IRCC or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada holds a second round in the all-program draw after an 18-month lull period of invitations.
The country invited 1,750 Express Entry candidates on July 20, 2022 to apply for permanent residence. This year, Canada is on a mission to welcome 55,900 immigrants through Express Entry, which means that by 2024, the target will go up to 111,500.
Initially, candidates were invited if they had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of a minimum 542. However, compared to the minimum cut-off score of 577 on July 6, now the CRS requirement for the new draw is 15 points lower. Furthermore, Canada has also issued additionally 250 more invitations compared to the previous round of 1,500 invitations.
The three popular immigration programs in Canada
In Canada, the Express Entry program is an application management system used for processing immigration applications to Canada. The PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) candidates in the Express Entry pool have already qualified for at least one of the immigration programs.
Canada has three popular immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
All the three programs had a shot at getting an ITA or Invitation To Apply. The return of all-program draws proves to be a major development for CEC candidates. The route of entry is the primary way for international students and foreign workers to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Prior to the pandemic in 2020, the CEC comprised just 9% of all 341,000 immigrants that were invited under Canada’s economic, family, and humanitarian classes combined. Last year, the CEC comprised nearly one-third of the 405,000+ immigrants that landed in Canada.
The resulting pile up of Express Entry applications
Initially, the first quarter of 2022 did commence with a slow momentum, wherein Canada invited only 6,470 Express Entry candidates. This drop was a direct result of the ceasing of applications of Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The IRCC had only been inviting PNP candidates since September 2021. Further to this, there were no draws for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates since December 2020. Also, prior to the pandemic, most draws were not based on any specific program. This meant that candidates from any Express Entry program could be invited to apply for immigration to Canada.
Further into the COVID-19 travel restrictions, Canada focused on meeting its immigration targets by converting temporary residents to permanent residents. This strategy led to an increasing number of Express Entry applications. This pile up especially included FSWP applications which were most often from overseas applicants. This further resulted in a backlog that increased processing times beyond six months.
How does Express Entry work?
Express Entry uses a points-based system which is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates’ profiles. The candidates that get a high score receive an ITA. They can then apply for permanent residency in Canada.
After the candidate applies, an IRCC officer reviews their application to make a decision. The officer will request for biometrics of the candidate and may set up an interview or request for more documents.
If the application is approved, the IRCC will issue a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). The candidates who have become approved permanent residents can then complete the landing process. If they are outside Canada, they can use the pre-arrival services to help them with the first steps for settling in Canada.
Do you wish to study in Canada?
Canada is home to some of the top most globally recognised research institutions and universities. The education system in Canada is a combination of cross-disciplinary studies and world-class facilities, making it an attractive place to study for international students and pursue a dream career.
If you are an international student planning on working after graduating in Canada, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Thereafter, completing an Express Entry profile is the first step to immigrate to Canada permanently as a skilled worker. Completing and submitting the Express Entry profile may not guarantee that you will receive an ITA for permanent residency. The condition is based on your score and rank in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System. If you want to know more about your chances to study and work in Canada, consult with our immigration expert today.