IRCC invited over 589 applications to apply in the Provincial Nominee Program-specific draw. For this, the Express Entry candidates required a minimum score of 691. In a PNP-specific draw, applicants are already in the Express Entry Pool and have been nominated from a province/ region in Canada. However, this is the fourth PNP draw of 2023.
The last draw took place on March 1, wherein 667 Express Entry candidates were invited.
Updating Of Proof Of Funds
On May 2, IRCC declared that the amount of money Express Entry Candidates must have access to in Canada has changed. All Express Entry candidates must now show proof of funds to showcase that they have enough money to settle in Canada.
However, proof of funds isn’t necessary for Canadian Experience Class applicants or candidates who have work permits and are authorized to work in Canada. This is also accurate for applicants who apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Moreover, in order to stay eligible for Express Entry, applicants must update their profiles to reflect that they still have the required amount of settlement funds. In addition, IRCC updates the amount yearly. It is primarily based on 50% of low-income cut-off totals and differs on how many people an applicant is able to support.
Express Entry Data So Far In 2023
The draw follows the April 26 draw, wherein 3500 applicants were invited, having a CRS score of 483. The exact number of candidates were also invited on April 12 who had a CRS score of 486. Well, this number of candidates is half of what was witnessed in March when IRCC invited more than 21,000 candidates over four consecutive Express Entry draws. Out of these four draws, three of them invited over 7000 candidates.
The total number of applicants in March was the second-highest in any Express Entry Draw history. April also marks the tentative return to a normal draw schedule. Generally, until late 2022 and throughout the month of March 2023, Express Entry draws took place every second week on Wednesdays. In addition, draws happened weekly throughout March.
Moreover, the draws of April and March also represented a typical return to the all-program draws. Throughout January and February, the draws held were program-specific for PNP.
What Is Express Entry?
The Express Entry Application Management System oversees three prominent immigration programs, i.e., FSWP, CEC, and FSTD. Each of them has specific eligibility criteria but is similar in terms of applicants requiring work experience. After an applicant self-evaluates themselves, the next step is to upload a profile on the IRCC website.
Express Entry uses the CRS score and ranks applicants based on their profiles. The system ranks the candidates on their work experience, language, age, education, and other human capital factors. Applicants who score the highest are likely to receive an ITA, i.e., Invitation To Apply for a PR in Canada.
Once an applicant obtains an ITA, 60 days are given to complete their application. Moreover, once IRCC receives the application, an immigration officer will go through it and decide whether the candidate is approved or not.