{"id":182640,"date":"2018-09-23T03:58:26","date_gmt":"2018-09-23T07:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=182640"},"modified":"2018-09-23T03:58:26","modified_gmt":"2018-09-23T07:58:26","slug":"express-entry-linked-draws-crs-400-possible-ontario-government-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2018\/09\/23\/express-entry-linked-draws-crs-400-possible-ontario-government-says\/","title":{"rendered":"More Express Entry-linked draws with CRS under 400 \u2018possible\u2019, Ontario government says"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A spokesperson for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) told\u00a0CIC News \u201cit is possible\u201d that the minimum\u00a0Comprehensive Ranking System\u00a0(CRS) score in future draws will continue to drop below the stream\u2019s previous minimum threshold of 400 points. (Pixabay Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recent changes to the way minimum scores for Ontario\u2019s Human Capital Priorities Stream are determined could result in further invitations to eligible Express Entry candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores below 400, the provincial government says.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) told\u00a0CIC New<\/em>s \u201cit is possible\u201d that the minimum\u00a0Comprehensive Ranking System<\/a>\u00a0(CRS) score in future draws will continue to drop below the stream\u2019s previous minimum threshold of 400 points.<\/p>\n

The Human Capital Priorities Steam allows the OINP to search the federal\u00a0Express Entry system<\/a>\u00a0for candidates who meet its eligibility criteria, or other targeted factors.<\/p>\n

Last week, the OINP\u00a0revised the stream\u2019s application guide<\/a>\u00a0to stipulate\u00a0that the minimum CRS score will now be determined by the program\u2019s director.<\/p>\n

Leading up to the change, the province held three invitation rounds through the Human Capital Priorities Stream that saw the CRS minimum reduced below 400, and drop\u00a0as low as 350 in a draw held August 9<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That draw targeted Express Entry candidates with a job offer in Ontario, as did\u00a0an earlier draw on March 28<\/a>\u00a0for which the CRS minimum was dropped to 351. A second Human Capital Priorities draw on March 28 also saw the CRS minimum reduced to 351 for\u00a0Express Entry candidates with French language abilities of CLB 7 or higher.<\/p>\n

Neither a job offer nor French language proficiency are mandatory under the Human Capital Priorities Stream\u2019s\u00a0established criteria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ontario has used the Human Capital Priorities Stream to target Express Entry candidates with specified work experience, as it did in a June 2017\u00a0draw targeting Information and Communication Technology workers<\/a>. That draw also saw Ontario drop the CRS minimum below 400.<\/p>\n

OINP\u2019s spokesperson, Kwok Wong, said the likelihood of the minimum score continuing to drop below 400 will depend on a number of factors, including the number of eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool and Ontario\u2019s labour market needs and priorities.<\/p>\n

Wong said\u00a0the Ontario Immigration Act grants the OINP\u2019s director the discretion to set the minimum CRS score based on the following factors:<\/p>\n