Blue Bird Blog

IRCC has invited 700 candidates in the most recent Express Entry draw.  It was an all-program draw and candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 511. This draw comes as a surprise as Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has said it will invite 1,500 healthcare workers via category-based selection tomorrow, July 5. In addition, it is expected IRCC will also invite candidates with work experience in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) occupations in the first-ever category-based selection Express Entry draw for STEM professions. It remains to be seen what the minimum CRS score will be required for healthcare and STEM candidates.

On May 31st, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the launch of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed the first round of category-based draws for STEM professions will take place this week. Last week, IRCC held the first-ever round of category-based Express Entry draws, inviting healthcare workers.

Canada Day is statutory holiday celebrated on July 1st by all those who call Canada home. The day commemorates the anniversary of the Constitution Act. The Act, signed in 1867, consolidated three new territories who agreed to come together to join Canada’s wider confederation. Canada Day is informally referred to as “Canada’s Birthday”, but July 1, 1867 was an important milestone in the evolution of the country into its current form of ten provinces and three territories.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its policy regarding the collection of biometrics for permanent resident applicants. As of June 14, anyone applying for permanent residence (PR) must submit biometrics, regardless of if they have previously submitted them for a temporary residence permit. The update to the published policy means that IRCC is returning to pre-pandemic procedures for permanent resident applications.