Blue Bird Blog

BREAKING: IRCC holds fourth Express Entry draw this week

Canada has held an Express Entry draw for the fourth day in a row this week. IRCC has held its first-ever French category-based Express Entry draw, inviting 2,300 candidates with strong French-speaking abilities. Candidates required a minimum CRS score of 439, which is the lowest CRS score of 2023. This is the sixth round of invitations issued in two weeks and brings the total number of candidates invited through Express Entry over this period to 9,800.

The majority of invitations were issued this week. The most recent round took place yesterday, July 6, and invited 1,500 candidates with work experience in healthcare professions. This draw was expected to occur following an announcement alongside the first-ever Express Entry invitations for 500 healthcare professionals on June 27.

The July 5 round of invitations was the first-ever for candidates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions. There were 500 candidates invited with a minimum CRS score of 486.

Finally, the July 4 round of invitations was an unexpected all-program draw in which 700 candidates were considered in an all-program draw. These candidates required a CRS of 511, the highest of any all-program draw in 2023.

Invitations for French-speakers

Strong French-speaking abilities are the only category-based selection criteria that does not use work experience as the key attribute for the six new selection categories.

Canada’s immigration minister has a mandate to promote the French language outside of Quebec. In a release announcing the draw for French-speaking Express Entry candidates IRCC said by prioritizing the invitation of French-speaking newcomers, Canada aims to support economic growth through Francophone immigration outside Quebec while recognizing how it enriches and strengthens these communities.

Category-based selection

Sean Fraser, Canada’s immigration minister, announced the new categories for category-based selection on May 31. New categories were expected following a law passed last June that gives Canada’s immigration minister the authority to invite economic immigration candidates based on a specific attribute rather than their overall CRS score. This can include work-experience, language ability, education or more.

The categories for 2023 were chosen following discussions with provincial and territorial governments as well as IRCC partners and stakeholders, They are as follows:

Healthcare
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food
Strong French-language proficiency

These categories will be reviewed each year in IRCC’s presentation to parliament and may change in 2024.

According to the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 Canada hopes to admit up to 82,880 newcomers through Express Entry by the end of 2023. This target rises as high as 114,000 by the end of 2025. Category-based selection may help Canada meet these targets while also closing urgent skills and labour gaps in Canada’s workforce.

Source: cicnews.com

Express Entry

How long will it take to become a permanent resident of Canada in 2024?

Foreign nationals seeking permanent residence (PR) in Canada often look for the fastest pathway to achieving their goal and starting a new life in this country.
On a basic level, Canada has four primary immigration classes: economic immigration, family-class sponsorship, humanitarian/compassionate immigration and immigration for refugees/protected persons.
However, within those four general classifications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides foreign nationals with more than 100 ways to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry: Does my work experience impact my CRS score?

As a Canadian immigration applicant through one of the three programs contained within the Express Entry system, it is important to know what does and does not impact your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
The National Occupation Classification 2021 (NOC 2021) code that corresponds with a candidate’s work experience will not impact their CRS score unless they have arranged employment waiting for them when they arrive in Canada.

Express Entry’s Targeted Occupations: How Many Transport Workers Does Canada Really Need?

Transport occupations are one of five sectors that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has chosen to prioritize through Express Entry category-based draws in 2023.
To better use immigration to address labour market gaps in specific Canadian industries, the federal government in this country began conducting category-based draws – in addition to standard ones* – through the Express Entry application management system in June** this year.

IRCC invites candidates in first ever category-based Express Entry draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 600 invitations to apply (ITAs) in the first ever category-based Express Entry draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 354.

What counts as eligible work experience for immigration through Express Entry?

The definition of eligible work experience in the context of Express Entry depends on exactly which program an immigration candidate is applying under.
In other words, what is considered eligible skilled work experience varies depending on whether a particular candidate is applying to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Express Entry: Not eligible for category-based draws? Your job may still be in demand

With the introduction of category-based Express Entry draws, some candidates are being chosen for Canadian permanent residence with greater emphasis on their professional experience than their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.