1,000 Invited in a Canadian Experience Class Express Entry Draw #364 on September 3, 2025

Key Takeaways From The CEC Draw on September 3, 2025

• Type of draw: Canadian Experience Class
• Draw number: 364
• Invitations issued: 1,000
• CRS score: 534
• Tie-breaking rule: August 14, 2025 at 08:28:38 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Category-based draw on September 4 — likely trades or French. Otherwise, PNP in two weeks — on Monday, not Tuesday like this week’s PNP draw.
• New to the excitement of Express Entry draws? Check out our guide to Express Entry

Resources To Help You Immigrate Through Express Entry

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw

Today’s draw only saw 1,000 invitations issued, with no relief on the CRS cut-off. It was 534, exactly the same CRS cut-off as in the last Canadian Experience Class draw on August 7, 2025.

This is the second month in a row that we’ve seen one relatively small CEC draw in the first Express Entry round of invitations for the month. Last month, we only saw category-based and provincial nominee programs invitations issued after the small CEC draw. We’re hoping that this trend does not continue and that we’ll see a larger CEC draw later this month, though we aren’t sure that will happen due to this year’s inconsistencies.

In our last analysis, I predicted that the small CEC draw in August would mean that we would likely see the pool size in the range 501-600 points swell to greater than 25,000 by today. It appears that prediction came true, with the data from September 1 showing that there were 25,123 candidates in the Express Entry pool at that range.

With so many candidates in the pool vying for a spot, it’s important to keep working on your CRS score. If you’re currently in the pool with a score of 501+ and there’s room for improvement in your language results, it may be worth considering studying and rebooking a test.

Check out our partner at E2 test prep for additional resources to help boost your English language test results.

For other tips on how to improve your CRS, check out our detailed downloadable covering this topic in depth.

Get the How to boost your CRS guide.

Is the pool size being inflated by fake profiles?

We’ve had a request on social media asking us to cover the surge in fake profiles in the Express Entry pool at the 501+ range. While we appreciate that this is a pervasive rumour, we don’t currently believe that this is the case. Sure, it’s possible that there are some fake profiles in the system, but it’s also quite likely that there really are 25,000 candidates with very strong profiles hoping to immigrate to Canada.

We appreciated this commentary from a RCIC on LinkedIn:

While we’re open to any data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that shares actual information about the number of ITAs not ultimately receiving applications (some of which may be fake), we do think it’s quite likely that the pool really is just experiencing very high competition this year.

Regardless, if there are higher volumes of fake profiles, our advice remains the same: focus on what you can control. You should create a plan to improve your CRS over time to ensure your profile is as competitive as possible.

Given the high volumes of temporary residents in Canada, we predict it’s likely that the CRS cut-offs will remain quite high (515+) until at least this time next year.

How Did People React To This Canadian Experience Class Draw on September 3?

It’s clear that, online at least, there are a lot of people feeling hopeless and disenfranchised with the current state of Canadian immigration. We don’t blame them — the published plan from the government is not aligning with what people expected to see. Without further communication from the government, people are left feeling uninformed, unempowered, and completely hopeless. It’s disappointing to see in an immigration system that has historically had a good global reputation.

CEC has become a Joke, 1000 ITAs at 534 again
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Unfortunately, the disappointment is also paving way for people who are getting angrier and starting to share theories about what’s going on behind the scenes. In the absence of information from the government, we suggest focusing on your CRS and your available immigration pathways instead of the online theories.

What If You Didn’t Get An Invitation in This CEC Round?

There are a few reasons you may not have received an invitation through this Express Entry round:

1. You were not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class draw. This program-specific draw only invited candidates with eligible work experience in Canada.
2. You did not have a high enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. If your score is below today’s cut-off score, check out past results to view trends in the CRS in your program/category. Need to improve your score? Our CRS calculator tool can help. It’s free and available exclusively to subscribers.
3. Finally, what if you were eligible for the program AND had the right CRS score? Well, it’s possible the tie-breaking rule excluded you. If you entered the Express Entry pool after the tie-breaking date and you had a CRS that was equal to the CRS for this round, unfortunately, you will miss out this round.

Need To Improve Your CRS for a CEC Draw?

If this is you, we suggest doing what you can in the short term to improve your CRS. Your language proficiency results are the lowest hanging fruit here, and we suggest retaking your language test if possible to improve your results. But you can use our interactive CRS calculator to learn what you have received points for and what areas you have for improvement.

Applying for a provincial nomination is another option, since competition remains low at the moment in the Express Entry pool. That said, competition is extremely high at the provincial level, with many provinces delaying or pausing programs to cope with very high levels of demand. So, receiving a provincial nomination is a strong strategy this year but, if you choose to go this route, you should have alternatives planned.

Canada launched its Rural and Francophone Community Pilots for 2025. These programs offer a pathway to permanent residency for those willing to move to and work in certain rural communities or communities looking to attract French speakers.

Finally, there is the option of learning French. We have a special offer for those looking to learn French — but you can only get it in our Facebook group or by joining our email list for Express Entry news.

How Does The Canadian Experience Class Work Under Express Entry?

If you’re not familiar with Canada’s Express Entry system, it’s an application management system used to manage economic immigrants to Canada. It offers streamlined application timelines for those who are invited to apply for permanent residence.

• Keen to learn more about Express Entry? Check out our dedicated Express Entry page.

With that in mind, the Canadian Experience Class is a program for people in the Express Entry pool and who have qualifying work experience in Canada. The idea is that those who have lived and worked in Canada before becoming a permanent resident are more likely to succeed in and stay in Canada — and the research shows that those who come through the Canadian Experience Class are more likely to earn more in Canada than those who become permanent residents without working in Canada as a temporary resident first.

You can also sign up for up-to-date information about Express Entry draws. Just subscribe to our newsletter via the block below for news about the draws and our analysis as it happens, so you’ll never miss the latest results. This can be a powerful tool to help you identify trends and map your pathway to permanent residence in Canada.

Further Resources for CEC Candidates

For more information:

• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draws.
• Learn more about the state of the Express Entry pool.
• Learn when to expect the next Express Entry draw.
• Use our online Express Entry CRS calculator to learn more about your current score and how to improve it.