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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its first Express Entry draw this week. Read on for the results of Canada's latest Express Entry draw, which occurred on January 23, 2024.
IRCC's first Express Entry draw this week has seen 1,040 more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued by Canada's immigration department today. In an all-program draw for eligible candidates from all three Express Entry-managed programs, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score held by all successful ITA recipients in today's draw was 543.
Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada's application management system used to manage immigration applications by those applying to any of the following three economic-class permanent residence programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
However, since June 2023, Canada added an additional pathway to immigration via Express Entry. This has involved conducting so-called "standard" Express Entry draws as well as category-based draws - unique for their focus on helping the federal government address specific labour market challenges across the country (more on that later).
Standard Express Entry Draws
"Standard" Express Entry draws are those that primarily value a candidate's CRS score, the name of the objective value assigned to Express Entry candidates based on several human capital factors. This score is directly used to rank eligible candidates against one another before issuing ITAs to a number of candidates who fall above the CRS score cut-off in a given draw.
To receive an ITA for permanent residence in Canada through a standard Express Entry draw, candidates must first self-assess their eligibility for any of the three Express Entry-managed programs. At this time, eligible candidates can proceed to create an online profile with IRCC. This step allows a candidate to formally enter the Express Entry candidate "pool". Once a candidate is officially in the applicant pool, they are given a CRS score, which, again, directly determines if the candidate will receive an ITA during a given Express Entry draw.
Note: IRCC will only issue ITAs to eligible candidates with CRS scores above the cut-off score determined for that round of invitations and ITAs are the only way that a candidate can apply for Canadian permanent residence
Category-Based Express Entry Draws
As eluded to above, category-based draws were implemented in June 2023 as a means of helping this country bring in more foreign skilled workers with work experience or proficiencies in areas designated as important by IRCC.
Canada's immigration department has noted that, while it is currently prioritizing certain candidates for immigration through these draws, the department will also give itself room to conduct an annual review and alter the eligible categories if necessary.
