The first six months of 2023 have been quite an exciting chapter in the Express Entry history. Express Entry has been unpredictable in some ways. Well, that’s because it has worked to re-establish itself after a long pause of one month throughout the pandemic. 

Following the resumptions of all-program draws in July last year, Express Entry draws were held every two weeks on Wednesday & restarted and continued the pre-pandemic established patterns. Draw sizes increased by predictable increments, while the CRS score decreased slightly with each draw. 

However, 2023 began with less predictability following an unexpected pause of six weeks. The first draw of the year took place on January 11, wherein over 5,500 applicants were invited. Well, this was a higher number of applicants than any single draw that took place in 2022. 

Since then, the sizes of the draws have fluctuated, thus going as low as 589 ITAs on May 10 & as high as 7,000 ITAs in three consecutive draws. 

 

Number Of ITAs 

IRCC has issued over 58,849 ITAs, i.e., Invitations To Apply in 2023. This is already a higher number than 35,750 ITAs issued between July 6 & November 23, 2022.  January 2023 began with over 11,000 ITAs issued in the last two draws. On the other hand, February was slower, with 4,892 ITAs issued over the last three draws. 

In addition, March saw the second-highest number of applicants invited in a single month in the history of Express Entry. Over four draws, 21,667 applicants obtained ITAs. Well, the total was exceeded in February 2021, when almost 27,000 applicants were invited to apply for PR. 

Moreover, April & May were more aligned with pre-pandemic draws. There were over 7,000 applicants invited in two draws in April. Additionally, over 5,389 applicants were invited to two draws in May.

 

Express Entry: CRS Scores 

The minimum CRS scores for the year vary broadly. For instance, the highest CRS score was in 2023, i.e. 791. This score was for a PNP-only draw on February 15. On the other hand, the lowest CRS score was 476 for the first-ever category-based draw held on June 28. In addition, the minimum CRS cut-off score was between 485 & 490 over the past six months. 

The broad variation in the CRS score is probably due to different types of draws. For instance, a draw which is exclusively for PNP applicants will generally have a higher cut-off score. Well, that’s because being nominated by the province automatically adds 600 points to the CRS score. 

 

Frequency Of Draws 

IRCC isn’t required to adhere to the set schedule for the Express Entry draws. The draws take place at the discretion/ preference of Sean Fraser, who can hold draws whenever it deems fit, thus inviting as many candidates as possible. 

Before COVID-19, IRCC launched an unofficial pattern of organizing the draws every two weeks on Wednesdays. Well, that was not the case this year. For instance, there were three draws in February, wherein the first two draws took place simultaneously on February 1 & 2. 

Four draws were held in March, i.e., the first took place on the 1st, followed by the 15th, 22nd, & 29th. After these four draws, IRCC resumed the pattern every two weeks, except for the draw held on June 8. 

However, IRCC did not have its anticipated draw on June 21, but it compensated for it by organizing an all-program draw on June 27. Further, a draw for healthcare workers/ professionals occurred on June 28, issuing a total of 4,800 ITAs in the two draws combined. 

 

Types Of Draws In 2023

In an all-program Express Entry draw, applicants are considered from three economic immigration programs, i.e., Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, & Federal Skilled Worker Program. 

While most of the draws have considered applicants from the Express Entry programs, there also have been four draws for PNP applicants. The first Federal Skilled Worker Program draw occurred on February 2, while the first category-based draw occurred on June 28. 

 

Looking Forward: Notable Express Entry Developments & Category-Based Selections 

On May 31, IRCC declared it would begin holding category-based selection draws later this summer. These new categories were established following some crucial discussions with the provincial government & stakeholders who can offer insights as to which categories would best benefit the economy of the nation. 

The discussions lead to six new categories: 

  • STEM professions
  • Trades
  • Healthcare 
  • Agriculture/ Agri-Food 
  • Transport
  • Strong French Language Proficiency 

 

On June 28, Sean Fraser declared that over 500 healthcare professionals have been issued ITAs in the first round of Express Entry invitations under the new category-based selections. He asserted that another 1500 applicants would be invited next week. 

Moreover, on the same day, IRCC announced that it would carry out Express Entry draws for qualified applicants under the STEM category during the week of July 5. 

Under the new categories, IRCC will work towards meeting the PR admission objectives as outlined in the immigration level plans of 2023-25. The categories align with Sean Fraser’s mandate to use immigration to bolster the workforce of Canada while promoting francophone immigration in French-speaking minority communities outside the province of Quebec. 

Well, specifically, the second half of 2023 will require work towards accomplishing the 2024 target of 109,020 new PR admissions via Express Entry. Invitations issued later this year might not count as admissions until 2024. Well, that’s because IRCC has a service standard of six months to process permanent resident applications under the Express Entry programs. 

Other significant Canadian immigration policy developments are set to impact the future of Express Entry programs. For instance, IRCC is introducing a new open work permit for H-1B visa holders in the US on July 16. These individuals, who already have an advantage towards getting a PR via Express Entry, will be given an opportunity to earn even more CRS points if they gain relevant work experience. 

The strategy to entice H-1B visa holders is a part of the new Tech Talent Strategy introduced by the nation. In addition, this strategy offers tech workers an edge under Express Entry if they choose to come & work temporarily before entering the Express Entry pool. 

Moreover, on June 27, IRCC asserted that it would provide work permit holders with more flexibility to study in Canada. As a result, this will allow them to earn additional CRS points for studying in the country as long as they pursue an eligible program.