Canada has held its fourth all-program Express Entry draw and issued 2250 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence with a Comprehensive Ranking System score cut-off of 525. Express Entry is the federal economic-class pathway for inviting skilled workers to Canada. Applicants were invited from both Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) as no program was specified.

In total 7500 applicants have been issued invitations since all-program draws resumed on July 6. There is a significant spike of 250 applicants with each Express Entry draw. On the other hand, the minimum CRS score is declining each week by 8-9 points. The current CRS cut-off is 33 points lower than the draw held on July 6. The latest CRS showcases a fall of 8 points as compared to the previous draw held on August 3.

All-program Express Entry draws were put on a hold by IRCC for over 1.5 years. Only applicants eligible for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program were invited. Although, CEC draws were also put on hold in September 2021.

The hiatus of the draws was due to the number of permanent residence applications submitted during the pandemic. During this time, Canada’s border policies and travel restrictions kept on changing frequently.

Expected Express Entry Changes in 2023

Express Entry pathway targets skilled workers who are well suited to bridge the gaps in Canada’s labour force by reacting to the labour market requirements, including French language-speaking applicants outside Quebec. Canada aims to invite 55900 permanent residents through Express Entry in 2022 and this number will significantly increase to 111,500 by the end of 2024.

By welcoming applicants through this pathway, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada can process applications efficiently as the applicants have met the basic criteria of eligibility, according to their CRS score. Now when the draws are resumed, IRCC is striving to get back to the standard of six months for new applications.

Although, IRCC is now planning to hold Express Entry draws that aim at specific skills and occupations in the coming times. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in an interview that “Canada will be inviting more applicants who are already primed for success in the labor market. The goal is to increase the contribution that an immigrant can make to their communities, so they are set up for success after their arrival, however, also going to fulfill the requirements of the community they are going to live in All-Program Express Entry Draw

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a federal application management system for three main Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program applicants in the Express Entry pool already qualify for at least one of the above-mentioned programs.

Express Entry uses a point-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System to evaluate the applicants. the highest scoring applicant receives an ITA and can then apply for permanent residency. After the submission, an IRCC official reviews the application thoroughly and makes a final decision.blue