IRCC Invites Candidates to First Express Entry Draw of the Year!

IRCC Invites Candidates to First Express Entry Draw of the Year!

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 471 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a recent Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Express Entry draw. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 793 to receive an invitation.

This marks the first Express Entry draw of the year, following two PNP draws and a French-language proficiency draw in December. In total, IRCC issued 2,561 ITAs last month, demonstrating its continued focus on specific immigration categories.

Trends in IRCC Invitations

Throughout 2024, IRCC prioritized candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, PNP candidates, and French-language category candidates. These selections are expected to remain a focus in 2025.

Candidates with French-language proficiency, as well as those with professional experience in healthcare and trades occupations, fall under IRCC's "Federal Economic Priorities" category within Express Entry. Meanwhile, candidates in the CEC and PNP programs (and potentially from other Express Entry streams) form the "In-Canada Focus" category. Together, these two categories are projected to dominate IRCC’s admissions allocation under Express Entry, targeting 124,680 landings in the coming year.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an applicant management system that oversees three federal economic immigration programs:

·       The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

·       The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

·       The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Collectively, these programs constitute Canada’s largest economic immigration pathway.

How Express Entry Works

To enter the Express Entry pool, candidates must submit a profile and are ranked using the CRS. The CRS assigns a score based on education, age, work experience, and language proficiency. Candidates with the highest CRS scores receive ITAs for Canadian permanent residency (PR).

If a candidate receives an ITA, they have 60 days to submit a complete application for PR to IRCC. Once submitted, IRCC aims to process complete applications within six months. Successful candidates are granted Canadian PR, enabling them to permanently live, work, and settle in Canada. Additionally, they can eventually become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Conclusion

Express Entry remains a vital pathway for skilled immigrants to contribute to Canada's economy and society. With its streamlined process and focus on key priorities like French-language proficiency, healthcare, and trades, IRCC continues to attract top talent from around the world. Aspiring immigrants are encouraged to prepare competitive profiles and stay informed about the latest developments to maximize their chances of success.