The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts regular draws from the Express Entry pool to invite highest ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. In each Express Entry draw, IRCC establishes a cut-off CRS score and invites all candidates above that score to apply for permanent residence.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) varies with each draw, depending on the number of candidates IRCC wants to invite and the specific needs of the Canadian labor market. Candidates with higher CRS scores have a better chance of receiving an ITA.
Candidates who receive an invitation to apply have 60 days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence.
Generally the draws are conducted for all candidates in the Express Entry Pool but sometimes the draws are for a specific program only, like for Skilled Workers or Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience class. Lately the Immigration department of Canada has introduced category based draws also, where the draw is conducted for a specific category of candidates in order to meet a goal for the labour market.
The Express Entry system allows IRCC to select candidates for immigration to Canada who are most likely to economically establish themselves upon arrival. By inviting candidates with the highest scores, the draws help ensure that Canada is able to attract top talent to meet its economic needs. The frequency and size of Express Entry draws have a significant impact on application processing times and the number of new permanent residents welcomed each year.
The ranking for Express Entry Draw, is dynamic and can change with each draw as new candidates enter the pool and existing candidates update their profiles. Candidates who do not receive an ITA in one draw remain in the Express Entry pool and have the opportunity to improve their CRS score and increase their chances of receiving an ITA in subsequent draws.
The Tie-breaker Rule in Express Entry Draw
The tie-breaker rule in Express Entry draws is used to rank candidates who have the same Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Since many candidates can have the same CRS score, the tie-breaker rule helps Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decide who gets an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
The tie-breaker rule considers the exact date and time that candidates submitted their Express Entry profiles. The candidate who submitted their profile first will be ranked higher and will receive an ITA. For example, if the CRS cut-off score for a draw is 450 points, and there are many candidates with 450 points, the tie-breaker rule will be used to determine who submitted their profile first. The candidates who submitted earlier will get an ITA, while the others will have to wait for the next draw.
The tie-breaker rule ensures that the Express Entry system is fair and transparent in selecting candidates. It gives priority based on the exact time of submission to avoid any ambiguity in ranking candidates with the same score.