Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently held another Express Entry draw, inviting 1,121 candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This latest draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 694 to be eligible for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.
Recent Trends in Express Entry Draws
This draw marks the fourth instance in August alone. The previous Express Entry draw occurred on August 15, focusing on candidates proficient in French, under a category-based selection process. Additionally, two other draws were conducted earlier in the same week. On August 13, 763 PNP candidates were invited, requiring a minimum CRS score of 690, while on August 14, 3,200 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates received ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 509.
IRCC appears to have established a pattern of conducting multiple draws every other week, a trend particularly noticeable in recent months. The increased frequency of PNP and CEC draws aligns with the department’s strategy to prioritize domestic draws. This approach helps reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada while also aiming to meet the permanent resident admissions goals set out in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026.
Express Entry Targets for 2024 and Beyond
Looking ahead, IRCC plans to welcome 110,770 newcomers through the Express Entry system in 2024, with a target of 117,500 in 2025. Candidates who receive ITAs in the latter half of 2024 are likely to contribute to meeting the 2025 immigration targets, considering that IRCC’s service standard is to process all finalized Express Entry applications within six months.
2024 Express Entry Draws: A Snapshot
Here’s a summary of the Express Entry draw results so far in 2024:
- August 26: PNP-only draw, 1,121 ITAs, minimum CRS 694
- August 15: French language proficiency draw, 2,000 ITAs, minimum CRS 394
- August 14: CEC draw, 3,200 ITAs, minimum CRS 509
- August 13: PNP-only draw, 763 ITAs, minimum CRS 690
- July 31: CEC draw, 5,000 ITAs, minimum CRS 510
- July 30: PNP-only draw, 964 ITAs, minimum CRS 686
- July 18: French language proficiency draw, 1,800 ITAs, minimum CRS 400
- July 17: CEC draw, 6,300 ITAs, minimum CRS 515
- July 16: PNP-only draw, 1,391 ITAs, minimum CRS 670
- July 8: French proficiency draw, 3,200 ITAs, minimum CRS 420
- July 5: Healthcare occupations draw, 3,750 ITAs, minimum CRS 445
- July 4: Trade occupations draw, 1,800 ITAs, minimum CRS 436
- July 2: PNP-only draw, 920 ITAs, minimum CRS 739
- June 19: PNP-only draw, 1,499 ITAs, minimum CRS 663
Understanding Express Entry
Express Entry is a comprehensive application management system used by IRCC to oversee three major economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in these programs are assessed and ranked based on various human capital factors, including work experience, education, age, language proficiency, and occupation. The system assigns scores through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which are then used to determine eligibility for ITAs in Express Entry draws.
In May 2023, IRCC introduced category-based rounds of invitations, allowing candidates with specific occupational skills or language abilities to receive ITAs even if their overall CRS scores are not the highest. This new approach aims to better match the needs of the Canadian labor market with incoming immigrants’ skills.
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