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The 68th Express Entry draw for Canadian immigration on August 2nd saw 3,264 candidates with active profiles in the pool and a CRS score of at least 441 issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence.

The first Express Entry draw in three weeks took place on August 2, with 3,264 candidates in the pool receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. Invited candidates each had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 441 or above. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant. IRCC aims to process complete submitted applications within six months.

The CRS cut-off threshold this time around was just one point higher than for the previous

draw, which took place on July 12. However, it may be noted that the gap of three weeks between these draws was longer than on numerous previous occasions, allowing more candidates to enter the pool and giving existing candidates a longer-than-usual opportunity to increase their points totals. This may have created upward pressure on the cut-off threshold.

If or when the gaps between draws become shorter, as they have been in the past, it is entirely possible that the cut-off threshold will decrease. Apart from candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Class, the record low threshold so far is 413*, in a draw that took place on May 31.

This draw brings the total number of ITAs issued since Express Entry was first launched to 122,596. Of these, nearly half (54,487) have been issued in 2017. The increase in ITAs issued this year is a consequence of Express Entry becoming the main driver of economic immigration to Canada, with the backlog of applications submitted before 2015 now whittled down to just a handful of cases.