Express Entry draw figures for the May 12 draw are below.
In the May 12 Express Entry draw, a total of 557 candidates will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This draw was restricted to candidates with provincial nominations. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off threshold for this draw was 752 points. The tie-breaking rule was applied to profiles submitted after April 29, 2021 at 10:18:12 UTC.
If recent trends continue, a draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates may take place within the next two days. Results will be posted here if that happens.
As Canada battles third-wave of COVID-19, Express Entry prioritizes in-Canada candidates
Canada continues to battle its third-wave of COVID-19 infections. Many provinces have enacted new strict measures to stop the surge of infections — including stay-at-home orders in Ontario, curfews in Quebec, and a ‘circuit breaker’ in British Columbia. Thankfully, case numbers in many provinces have started to fall in recent days.
On an optimistic note — Canada’s vaccine program is speeding up, with more than 40 percent of the population having now received at least one dose. Many provinces have promised that all adults who want a vaccine will be able to get at least one dose by the end of June, followed by full vaccination by September.
So, how is COVID-19 continuing to impact Express Entry?
In 2021 so far, all Express Entry draws have been restricted to candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Inviting CEC and PNP candidates enables Canada to prioritize candidates living in Canada — which is a priority for the current Canadian government. Plus, since most of these candidates are already in Canada, they are not subject to delays caused by Canada’s COVID-19 travel restrictions. Additionally, the government has recently launched six new pathways to permanent residence that will accept more than 90,000 essential workers and graduates who are working in Canada — further cementing the government’s prioritization of in-Canada applicants during the pandemic.
The government has not confirmed that the CEC and PNP draws are in direct response to COVID-19, but these types of program-specific draws have only taken place during the pandemic. It is possible that once COVID-19 infection rates fall and Canada begins to lift travel restrictions, that Express Entry draws may start to be more inclusive of candidates outside Canada. It’s also possible that Express Entry may return to all-program draws before infection rates fall — as soon as policy officials can predict an end to the crisis phase of the pandemic.
As Canada approaches population immunity through vaccination over the coming months, Express Entry candidates should finally get some idea of what Express Entry draws will look like on the other side of the pandemic. Since COVID-19 is a constantly changing story, you can trust that we’ll post any updates as soon as we have them.
In the meantime, we’re here to keep you updated on the latest. To stay updated on the latest developments, register your Moving2Canada account and subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also keep up with Canada’s travel restrictions and special pandemic immigration measures with our COVID-19 Newsfeed.
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