Well, we have arrived.
As readers of ImmPulse™ will be aware from our November 13 release (see http://www.kranclaw.com/2016/11/updates-to-canadas-express-entry-permanent-residence-system/), Immigration Canada ‘tweaked’ the way it allocates points under the Express Entry Permanent Residence system. The changes came into effect on November 19. Without reiterating the content of the last release, there were two primary changes in the way points would be assessed. Firstly, ‘arranged employment’ would be tiered rather than all-or-nothing. Whereas previously, arranged employment garnered either 0 or 600 points, now it would yield either (a) 50 points for 1 year of work on a work permit [with or without an LMIA – which was an important change], (b) 200 points for a work permit in a senior managerial position, and (c) 600 points for those selected under a provincial nominee program (PNP). Secondly, points would now be awarded for Canadian education.
The changes though were only academic, until we knew the thresholds that would be set for selection after November 19.
Now we know.
On November 30, Immigration Canada carried out its first post-November 19 selection. The minimum score to be selected to apply for permanent residence was set at 786 (out of 1200). Prior to November 19, points typically hovered around the 480 mark (though there were much higher and much lower pass marks on occasion).
With this high score, few people qualified on this round. However, it is important to look at the matter in context. What the score means is that provincial nominees (who get 600 arranged employment points) were almost certainly chosen, and that other than the arranged employment factor, the cut-off was actually 186. This could well mean that in future draws, now that a group of provincial nominees has passed through, we will see significantly lower scores. Certainly, only a limited number of people are provincial nominees, and unless the government wants to choose only such provincial nominees (which would not seem reasonable), they will be forced to bring the scores way down.
Though this is still speculation, it is possible that future draws may hover around a minimum of (a) 186 [or thereabouts] + (b) a factor for arranged employment (other than through PNP). As an example, if they set the mark next time as 186 + 50 (for arranged employment) = 236, it would seem that a lot of people would qualify. It is not unlikely that the government will simply move the bar slightly one way or the other to get its desired result on each draw.
In any event, for now, all we know is that the latest score was 786, and that very few people qualified. Though this may seem negative, it may also be reasonable to speculate that this is a sign that in future draws, the scores will be lower (again, unless the government wants only provincial nominees).
We will keep readers posted as further information becomes available and as further draws occur.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.