Express Entry
IRCC Invited 699 PNP Candidates in its Fifth Express Entry Draw
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its fifth Express Entry draw for the year 2023. The draw issued invitations to 699 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 791 to apply for permanent residence.
The draw invited candidates in the category of the Provincial Nominee program. In 2023, this was the third program-specific draw; the first two was held on February 1 and 2, respectively. Only candidates who had already gained provincial nomination were invited to the February 1 draw, while the February 2 draw was program-specific.
Express Entry Draw Pattern For 2023 Is to Be Decided
The draws are expected to be conducted every 2 weeks on Wednesdays however, IRCC held four draws consecutively.
After a pause of six weeks between November 23 and January 11, the Express Entry draws restarted three weeks ago. In the January 11 draw, 5500 individuals were selected with a CRS score of 507 and invited the same number of applicants was with a score of 490 in January 18 draw. The department is attempting to resume regular draws, according to IRCC Express Entry launched in 2015, and there have been between 23 and 30 draws annually on average. IRCC on account of delay has hinted that the deployment of NOC 2021 may have resulted in an IT system malfunction.
One of the most recent draws, which was held on February 1 after an anticipated two-week break, was the first since June 2022. The draw was conducted to invite only Express Entry applicants who had obtained a provincial nomination. Even prior to COVID-19, the IRCC rarely held program-specific draws. Nearly all Express Entry drawings have been all-program draws, with a few exceptions for the FSTP. Since the all-program draw suspension during the COVID-19 epidemic, the IRCC has not conducted an Express Entry draw for PNP-only candidates.
Then, recently, another draw conducted on February 2 for Federal Skilled Workers Program Candidates since 2015. The draw issued invitations to 3,300 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 489 to apply for permanent residence. After the February 1 draw, only candidates who had already received provincial nominations received ITAs in this program-specific draw.
The immigration minister and IRCC have sole discretion over Express Entry draws. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act makes no provisions regarding the timing of draws, the number of applicants, or the minimum CRS cut-off score. The minister may decide that holding drawings on a daily or irregular basis is the best method for Canada to achieve its economic aims.
The changes in Express Entry System – Bill C-19
The most recent Canadian immigration news says that Express Entry is expected to change in 2023 as Bill C-19 is about to introduce. A new law allows the immigration minister to invite candidates who meet Canada’s economic requirements and fill urgent market gaps. Also, instead of issuing ITAs based solely on CRS scores, IRCC will conduct draws targeting specific attributes.
IRCC says starting this spring, candidates may be invited through categories that target attributes such as occupation, work experience, education, or language ability. Since Bill C-19 was enacted into law, the department has been creating new draw categories for Express Entry candidates.