Canada Invites 919 PNP Candidates in The Latest Express Entry Draw

Canada invited 919 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence on March 30. The Canadian immigration body, IRCC only invited provincial nominee program candidates in this round with a minimum CRS score of 785. The score was relatively higher as PNP candidates get an additional 600 points after they receive a nomination. The invited candidates have 60 days to apply for Canadian PR. IRCC invited 924 PNP candidates to apply in the previous express entry draw. 

Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser attended the standing committee on Citizenship and Immigration on March 24 and said that there is no specific date to resume the Canadian Experience Class. The express entry draw for CEC candidates has been paused since 2021, as a result, CEC candidates are not able to apply and most of them are facing the end of the work permit validity. Till the time the Express Entry draw is paused, these temporary workers with non-extendable PGWP, will not be able to get a Bridging Open Work Permit. Instead, they can go for an LMIA-supported work permit, quit their jobs, or leave Canada. 

So far, IRCC has not made any official statement on CEC or FSWP candidates having their status expired. But, the immigration minister suggested that there may be an opportunity to extend PGWPs. 

The FSWP candidates have not been invited to apply since 2020. No communication has been made about when the draws will be resumed. Certainly, this has created a lot of backlogs. IRCC states that it could take up to 36 months to clear the backlog inventory. In the quest to get back to the 6-months processing time, IRCC has paused the Express Entry draws for FSWP candidates. It is also believed that in another 6-months the draws will get back to normal.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is Canada’s immigration application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: CEC (Canadian Experience Class), FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program), and FSTP (Federal Skilled Trades Program). The Provincial Nominee Program candidates in the Express Entry pool are eligible for one of these programs.

Express Entry uses a point-based system (CRS) to evaluate the candidates. The higher-scoring candidates receive an invitation to apply for the PR.

After this, an IRCC official assesses the application to make an informed decision about the applicant. After this step, IRCC further requests biometrics to set up an interview or request more documents.

If the application is approved, IRCC sends COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence), and approved permanent residents can move ahead with the landing process.