In the latest Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to 964 candidates who had an active Express Entry profile at the time of the selection draw, and who had received a Provincial Nomination via Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) category. Applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 686 to have invited in this selection draw.
The draw was the last draw for July month. Express Entry draws in July month have been alternating between category-based selection draws and program-specific draws like the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates fluent in French received the majority of Invitations to Apply (ITAs), with 5,000 ITAs distributed over two draws. Additionally, on July 4 and 5, the IRCC issued 1,800 ITAs to applicants in trade sectors and 3,750 ITAs to candidates in healthcare sector.
As of July 18, the IRCC has invited 2,311 PNP applicants and 6,300 Canadian Experience Class candidates in program-specific draws. Both programs accepted temporary residents who work in Canada. After a full year without them, program-specific draws will resume on May 30. In addition to meeting its targets for permanent residents, the IRCC aims to reduce and stabilize the number of temporary residents living in Canada since March 2024.
A chart depicting the CRS cut-off scores for the last 10 EE draws
Source: Owlspriority Immigration internal, IRCC
The chart illustrates a noticeable pattern in the recent Express Entry draws conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and this trend has been received with enthusiasm. There has been a decrease in the cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, in each separate category, resulting in a higher number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) being issued to eligible candidates. This adjustment has been made to ensure that IRCC achieves its multi-year immigration target for 2024-26, aiming to welcome over 485,000 new immigrants by the end of 2024.
Express Entry is an electronic selection system used by the Federal as well as Provincial governments of Canada [to select], as well as designated Canadian employers [to nominate] candidates for Canadian permanent residence under three of its popular economic [skilled] immigration programs:
Candidates eligible for any of the above programs are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry Pool. It is based on their Core/Human capital factors such as age, work experience, education, and language ability in English and/or French, etc. And, based on scores, candidates are periodically invited (or nominated) for permanent residence.
Category-based selection in Express Entry refers to the practice of holding rounds of invitations that specifically target candidates with certain attributes or qualifications. These attributes could include proficiency in French language or work experience in specific occupations facing shortages. In the context mentioned, the categories include:
French-language proficiency: candidates demonstrating proficiency in the French language.
Occupation-specific draws: candidates with work experience in the below five key occupations facing shortages:
The rationale behind category-based EE Selection is to address labour shortages in critical sectors of the Canadian economy. Canada aims to welcome more skilled workers to alleviate these shortages, especially considering the anticipated retirement of up to nine million Canadians by 2030. The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, emphasizes the importance of skilled immigration in eliminating these shortages.
Check if you qualify for Express Entry. Check out our Settlement Resources to learn how to find employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.
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