Three Express Entry Draws: What They Mean for You

Hi Reader,

Happy Sunday!

The biggest news today is that ILAC, one of Canada’s largest private English language schools has shut down after filing for bankruptcy on Friday.

Studying abroad is a major financial and life decision. Before paying, students should understand not only the program, but also what protections and options may exist if the institution closes. Please share this article with family or friends who are planning to study overseas.

👉 Full article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/language-school-bankrupcy-9.7351082

This week’s CEC draw brought that question back. If your CRS is in the 480s, 490s or even slightly above 500, the two-point decrease probably did not change your position very much.

The more useful question is whether you have other realistic ways to improve your PR strategy.

Grab a cup of coffee. Let’s go through it together.

⚡ This Week in Canadian Immigration: 30-second summary

IRCC issued 576 invitations to provincial nominees on September 14, with a CRS cut-off of 734.
A Canadian Experience Class draw on September 15 invited 2,000 candidates at CRS 519.
A senior managers with Canadian work experience draw on September 16 invited 250 candidates at CRS 389.
British Columbia invited 33 candidates through its Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative.
Prince Edward Island issued 195 Labour and Express Entry invitations.
No significant new IRCC policy announcement was published this week.

Express Entry Draws, September 14 to 18

According to IRCC’s official Express Entry draw records, three rounds of invitations were held this week.

Draw #442, Provincial Nominee Program | September 14

✅ Invitations issued: 576
✅ CRS cut-off: 734
✅ Tie-breaking rule: August 29, 2026 at 21:39:50 UTC

Provincial nominees receive an additional 600 CRS points. The cut-off of 734 is therefore not comparable with the score needed for a CEC draw.

Draw #443, Canadian Experience Class | September 15

✅ Invitations issued: 2,000
✅ CRS cut-off: 519
✅ Tie-breaking rule: March 26, 2026 at 12:16 a.m. UTC

The CEC cut-off decreased from 521 on September 1 to 519 this week. IRCC issued 2,000 invitations in both draws.

📌 The decrease is welcome, but two points does not materially change the position of candidates sitting well below 519. Do not assume that the cut-off will continue falling quickly enough to meet your immigration timeline.

Draw #444, Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | September 16

✅ Invitations issued: 250
✅ CRS cut-off: 389
✅ Tie-breaking rule: September 1, 2026 at 11:05:13 p.m. UTC

This was a highly targeted category. Candidates generally need at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience within the past three years in one of four eligible senior management occupations: NOC 00012, 00013, 00014 or 00015.

A senior-sounding job title alone does not make someone eligible.

PNP Updates, September 14 to 18

British Columbia

On September 17, the BC PNP issued 33 invitations through its Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative. The minimum score was 60.

This was a targeted draw for a specific healthcare initiative, not a general invitation for all healthcare workers.

Prince Edward Island

On September 17, Prince Edward Island issued 195 Labour and Express Entry invitations.

PEI continues to prioritize workers in sectors that address provincial labour shortages, including healthcare, trades and manufacturing.

Could French become part of your PR strategy?

For context, the most recent French-language proficiency draw invited 5,000 candidates at CRS 382. This week’s CEC draw required CRS 519.

However, the two cut-offs are not directly comparable. To qualify for a French-language draw, you must first be eligible for Express Entry and obtain at least NCLC 7 in all four French abilities. French cut-offs can also rise or fall as the number of eligible candidates changes.

French is not a shortcut. It requires sustained study. But if your CRS is not competitive for recent CEC draws and you have enough time, it may be worth exploring.

You can try our French Prep Program free for seven days, including: