Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been actively inviting candidates to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system, with the most recent draw inviting a total of 3,725 candidates. Let’s delve into the details of this draw and explore its significance in the context of Canada’s immigration landscape.
The Latest Express Entry Draw
- Date of Draw: Not specified in the provided information.
- Number of ITAs: 3,725 candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
- Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score: Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 500 to be invited.
This draw followed a series of consecutive draws earlier in September, indicating the continued commitment of Canada to welcoming skilled immigrants through the Express Entry system.
Recap of Previous Draws in September
- September 26: The first draw invited 3,000 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 504 in an all-program draw.
- September 27: The second draw, with a category-based focus on French-speaking proficiency, invited 500 candidates who achieved a minimum CRS score of 472.
- September 28: The final draw of the week was groundbreaking, as it invited 600 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 354 in the first-ever category-based draw for candidates in agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Notably, this recent draw signifies that IRCC has now invited candidates from each of the six new categories eligible under category-based selection.
Express Entry Draw Summary Since June 2023
To gain a comprehensive view of Express Entry draws in recent months, here’s a summary of key draws since June 2023:
- June 8: 4,800 candidates invited with a minimum CRS of 486.
- June 27: 4,300 candidates invited with a minimum CRS of 486.
- June 28: 500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 476.
- July 4: 700 candidates with a minimum CRS of 511.
- July 5: 500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 486.
- July 6: 1,500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 463 (Healthcare occupations).
- July 7: 2,300 candidates with a minimum CRS of 439 (French language proficiency).
- July 11: 800 candidates with a minimum CRS of 505.
- July 12: 3,800 candidates with a minimum CRS of 375 (French language proficiency).
- August 1: 2,000 candidates with a minimum CRS of 517.
- August 2: 800 candidates with a minimum CRS of 435 (French language proficiency).
- August 3: 1,500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 388 (Trade occupations).
- August 15: 4,300 candidates with a minimum CRS of 496.
- September 19: 3,200 candidates with a minimum CRS of 531.
- September 20: 1,000 candidates with a minimum CRS of 435 (Transport occupations).
- September 26: 3,000 candidates with a minimum CRS of 504 (All-program).
- September 27: 500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 472 (French language proficiency).
- September 28: 600 candidates with a minimum CRS of 354 (Agriculture and agri-food occupations).
This extensive range of draws reflects Canada’s commitment to selecting diverse candidates based on their attributes, including work experience, language proficiency, and specific occupation types.
IRCC’s Express Entry Report for 2022
In a year-end report for 2022, IRCC highlighted several key points:
- There were 24 Express Entry draws in 2022, leading to 46,539 ITAs.
- This marked a 59% reduction in ITAs compared to 2021 due to a pause in Express Entry draws for Federal High Skilled programs between September 2021 and July 2022.
- The majority of Express Entry ITAs in 2022 were issued to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (19,258) and the Canadian Experience Class (18,895).
- The remaining ITAs (8,386) were issued to candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. No Express Entry candidates were invited through the Federal Skilled Trades Program in 2022.
- Commonly invited occupations included software engineers, designers, information systems specialists, computer systems developers and programmers, as well as food service supervisors and cooks.
- Over 30,000 ITAs went to residents of Canada, with the rest primarily issued to candidates residing in India (3,787) and Nigeria (1,730).
Category-Based Selection in Express Entry
The Government of Canada made pivotal changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022, granting the immigration minister the authority to select immigrants based on key attributes aligned with Canada’s economic priorities, such as specific work experience or French proficiency.
In May 2023, IRCC introduced six new Express Entry categories in alignment with this authority. These categories are:
- Healthcare.
- STEM professions.
- Trades.
- Transport.
- Agriculture and agri-food.
- Strong French abilities.
These categories reflect the existing streams under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) where provinces select economic immigration candidates based on specific attributes. In the new category-based selection draws, candidates apply directly to IRCC for permanent residence.
About Express Entry
Express Entry is an application management system that governs the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates eligible for Express Entry must meet minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirements based on attributes like work experience, language proficiency, occupation, age, and education.
These candidates create an online profile with IRCC and await an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Express Entry aims to process 80% of applications within six months.
These comprehensive Express Entry draws and the introduction of category-based selection showcase Canada’s commitment to selecting the right candidates who will contribute to the nation’s diverse and vibrant communities. Express Entry continues to be a crucial pathway for skilled immigrants seeking to call Canada their new home.
