What does the change mean? The number of invitations was up significantly for the second straight draw after hovering between 747 and 799 from May through August and then jumping to 1,000 in the Sept. 7 draw. The minimum score dropped slightly to 483 from 491 in the Sept. 7 draw.
- Implementation time frame: Ongoing.
- Visas/permits affected: Permanent residency through Express Entry.
- Who is affected: Canadian companies sponsoring foreign nationals through one of four skilled migration programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.
- Business impact: The minimum qualifying score has remained under 600 in all draws this year, indicating that some candidates continue to be issued invitations to apply without having an LMIA-supported job offer or provincial nomination.
Background: Last year, Canada issued 31,063 invitations to apply through Express Entry. Officials had projected a greater number for 2016, but have issued just 20,580 so far this year.
Express Entry Draws in 2016:
Date | Invitations | Score | Date | Invitations | Score | |
Jan. 6 | 1,463 | 461 | May 18 | 763 | 484 | |
Jan. 13 | 1,518 | 453 | June 1 | 762 | 483 | |
Jan. 27 | 1,468 | 457 | June 15 | 752 | 488 | |
Feb. 10 | 1,505 | 459 | June 29 | 773 | 482 | |
Feb. 24 | 1,484 | 453 | July 13 | 747 | 482 | |
March 9 | 1,013 | 473 | July 27 | 755 | 488 | |
March 23 | 1,014 | 470 | Aug. 10 | 754 | 490 | |
April 6 | 954 | 470 | Aug. 24 | 750 | 538 | |
April 20 | 1,018 | 468 | Sept. 7 | 1,000 | 491 | |
May 6 | 799 | 534 | Sept. 21 | 1,288 | 483 |
BAL Analysis: The number of invitations to apply in Wednesday’s draw hit its highest point since Feb. 24, while the minimum score remained in the 480-490 range after spiking to 538 on Aug. 24. BAL will continue to follow Canada’s Express Entry program to gauge whether the recent increase in invitations to apply will become a sustained trend.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Canada. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
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About Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
Founded in 1980, Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) provides comprehensive global immigration services from seven offices across the U.S. and from offices in Geneva, London, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. BAL manages global visa matters and customized application approaches for work permits, business visas, and residence permits in more than 100 countries. With a single cost center for worldwide operations, BAL offers centralized management with regional and local support for the complete spectrum of global immigration matters.
Source: Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
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