Express Entry
IRCC Invited 7,000 All-Program Candidates in Its Seventh Express Entry Draw
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its seventh Express Entry draw for the year 2023. The draw issued invitations to 7,000 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 490 to apply for permanent residence.
This Express Entry draw ITAs totally surpasses the previous high-record of 5,500 applicants invited in the most recent all-program draw on January 18. Candidates from all three Express Entry programs—the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class—are taken into account in an all-program draw.
The Express Entry draws between July and November 2022 were all-program draws with over 1,000 candidates each time and grew as the minimum CRS score dropped.
In 2023, there have been four program-specific draw; the first three was held on February 1 and 2, and 15 respectively. And, in the most recent draw, a total of 697 candidates were issued invitations. Only candidates who had already gained provincial nomination were invited to the February 1 draw, while the draws held on February 2 and March 1 was program-specific.
Results of All-Program Draws For Over a Month
The draws are expected to be conducted every 2 weeks on Wednesdays however, IRCC held six 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.
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.
What Does 2021 Express Entry Data Say?
In total, 114,431 ITAs were distributed in 2021. In 2021, there were no draws for the entire Express Entry pool. No ITAs were given to FSWP or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) applicants in any of the 42 Express Entry drawings, which were all program-specific for the PNP and the CEC.
64% of ITAs were given out to people between the ages of 20 and 29. Candidates in this age bracket were awarded 100 CRS points under the Comprehensive Ranking System.
As a candidate turns 30, they are awarded fewer points. Due to the interruptions, the bulk of ITAs were given to applicants who were already temporary residents of Canada. Nonetheless, some ITAs were still given to candidates who were foreign nationals. The list of countries and no. of ITAs issued are as follows:
- Canada – 102,806
- India – 3,826
- Nigeria – 1,432
- USA – 806
- People’s Republic of China – 687
