Express Entry draw figures for the May 28 draw are below.
In the May 28 Express Entry draw for immigration to Canada, 3,515 candidates will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This draw was restricted exclusively to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off threshold for this draw was 440 points.
This draw continues IRCC’s trend of issuing invitations only to PNP and CEC candidates. It has now been more than two months since the last all-program draw. A trusted legal source confirmed in conversation with IRCC that Express Entry draws are being limited to PNP and CEC candidates for the time being in response to COVID-19. It is unclear how long these restrictions will remain in place.
Why is Express Entry restricting draws to PNP and CEC candidates?
Since COVID-19 became a public health crisis in Canada, IRCC has been restricting draws to candidates from either Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC). We have confirmed with a trusted legal source, who spoke directly with key staff at IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), that IRCC is intentionally limiting Express Entry draws to CEC and PNP candidates in response to the health crisis.
The vast majority of CEC candidates are already in Canada and, therefore, do not require entering the country and quarantining. Meanwhile, PNPs are continuing in order to allow the provinces to meet their annual allocations.
It is unclear as to how long IRCC will restrict draws, making candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs ineligible to receive invitations.
The most recent all-program draw was more than two months ago on March 4. We will continue to monitor the situation and will post updates if and when they become available.
How will COVID-19 and the Canadian border closure impact Express Entry?
COVID-19 has become a global pandemic and the Government of Canada is enacting exceptional measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in Canada. To be kept up to date on the latest news about COVID-19 and how it is impacting Canadian immigration, please follow our regularly updated COVID-19 newsfeed.
Here are some of the questions we’ve received about how COVID-19 will impact Express Entry:
Is Canada still issuing Express Entry invitations despite COVID-19?
Canada is still issuing Express Entry invitations. However, according to a trusted legal source who has spoken with representatives from both IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canada is restricting Express Entry draws to PNP and CEC candidates for the time being. It is unclear as to when IRCC will resume all-program draws.
Is Canada still processing Express Entry applications during COVID-19?
Yes. Canada is still processing immigration applications for Express Entry, but according to a trusted legal source who spoke with IRCC, draws are currently restricted to CEC and PNP candidates.
I have an ITA, but I can’t get the documents I need because everything is shut down due to COVID-19. What do I do?
Start by consulting IRCC’s special instructions for applications being submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. IRCC has stated that they will not refuse an application if you cannot complete the application due to COVID-19.
If your Express Entry PR application is due, you may submit your application with missing documents, but ensure that you include a letter of explanation explaining the missing documentation and the reasoning for this. IRCC will give you 90 days to complete missing steps in your application.
Please note that biometrics letters will still state that biometrics are due in 30 days, but IRCC will allow 90 days for the submission of biometrics.
I have been approved through Express Entry and I have my COPR, but I am outside Canada. Can I travel to Canada to activate my status?
Regardless of the legal ability to do so, COPR-holders should consider the public health crisis in Canada. If it is at all possible to delay travel to Canada, it is advisable to do so.
The answer to this question depends on when your COPR was issued. According to official guidelines published by IRCC on March 20, individuals who meet the following conditions may still enter Canada:
“Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced on March 16, 2020, but who had not yet travelled to Canada.”
If your COPR/travel document are going to expire, please complete the IRCC online web form to advise them of your issue. Include as many details as possible. There is no guarantee that IRCC will extend the validity of any travel documents, but considering the crisis, an extension may be issued.
How will COVID-19 impact the CRS score cut-off?
We do not know the answer to this question. In the midst of the public health crisis, our goal is to provide our community with objective and factual information. We are refraining from speculating about possible impacts of the coronavirus on the CRS score cut-off. There are simply too many variables at play and the situation is evolving at too rapid a pace.
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