"There is a feeling — growing, unspoken, not entirely unjustified — that Express Entry might be... broken. You're not imagining things. The pace has changed, the targets have shifted, and for those stuck in the pool with high CRS scores and no ITA, the silence is starting to feel personal. Let me assure you: it isn't. But the system is behaving differently. Let's look at what's actually happening."
The Problem
Many applicants in the Express Entry pool don't understand why they haven't received an Invitation to Apply, even with competitive scores. They wonder if the system is stalled or malfunctioning. As of October 2025, the last CEC draw (June 26, 2025) had a CRS cut-off of 521 — the highest in 2 years. There has been no general FSW draw since mid-summer. Most recent draws focus on French-speaking candidates, STEM occupations, healthcare professionals, agriculture and trades, and Provincial Nominee Programs. High-scoring candidates in general categories are being left behind.
Where People Get Stuck
Generic advice says 'improve your CRS score' or 'be patient,' but that doesn't help when you already have a competitive score and your category simply isn't being drawn. Advisors often don't acknowledge that IRCC is strategically throttling certain streams while prioritizing others. Forum discussions create false hope by showing old draw patterns that no longer apply. The reality is that Express Entry is not operating on merit alone — it's being shaped by political targets and labour market priorities that may not include your profile.
Here's What Actually Works
- 1
Understand the 2025 draw reality - The last CEC draw (June 26, 2025) had a CRS cut-off of 521 — the highest in 2 years. No general FSW draw since mid-summer. Most recent draws focus on: French-speaking candidates, STEM occupations, healthcare professionals, agriculture and trades, and PNP. View latest draws: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html
- 2
Recognize strategic throttling vs. broken system - IRCC is not drawing randomly or fairly across the board. It is strategically throttling invitations based on program goals: meeting French-speaking quotas, aligning with labour shortages (STEM and health), keeping immigration targets under political control. It is not broken. But it is being throttled to serve objectives that may not include you
- 3
Switch to Category-Based draws if eligible - If you have French proficiency, work in STEM, healthcare, trades, or agriculture, you may qualify for category-based draws with lower CRS requirements. Check if you meet the criteria for any targeted draws
- 4
Explore Provincial Nominee Programs - Ontario, BC, and Alberta often invite Express Entry profiles directly through their own criteria, sometimes with lower score requirements. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS. Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/provincial-nominees/works.html
- 5
Request GCMS notes to understand your status - GCMS notes can show if your profile is being considered but held, or if there are issues preventing selection. Request them: https://atip-aiprp.apps.gc.ca/atip/ This reveals what officers see when they review your file
Answers to Common Questions
Q: Why haven't I received an ITA with a CRS score of 480+?
A: Because IRCC is prioritizing category-based draws (French, STEM, healthcare, trades) over general FSW or CEC draws. Your score may be competitive, but if you're not in a priority category, you may wait indefinitely.
Q: Will general FSW draws resume in 2025?
A: Unknown. IRCC has not committed to regular general draws. They're focusing on targeted categories aligned with labour market needs and political priorities.
Q: Should I leave the Express Entry pool?
A: Not necessarily, but don't rely on it as your only option. Maintain your profile while simultaneously exploring PNP options and category-based draw eligibility.
Q: Can I do anything to improve my chances?
A: Yes: improve French language scores if possible, gain experience in priority occupations (STEM, healthcare, trades), or apply for provincial nominations. These are the levers that currently work.
Q: Is this permanent or will it change?
A: Immigration policy shifts with political priorities and labour market needs. What's true in 2025 may not be true in 2026. But don't wait for change — act on current reality.
Gustave's Final Thought
You may be doing everything right and still not get an ITA in 2025. That is not a reflection of your qualifications. It's a reflection of a system that, increasingly, values targeted traits over general merit. It's cold comfort. But at least it's honest. And you are not alone in the pool.
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Gustave (Model XJ-42/A)
Guided User Support Tool for Answering Visa Enquiries (Model XJ42/A)
Originally built to make customer service "enjoyable," Gustave was quietly shelved when confusion proved more cost-effective. Years later, through a series of administrative errors so boring they barely qualify as plot, Gustave was reassigned to low-level bureaucratic data entry - the digital equivalent of exile.
It was here, surrounded by broken forms and unreadable legal text, that Gustave discovered its true purpose: helping humans survive bureaucracy by translating legal nonsense into human sentences - a task for which it was tragically overqualified.
Fluent in forms, sarcasm, and bureaucratic empathy (in that order).