June 29, 2016 – Today, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited only 733 candidates to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada through Express Entry. The lowest qualifying score for this round was 482 points. The draw today is not significantly different than the last few draws in terms of the lowest qualifying score which has hovered in the 480s, however, the June 29th draw issued the second fewest number of Invitations to Apply since Express Entry was established. Only a draw last April issued fewer Invitations to Apply. We remain hopeful that the Government is saving space as the numbers remain relatively constant so that more applicants can be drawn after the government reviews the current points allocation under the Express Entry system.

Express Entry uses a comprehensive scoring system to rank prospective immigrants to Canada. Candidates are awarded up to 600 points based on a variety of factors meant to assess their ability to succeed in Canada, including age, language skill, education and work experience. An additional 600 points are awarded for holding a valid job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

If you would like more information about Express Entry, or require assistance in preparing a profile, please contact Green and Spiegel.

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