For candidates worried that general (all-program) Express Entry draws will disappear in favor of category-based draws only:
- Both draw types run in parallel. IRCC has continued to hold general Express Entry draws alongside category-based draws (targeting specific occupations, French-language ability, or other priority groups) rather than replacing one with the other.
- Expect the cutoff score for general draws to stay high. At the time of this discussion, the general-draw CRS cutoff was expected to remain around 480+ for at least a year, so candidates without a strong score should not assume a sudden drop.
Note: specific cutoff scores and draw cadence change frequently — always check the current IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations page for up-to-date figures rather than relying on a fixed number.