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August 20th, 2019
Express Entry draw figures for August 20 are below.
The August 20 Express Entry draw for immigration to Canada has resulted in 3,600 candidates being issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off threshold was 457.
In the previous draw, which occurred on August 12, the CRS score cut-off threshold was 466 points. With two draws happening within eight days of one another, we have seen the cut-off decrease significantly, dropping to its lowest point since May.
The tie-breaking rule was applied for the August 20 draw, meaning that not all candidates with 457 points will receive an ITA. As multiple candidates have 457 points, those who submitted their Express Entry profile to the pool before March 24, 2019 at 15:32:42 UTC will be prioritized.
The record low Express Entry cut-off threshold ever for an all-program draw is 413.
Why did the CRS cut-off threshold decrease?
Some Express Entry candidates may be wondering why the CRS score cut-off decreased by nine points between the previous round and this round. One major factor influencing the cut-off is the amount of time that passes between draws. Normally, IRCC waits exactly two weeks between draws. However, only eight days passed between the previous draw on August 12 and the draw on August 20. As less time passed, fewer candidates entered the competitive range, resulting in the CRS score decrease.
In addition to less time passing between rounds, IRCC has been issuing 3,600 ITAs for the past several draws. This is a larger number than had been issued in most draws during the first half of 2019. A larger number of ITAs often results in a decrease in the CRS score cut-off, as more candidates are pulled from the pool.
If IRCC continues conducting draws every two weeks or less and maintains a high number of ITAs issued per draw, then there is a strong possibility that the CRS cut-off threshold could drop in future draws.
There are a range of factors that may influence the CRS cut-off score, including:
- The number of candidates invited;
- The frequency of draws;
- The number of new candidates entering the pool; and
- Changes in the CRS scores of existing candidates, whose scores may increase or decrease depending on their circumstances.
As of August 15, there were a total of 116,879 candidates in the Express Entry pool. The graph below shows their distribution according to their CRS score at that time.
CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool as of August 15, 2019
The following table shows the distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool five days before the latest Express Entry draw. The score distribution may change as people submit new profiles and other profiles expire.
Want to improve your Express Entry CRS score? See our updated guide for tips you might not have thought of yet.
August 20 Express Entry draw: Update from the countryside
Here’s a video clip from the Moving2Canada YouTube account, shot just a few minutes after the August 20 Express Entry draw took place. Moving2Canada writer, Dane Stewart, reports details of the latest draw. Enjoy!
Will Express Entry candidates with CRS scores below 450-470 be invited in the future?
There is every possibility that future Express Entry draws will result in candidates with scores below 450 points being invited to apply. As recently as January of this year, candidates with scores in the 430s were being invited, and IRCC has set an ambitious target to admit more economic immigrants through Express Entry programs in 2019 and over the next two years.
On October 31, 2018, the government of Canada revealed its updated Canada Immigration Levels Plan for 2019-2021. It outlined Canada’s commitment to increase the numbers accepted through the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Class to around 256,000 over the next three years, with another 200,000 or so new permanent residents to settle through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) before the end of 2021.
Many invited Express Entry candidates benefit from obtaining a provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream. You can get the latest updates on with PNP streams are open and available on our Canada PNP Live Tracker, which now includes a great tool to help you find the right PNP stream for you.
Moreover, changes to Express Entry have led to an increasing number of candidates who studied in Canada being invited to apply for permanent immigration to Canada. Those changes gave international students and graduates in Canada a points boost under the CRS, and you can learn more about studying in Canada here.
More invitations are expected to be issued over the coming weeks, months, and years, benefiting individuals and families around the world wishing to make Canada their new permanent home.
New Express Entry report
In early July, 2019, IRCC published an extensive new report on Express Entry, covering activity in 2018. We read the entire report (so you don’t have to!) and wrote a series of short articles on the highlights.
Check out the following summaries to learn more about the topics you care about most:
- Invitations by occupation
- Invitations by program
- Invitations by country of citizenship
- Invitations by country of residence
- Which provinces are Express Entry newcomers moving to?
- Updated processing times for Express Entry applications
About the Express Entry CRS
The Comprehensive Ranking System is a score out of 1,200 used to benchmark federal economic applicants against one another. It’s a part of the Express Entry mechanism, which was established in January 2015 to process permanent residence applications.
The score is used as a cut-off point in Express Entry draws. It is designed to project a candidate’s likelihood of being economically successful in Canada.
To enter the pool, candidates must be eligible under either the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Class. Candidates who obtain a provincial nomination through one of the Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams receive 600 additional CRS points and an ITA at a subsequent draw from the pool.
A single candidate can earn up to 260 points for high proficiency in English and French, while a couple can earn up to 270 points. Moving2Canada readers can now avail of a seven-day free trial of online language tutorials. Simply select to Learn English or Learn French and complete the online form.
If you are in the Express Entry pool but are yet to receive an invitation to apply, please visit our page on tips to improve your CRS score.
Are there any alternatives to Express Entry?
Yes! In fact, we have a great new resource showcasing your potential Canadian immigration options outside the Express Entry system. To learn about your options, see this page.
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