By Canadian Immigration News |
By Canadian Immigration News |
While 2017 has already been statistically the biggest year ever for Canada’s Express Entry immigration selection system, no quarter has seen a higher number of candidates invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence than the second quarter of 2017. Along with this increase, the second quarter of 2017 also saw the number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required in order for a candidate to be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) reach a record new low.
In addition, the spring and early summer period was a time in which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) created new opportunities for candidates in the Express Entry to be awarded additional points. IRCC also devised innovative new strategies to invite certain candidates through program-specific draws.
All of this activity followed a first quarter during which the number of ITAs being issued shot up, which in turn was a contributing factor to a decrease in the CRS cut-off threshold. One record-setting quarter has been followed by another, giving Express Entry candidates cause for optimism through the second half of the year and beyond.
April, May and June a busy period
The 26,653 ITAs issued during the second quarter of 2017 was more than the 24,632 ITAs over the first quarter, and more than double the 13,202 issued over the course of the final three months of 2016.