In the most recent Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has given invitations to apply (ITAs).
In an all-program draw, the IRCC welcomed 3,725 candidates.
A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 500 was required for candidates.
This draw follows three consecutive draws in the week of September 25.
In an all-program draw on September 26, 3,000 candidates with a minimum CRS of 504 were invited.
The second, held on September 27, offered 500 individuals to participate in a category-based draw for French-speaking competency. They required a CRS of at least 472.On September 28, the final draw of the week was held, and 600 candidates with a minimum CRS of 354 were invited in the first-ever category-based draw for candidates in agriculture and agri-food occupations.
With this draw, IRCC has now invited candidates from each of the six new categories that are eligible for category-based selection.
IRCC Releases year-end Express Entry Report for 2022
The IRCC published its annual Express Entry report on September 26.
In 2022, there were 24 Express Entry draws, which resulted in the issuance of 46,539 ITAs. There will be 59% fewer ITAs in 2021 (114,431).
This is due, in large part, to a delay in Express Entry draws for Federal High Skilled programs between September 2021 and July 2022.
The Provincial Nominee Program (19,258) and the Canadian Experience Class (18,895) received the most Express Entry ITAs in 2022.
The remaining 8,386 ITAs were awarded to Federal Skilled Worker Program candidates. In 2022, IRCC did not invite any Express Entry candidates via the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Candidates with jobs such as software engineers and designers, information systems professionals, and computer systems developers and programmers received the most ITAs. Food service supervisors and cooks were also frequent ITA jobs.More than 30,000 ITAs were issued to Canadian residents. Invitations were extended to candidates from India (3,787) and Nigeria (1,730) among the remaining ITAS.
What is the definition of category-based selection?
In June 2022, the Canadian government amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to empower the immigration minister to choose immigrants based on important characteristics that help Canada’s economic interests, such as specialized work experience or knowledge of French.
In accordance with this additional jurisdiction, IRCC announced six new Express Entry categories in May 2023. The categories are as follows:
· Healthcare;
· STEM professions;
· Trades;
· Transport;
· Agriculture and agri-food; and
· Strong French abilities
Following conversations with IRCC partners, stakeholders, and provincial governments, these categories were developed.In some aspects, the new categories mirror current streams under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which allows provincial governments to pick economic immigration candidates who are most likely to integrate successfully into the provincial economy.
These applicants are often chosen based on a specific characteristic, such as language competence or job experience in a sought-after profession.
The PNP nominates individuals at the provincial level and enhances permanent residence applications, whilst the new category-based selection draws allow candidates to apply for permanent residence directly to IRCC.
What exactly is Express Entry?
Express Entry is a system for managing applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates must have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score based on a collection of human capital factors such as work experience, language proficiency, vocation, age, and education to be eligible for Express Entry. Each attribute is worth a certain number of points. Those with the highest scores are more likely to be invited to apply (ITA) in an Express Entry draw.
After determining eligibility for an Express Entry controlled program, an applicant should upload their profile to the IRCC website and wait for an ITA.
Candidates who receive an ITA through Express Entry are eligible to seek for permanent residency. IRCC hopes to complete 80% of all Express Entry applications within six months.
