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July 8th, 2020
Express Entry draw figures for the July 8 draw are below.
This is an all-program draw, meaning that candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs were considered. In the July 8 Express Entry draw for immigration to Canada, 3,900 candidates will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off threshold for this draw was 478 points.
This is the first all-program draw since March 4, 2020, as COVID-19 travel restrictions caused IRCC to temporarily limit draws to candidates who were more likely to be inside Canada.
A return to draws for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) candidates
Since COVID-19 became a public health crisis in Canada, IRCC had been restricting draws to candidates from either Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC). However, on July 8, Express Entry returned to all-program draws for the first time in more than four months.
As expected, the CRS score cut-off was higher than before the restricted draws, at 478 points. Although, this is only a few points higher than it was prior to COVID-19, so FSW candidates still in the pool have reasons to be cautiously optimistic that the cut-off score may come down over upcoming draws.
It is unclear if IRCC will return to all-program draws from this point moving forward. It’s possible that some program-specific draws may still take place. As well, while the COVID-19 health crisis remains under control in Canada, the global situation remains unstable and shockwaves may continue to reverberate throughout Canadian immigration.
How will COVID-19 and the Canadian border closure impact Express Entry?
COVID-19 has become a global pandemic and the Government of Canada is enacting exceptional measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in Canada. To be kept up to date on the latest news about COVID-19 and how it is impacting Canadian immigration, please follow our regularly updated COVID-19 newsfeed.
Here are some of the questions we’ve received about how COVID-19 will impact Express Entry:
Is Canada still issuing Express Entry invitations despite COVID-19?
Canada is still issuing Express Entry invitations. Since March, most Express Entry draws were restricted to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or those with provincial nominations. However, in July, Express Entry resumed all-program draws.
Is Canada still processing Express Entry applications during COVID-19?
Yes. Canada is still processing immigration applications for Express Entry.
I have an ITA, but I can’t get the documents I need because everything is shut down due to COVID-19. What do I do?
Start by consulting IRCC’s special instructions for applications being submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. IRCC has stated that they will not refuse an application if you cannot complete the application due to COVID-19.
If your Express Entry PR application is due, you may submit your application with missing documents, but ensure that you include a letter of explanation explaining the missing documentation and the reasoning for this. IRCC will give you 90 days to complete missing steps in your application.
Please note that biometrics letters will still state that biometrics are due in 30 days, but IRCC will allow 90 days for the submission of biometrics.
I have been approved through Express Entry and I have my COPR, but I am outside Canada. Can I travel to Canada to activate my status?
Regardless of the legal ability to do so, COPR-holders should consider the public health crisis in Canada. If it is at all possible to delay travel to Canada, it is advisable to do so.
The answer to this question depends on when your COPR was issued. According to official guidelines published by IRCC on March 20, individuals who meet the following conditions may still enter Canada:
“Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced on March 16, 2020, but who had not yet travelled to Canada.”
If your COPR/travel document are going to expire, please complete the IRCC online web form to advise them of your issue. Include as many details as possible. There is no guarantee that IRCC will extend the validity of any travel documents, but considering the crisis, an extension may be issued.
How will COVID-19 impact the CRS score cut-off?
We do not know the answer to this question. In the midst of the public health crisis, our goal is to provide our community with objective and factual information. We are refraining from speculating about possible impacts of the coronavirus on the CRS score cut-off. There are simply too many variables at play and the situation is evolving at too rapid a pace.
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