In today’s round of invitations, IRCC issued an additional 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a category-based draw for eligible immigration candidates with recent work experience in Trade occupations. This marks Canada’s first Trade occupation draw since August 3 this year. All candidates who received an ITA in today’s category-based draw had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 425.
Today’s draw follows an all-program draw yesterday (December 18, 2023). In yesterday’s draw, Canada’s immigration department issued 1,325 ITAs to eligible Canadian immigration candidates with a minimum CRS score of 542.
Note: This is a developing story that will be updated should IRCC conduct more Express Entry draws throughout the week.
Express Entry
Express Entry is the name of Canada’s application management system that handles immigration applications from three economic-class immigration programs for permanent residents. Specifically, the federal government uses this application management system to oversee applicants who apply for permanent residence in Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Beginning in June 2023, Canada now operates both “standard” and category-based draws for Express Entry.
Standard Express Entry Draws
The difference between these types of draws lies in what they prioritize. Specifically, “standard” Express Entry draws notably prioritize a candidate’s CRS score to rank them against other eligible candidates.
This type of Express Entry draw has a process that begins with a candidate’s self-assessment and confirmation of their eligibility for any of the three programs contained under the Express Entry application management system – the FSWP, the CEC or the FSTP. Once verified as eligible, candidates can create an online IRCC profile and formally enter themselves into the Express Entry candidate “pool”. Every candidate in the pool is then given a CRS score. CRS scores are a numeric value assigned to each candidate based on a variety of human capital factors deemed important by IRCC.
These scores, which allow the immigration department to rank objectively candidates against each other, determine which candidates will receive an ITA during a given Express Entry draw. In other words, during every Express Entry draw, IRCC will issue ITAs to eligible candidates with CRS scores above the cut-off score determined for that round of invitations (another phrase for “draw”).
It is important to note that the only way for a Canadian immigration candidate to apply for Canadian permanent residence is after receiving an ITA.
Category-Based Express Entry Draws
IRCC began conducting a new type of Express Entry draw, called a category-based draw, in June 2023. Intended to aid the federal government in its goal to bring more foreign nationals with specific work experience or proficiencies to Canada, this new draw type was designed and implemented as a means of helping address particularly prominent labour market challenges across the country.
More information about the types of work experience and proficiencies IRCC is prioritizing at this time can be found here.
Note: IRCC has indicated that they will conduct an annual review of the categories chosen as areas of focus for category-based draws and may alter the eligible categories if necessary
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