Express Entry pool holds 229,456 candidates as of Oct. 12

The Express Entry pool held 229,456 candidates as of Oct. 12, with 22,387 of them scoring above 500 on the Comprehensive Ranking System, according to figures published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and reported by CIC News and Immigration News Canada.

IRCC publishes the score distribution of the pool on its Express Entry rounds of invitations page. The figures are a snapshot taken the day before the department’s Oct. 13 provincial nominee draw, so they do not reflect the invitations issued since.

The largest group sits in the middle of the scale. Some 71,612 candidates had scores between 451 and 500, and 63,528 were between 401 and 450. Another 47,167 candidates scored between 351 and 400, while 17,123 were between 301 and 350 and 7,639 were at 300 or below.

At the top, 21,638 candidates scored between 501 and 600 and 749 scored between 601 and 1,200. Together, those two groups make up about 9.8 per cent of the pool. Scores above 600 are typically reached by candidates who hold a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points.

Within the 451 to 500 band, the counts were 14,851 at 451 to 460, 16,221 at 461 to 470, 16,220 at 471 to 480, 12,184 at 481 to 490 and 12,136 at 491 to 500.

The snapshot arrives in a busy week for the system. IRCC invited 752 provincial nominees with a cut-off of 772 on Oct. 13. Later draws invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates with a cut-off of 435 and 2,500 Canadian Experience Class candidates with a cut-off of 519.

The government has also added up to 100 points for high-wage work, a change that will affect how candidates are ranked, and the pool figures sit against the backdrop of a levels plan that faces a test on how many permanent residents Canada admits.

Candidates can check their own score and status in their IRCC account, and the department’s rounds page lists the cut-off for every draw. A pool snapshot does not predict who will be invited next, because cut-offs depend on the type of draw and how many invitations IRCC issues. Anyone unsure how a score or category applies to their situation should consult IRCC or a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.

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