Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its most recent Express Entry draw.
In this all-program draw, a total of 3,725 candidates were invited to apply for immigration to Canada.
To be eligible for an ITA in this draw, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 500.
This recent draw follows of three consecutive draws during the week of September 25th.
The initial draw, held on September 26th, extended invitations to 3,000 candidates in an all-program draw. These candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 504.
The following day, on September 27th, the second draw took place, inviting 500 candidates under a category-based selection process, specifically for individuals proficient in French. These candidates were expected to have a minimum CRS score of 472.
The week concluded with a draw on September 28th, which invited 600 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 354. This draw marked the first-ever category-based selection for candidates in agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Notably, with this series of draws, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has successfully extended invitations to candidates from each of the six new categories eligible under the category-based selection process.
IRCC releases year-end Express Entry report for 2022
On September 26, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) unveiled its annual report on the Express Entry system.
The report disclosed that in the year 2022, there were a total of 24 Express Entry draws, resulting in the issuance of 46,539 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). This figure reflects a substantial 59% decrease in ITAs compared to the previous year, 2021, which saw 114,431 ITAs.
This decrease in ITAs can be chiefly attributed to a halt in Express Entry draws for the Federal High Skilled programs, which persisted from September 2021 until July 2022.
It is worth noting that the majority of ITAs extended in 2022 were directed towards candidates within the Provincial Nominee Program, totaling 19,258, closely followed by those in the Canadian Experience Class, amounting to 18,895.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program accounted for the final 8,386 ITAs, whereas the Federal Skilled Trades Program did not witness any invitations to Express Entry candidates throughout 2022.
In terms of occupational profiles, candidates with backgrounds as software engineers, designers, information systems specialists, computer systems developers, and programmers emerged as the most frequently selected recipients of ITAs. Furthermore, the occupation category of food service supervisors and cooks also featured prominently in the pool of ITA recipients.
Of the total ITAs issued, over 30,000 were extended to residents of Canada, with the remainder being awarded to candidates primarily hailing from India (3,787) and Nigeria (1,730).
What is category-based selection?
Category-based selection represents a pivotal change in Canada's immigration policy framework. In June 2022, the Canadian government amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to empower the immigration minister to select immigrants based on specific attributes that align with Canada's economic priorities. These attributes may encompass essential factors like particular work experiences or proficiency in the French language.
In May 2023, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced six novel Express Entry categories, in adherence to the newfound authority. These categories include:
- Healthcare
- STEM professions
- Trades
- Transport
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Strong French language abilities
These categories were thoughtfully chosen following extensive consultations with various stakeholders, partners, and provincial governments. It's noteworthy that these new categories bear a resemblance to the existing streams within the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The PNP already grants provincial governments the capacity to select economic immigration candidates who are well-suited to integrate seamlessly into the local economy, typically based on specific attributes such as language proficiency or work experience in high-demand occupations.
While the PNP predominantly operates at the provincial level and strengthens permanent residence applications, the new category-based selection mechanism invites candidates to apply directly to IRCC for permanent residence.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry serves as a meticulously designed application management system that effectively oversees three key immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
To qualify for Express Entry, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria, including a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The CRS score is determined based on a variety of human capital attributes, encompassing factors such as work experience, language proficiency, occupation, age, and educational qualifications. Each attribute carries a designated point value, and candidates with the highest scores have a greater likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during an Express Entry draw.
Upon establishing eligibility for an Express Entry-managed program, the next step for candidates is to create and submit their profiles on the IRCC website, awaiting the issuance of an ITA.
Candidates who receive an ITA via Express Entry are then permitted to apply for permanent residency. The IRCC aims to process a remarkable 80% of all Express Entry applications within a timeframe of six months, underscoring the efficiency of this immigration pathway.
If you are looking for immigrate to Canada please contact Round World Immigration for further assistance.