Express Entry Updates Report

Changes implemented as of June 6, 2017:

• Awarded points for principle applicant or spouse/common-law partner having a sibling in Canada

• French CLB 7 or better + English CLB 4 or below (or no proven English ability)

• French CLB 7 or better + English or better

• No Job Bank registration

The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) with Express Entry had certain provinces adjusting their PNP stream over the first half of 2017. Ontario has updated its Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream to target certain workers, for example; workers in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. Previously, Ontario would issue Notification of Interest (NOI) under the HCP stream to candidates with at least 400 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). However, due to the recent changes, candidates may now receive a NOI even if they do not have 400 points. The province has also introduced a new Express Entry, within the PNP stream for tradespersons.

Invitations to Apply (ITAs)

In April, the CICNews reported that in the first quarter of 2017, approximately 24,632 ITAs were issued to candidates in the Express Entry pool. The second quarter of the year, including the months of April, May and June, saw a total of 26,653 ITAs issued. Thus, totalling the number of ITAs for the first half of the year at 51,285, which is an increase from the first half of 2016, when only 15,286 were issued. This years number triples and beats the number of candidates invited in any other half year, since 2015 when the program was first introduced.