The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a second round of Express Entry invitations this week. This time, the invitations were extended to candidates who are eligible for category-based selection in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. A total of 500 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. To be eligible for this draw, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486.
This draw was anticipated as IRCC had previously announced that the first-ever category-based selection Express Entry draw for STEM professions would take place during this week. In addition to this draw, IRCC will also invite 1,500 healthcare workers to apply for permanent residence in another round of invitations scheduled for this week.
The most recent category-based draw prior to this was conducted on June 28th and invited 500 healthcare workers with a minimum CRS score of 476, which was the lowest CRS score requirement in any Express Entry draw so far in 2023. On July 4th, IRCC surprised everyone by inviting 700 candidates to an all-program draw with a minimum CRS score of 511. An all-program draw considers Express Entry candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
By prioritizing the invitation of skilled newcomers with STEM experience, Canada aims to meet the growing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement. The eligible occupations under the STEM draw include various professions such as architects, computer engineers, data scientists, software developers, mathematicians/statisticians/actuaries among others.
Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration announced on May 31st that IRCC had finalized new category-based selection criteria for Express Entry draws. These categories were chosen based on labour market projections, discussions with IRCC partners and stakeholders, as well as provincial and territorial governments. The categories include healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, and strong French-language proficiency.
Category-based selection draws have been expected since June 2022 when the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support Canada’s economic priorities. This includes specific work experience to fill labour market gaps or knowledge of French.
Candidates who receive invitations in a category-based selection draw must be in the Express Entry application pool through an Express Entry managed program such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class. The CRS score still matters as eligible candidates will be ranked according to their CRS score in category-based rounds of invitations. Higher scores increase the likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence through Express Entry.
IRCC will continue to hold regular all-program or program-specific draws alongside category-based selection draws. Therefore, having a high CRS score is still necessary for consideration in those draws.
The frequency of category-based selection draws is not fixed or predetermined. IRCC does not have the mandate to hold Express Entry draws on a specific schedule or invite a targeted number of candidates through any particular program or category. Draws are at the discretion of the Immigration Minister and are conducted based on supporting Canada’s economic priorities and promoting French language usage. In other words, these draws can occur anytime without prior notice.
The eligibility criteria may vary for each new category introduced under Express Entry. However, all candidates must have accumulated at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) within the past 3 years in a single occupation listed as eligible for that specific round. Candidates invited based on strong French language proficiency must also meet additional requirements specified in the instructions for that round.
To determine your eligibility for Express Entry, you can find out more information and assess your qualifications on the official IRCC website.
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