or French. The highest-ranking candidates above a minimum qualifying score which is uniquely determined in each draw receive ITAs for permanent residency.
August 20 CEC-specific draw invited 3,300 candidates having a cut-off CRS score of 454. The increase of nine points over the previously held CEC-specific draw is attributed to more candidates being entered into the pool over the past month after the all-program draw on August 5.
More often, candidates end-up with same CRS score and this confusion is avoided by using a tie-break rule. The tie-breaking rule for August 20 draw recorded timestamp of July 27, 2020, at 11:10:05 UTC. This meant that candidates having a CRS score of 454 and above were considered for issuing ITAs if their profile was submitted before the said due date and time.
Program-specific Express Entry draws held in 2020
In order to qualify for the PNP-specific draws, candidates must have already held a provincial nomination from any Canadian province running their own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Additionally, IRCC conducts specific nomination draws for Federal Skills Trades candidates. Such draws target semi-skilled workers having low CRS score and usually do not qualify for other draws.
| Draw Number | Date | Number of ITAs issues | Minimum CRS |
| 161 | August 20 | 3300 | 454 (CEC-specific) |
| 160 | August 19 | 600 | 771 (PNP-specific) |
| 159 | August 6 | 250 | 415 (FSTP- specific) |
| 157 | July 24 | 3343 | 445 (CEC-specific) |
| 156 | July 22 | 557 | 687 (PNP-specific) |
| 154 | June 25 | 3508 | 431 (CEC-specific) |
| 153 | June 24 | 392 | 696 (PNP-specific) |
| 152 | June 11 | 3551 | 437 (CEC-specific) |
| 151 | June 10 | 341 | 743 (PNP-specific) |
| 150 | May 28 | 3515 | 440 (CEC-specific) |
| 149 | May 27 | 385 | 757 (PNP-specific) |
| 148 | May 15 | 3371 | 447 (CEC-specific) |
| 147 | May 13 | 529 | 718 (PNP-specific) |
| 146 | May 1 | 3311 | 452 (CEC-specific) |
| 145 | April 29 | 589 | 692 (PNP-specific) |
| 144 | April 16 | 3782 | 455 (CEC-specific) |
| 143 | April 15 | 118 | 808 (PNP-specific) |
| 142 | April 9 | 3294 | 464 (CEC-specific) |
| 141 | April 9 | 606 | 698 (PNP-specific) |
| 140 | March 23 | 3232 | 467 (CEC-specific) |
| 139 | March 18 | 668 | 720 (PNP-specific) |
All-program Express Entry draws held in 2020
All-program Express Entry was a regularity before the current pandemic situation. Although IRCC resumed its popular all-program Express Entry draws after a gap of four months, the frequency of program-specific draws has increased sharply. All-program draws meant that skilled workers without a job offer have a fair chance to apply for Canada PR.
| Draw Number | Date | Number of ITAs issues | Minimum CRS |
| 158 | August 5 | 3900 | 476 |
| 155 | July 8 | 3900 | 478 |
| 138 | March 4 | 3900 | 471 |
| 137 | February 19 | 4500 | 470 |
| 136 | February 5 | 3500 | 472 |
| 135 | January 22 | 3400 | 471 |
| 134 | January 8 | 3400 | 473 |
Total number of ITAs issued in 2020 via Express Entry draws amount to 65,750 which is higher than last year around the same time. CanApprove recommends interested aspirants to start planning their immigration to Canada now. We offer excellent immigration and overseas education consultancy. Talk to one of our consultants to know your eligibility and various options for immigration to Canada.
