Express Entry draw figures for the February 13 draw are below.
The largest ever Express Entry draw in history took place the morning of February 13, with 27,332 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates only. For these candidates, the CRS cut-off has plummeted to a record low of 75 points.
If you received an ITA in the February 13 draw and you’re currently working on your application for permanent residence, consider attending our free livestream information session. We’ll be discussing the requirements for your PR application and taking questions from viewers — live! Get more information here.
What to make of the bizarre February 13 draw?
Our team is still trying to make sense of the bizarre February 13 Express Entry draw which is unlike any draw in Express Entry history. One possibility — and, remember, this is just one hypothesis — is that Canada may be streamlining the process for candidates who are already in Canada. This would allow the country to continue processing new permanent residents, even while COVID-19 travel restrictions continue to intensify with no immediate end in sight.
In a news release, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that the anomalous draw was part of “an effort to help more skilled workers stay in Canada and bolster our economic recovery.” A trusted legal source has indicated to Moving2Canada that there will be more measures coming, although details are not available as to what those measures may be.
Canada has set out its most ambitious immigration targets on record for 2021, yet COVID-19 restrictions have been limiting the ability for Canadian immigration programs to operate normally.
At this time, we cannot tell you when Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) candidates will be considered in a draw — or, for that matter, when the next Express Entry draw may take place. Bear in mind that today’s draw was more than five times the size of the previous record-high draw, so it is possible that there may be a break from draws.
In the meantime, we’re here to keep you updated on the latest. To stay updated on the latest developments, make sure that you’ve registered for a Moving2Canada account and subscribed 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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