This is an all-program draw, meaning that candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs, including Provincial Nominees, were considered. In the September 16 Express Entry draw for immigration to Canada, 4,200 candidates will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off threshold for this draw was 472 points. The tie-breaking rule for this draw was applied to profiles at 472 points submitted after March 09, 2020 at 13:03:40 UTC.
This all-program draw represents the first back-to-back all-program draws since COVID-19 closed Canada’s borders. It may suggest that Express Entry is moving back to pre-COVID patterns, but only time will tell for sure.
Express Entry: Is this good news for FSW candidates?
The September 16 Express Entry draw marks an important milestone in Canadian immigration under COVID-19. This draw is the first back-to-back all-program draw since the COVID-19 pandemic caused Canada to close its borders to the majority of foreign nationals. Although we cannot say whether this is a one-time outlier or a return to more regular all-program draws, it is the closest to pre-COVID patterns we’ve seen since March.