Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 3,311 candidates in the Express Entry pool on May 1, to apply for permanent residence in a program-specific draw.

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) score was 452.  The last EE draw on April 16 invited candidates who had a CRS score of 455.

This is by far the lowest cut off score in a draw in 2020.

Since the introduction of travel restrictions program-specific invitation rounds have become more frequent for Express Entry draws. To date IRCC has held eight program-specific draws concentrating exclusively on PNP and Canadian Experience Class candidates.

Both groups of applicants tend to be in Canada than candidates coming through the Federal Skills workers Class and Skilled Trades Class, which implies that the current travel restrictions will not hinder them.

The COVID-19 Canada borders closures to non-citizens and sweeping travel restrictions in place are having an impact on IRCC ability to process applications.

The goal of IRCC is to admit new permanent residents in Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class is scheduled to increase to 85,800 this year.