Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently conducted its second Express Entry draw of the week, marking an important milestone in Canada's immigration system.

On September 20th, IRCC extended invitations to 1,000 candidates with backgrounds in transportation occupations, inviting them to apply for permanent residency in Canada. To secure an Invitation to Apply (ITA), candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 435, showcasing their eligibility for this opportunity.

The preceding day, September 19th, witnessed another noteworthy event as IRCC issued a total of 3,200 invitations to candidates through an all-program draw. In this draw, candidates were required to attain a minimum CRS score of 531 to receive an ITA, emphasizing the competitiveness of the selection process.

It is important to note that this is a developing story, and CIC News will continue to provide updates throughout the week, ensuring that you stay informed about the latest developments in Canada's immigration landscape.

First-ever Express Entry draw for transport occupations

In a groundbreaking development, the latest Express Entry draw introduced a category-based selection approach, specifically targeting candidates with work experience in transport occupations. This innovative move by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) responds to the pressing labor shortage within the transport sector.

Pablo Rodriguez, the Minister of Transport, emphasized the significance of the transportation industry in Canada's economy, stressing the need to invest in the workforce responsible for facilitating the movement of travelers and goods. He stated, "The transportation sector is crucial to our economy, and if we want to keep things moving, we need to invest in the people that move travelers and transport our goods. With this new initiative, we are helping address a critical skills shortage while also attracting new, talented people to communities across Canada. Truck drivers, pilots, aviation mechanical engineers, and seafarers play a critical role in our economy and Canadians' lives. Filling vacancies in these professions will boost economic growth and create stronger and more resilient supply chains."

This recent draw marks a significant departure from the traditional approach, with IRCC conducting more Express Entry draws this summer compared to previous years, thanks to the introduction of category-based selection rounds of invitations. Notably, no draws took place since August 15th before this week's draw, where 4,300 candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in an all-program draw. IRCC has yet to provide an official explanation for the temporary pause in draws, leaving observers curious about the underlying reasons.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry serves as a robust application management system for three of Canada's most prominent economic immigration pathways: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

While each Express Entry program possesses distinct eligibility criteria, they all employ the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to assess and rank candidates relative to one another. This evaluation process involves assigning scores based on critical human capital factors such as language proficiency, age, work experience, occupation, and education. Those candidates who amass the highest CRS scores stand the best chance of receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residency.

Express Entry candidates who have received a provincial nomination enjoy even greater prospects of receiving an ITA. This is due to the fact that candidates who are part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) within Express Entry automatically secure an additional 600 CRS points. This is a strategic advantage as most Express Entry draws tend to encompass a CRS score range of 350-550, contingent on the specific program or category.

Category-based selection

The introduction of category-based selection was a notable development on May 31st, as the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) unveiled six new categories that could be eligible for Express Entry draws. Among these, one category caters to Express Entry candidates with strong French-speaking abilities, while the remaining five are tailored for candidates with work experience in the following sectors:

• Healthcare
• STEM professions
• Trades
• Transport
• Agriculture and agri-food

The first category-based selection draw, held on June 28th, exclusively targeted candidates with experience in healthcare professions. Subsequently, draws have been conducted for individuals in STEM professions, trades, and candidates demonstrating proficiency in French.

It is important to note that eligible candidates for an ITA through category-based selection must still be enrolled in an Express Entry program, and striving for the highest possible CRS score remains advantageous, as IRCC continues to rank candidates in comparison to each other.

IRCC has articulated that these new categories are designed to address pressing job vacancies in high-demand sectors of Canada's workforce, ultimately bolstering the nation's economy. The selection of these categories resulted from extensive consultations with provincial governments, business associations, and various partners and stakeholders within the IRCC network.

If you are looking for Canada immigration please contact Round World Immigration for further information