On June 27th, 2023, the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the fifteenth Express Entry draw of the year. In this draw, a total of 4,300 candidates were invited to an all-program draw. To be eligible for an invitation, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486.
This particular draw marked the second one for the month of June. The previous draw on June 8th invited 4,800 candidates in an all-program draw and also required a minimum CRS cut-off score of 486. These frequent draws indicate that there are ample opportunities for skilled individuals to pursue immigration to Canada through the Express Entry system.
It is worth noting that IRCC recently announced that there are now 82 occupations eligible for category-based selection. This means that Express Entry candidates falling under these categories have greater chances of receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The categories include healthcare, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions, trades such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors, transport-related occupations, agriculture and agri-food jobs, as well as those with strong French-speaking abilities.
Among these new categories, healthcare occupations make up nearly half of the overall eligible occupations. STEM professions also hold a significant share in this regard. Candidates who have work experience or language proficiency in any of these listed occupations must also be part of the Express Entry pool to be considered eligible for an ITA.
While meeting the criteria for these specific categories is important for eligibility consideration, having a high CRS score remains relevant. Those with higher scores still have better chances of receiving ITAs during future draws.
The selection of these categories was done after thorough discussions with provinces, territories, and other stakeholders of IRCC. The department will include information regarding the results and success rate of these draws in their yearly report to parliament. It is worth mentioning that categories can change from year to year based on various factors and considerations.
Express Entry itself is an application management system that oversees three prominent economic immigration programs in Canada: The Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. To participate in these programs, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria and create a profile with IRCC.
Their profile then receives a score from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assesses factors such as work experience, language ability, education, occupation, age, and other human capital elements. Candidates with higher scores are more likely to receive ITAs in future draws.
Upon receiving an ITA, candidates have 60 days to submit their final application for permanent residency to IRCC. An immigration officer will review the application and make a decision regarding the candidate’s potential to become a permanent resident of Canada.
If you are interested in exploring your chances for Express Entry, you can get a Free Express Entry Assessment to understand your eligibility and requirements better.