IRCC has issued over 600 ITAs in the first-ever category-based Express Entry draws for agriculture & agri-food professions.
Applicants needed a minimum CRS score of 354. IRCC says focusing on applicants with experience in the agriculture & agri-food sector, including agriculture service contractors, farm supervisors, retail & wholesale butchers, etc., will help the sector attract the skilled professionals it needs nationwide.
Canada’s agriculture & agri-food industry exported over $92.8 billion in food products as well as globally in 2022.
Today’s draw is the third Express Entry draw of the week. On September 27, 500 applicants with a minimum CRS of 472 were invited from the French-speaking proficiency category.
On September 26, 3000 applicants were invited in an all-program draw with a minimum CRS of 504.
Summary Of Express Entry Draws Results Since June 2023
| Date | Program | Number Of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| September 28 | Agriculture & Agri-Food Professions | 600 | 354 |
| September 27 | French Language Proficiency | 500 | 472 |
| September 26 | All-Program | 3,000 | 504 |
| September 20 | Transport Professions | 1,000 | 435 |
| September 19 | All-Program | 3,200 | 531 |
| Aug 15 | All-Program | 4,300 | 496 |
| Aug 3 | Trade Professions | 1,500 | 388 |
| Aug 2 | French-Language Proficiency | 800 | 435 |
| Aug 1 | All-Program | 2,000 | 517 |
| July 12 | French-Language Proficiency | 3,800 | 375 |
| July 11 | All-Program | 800 | 505 |
| July 7 | French-Language Proficiency | 2,300 | 439 |
| July 6 | Healthcare Professions | 1,500 | 463 |
| July 5 | STEM Professions | 500 | 486 |
| July 4 | All-Program | 700 | 511 |
| June 28 | Healthcare Professions | 500 | 476 |
| June 27 | All-Program | 4,300 | 486 |
| June 8 | All-Program | 4,800 | 486 |
What Is Category-Based Selection?
This year, IRCC declared that it would begin holding some Express Entry Draws for applicants depending on one specific attribute in May instead of their overall CRS score.
The introduction of categories was expected to occur this year following a change to IRPA in 2022, which gives the immigration minister the authority to select Express Entry applicants who are likely to help Canada meet its mandate to strengthen the nation’s economy & promote the French language outside of Quebec.
In addition, six new categories were created for in-demand professions & newcomers with strong French language capabilities. The five occupation-based categories are:
- Healthcare
- STEM professions
- Transport
- Trades
- Agri-food/ Agriculture
Since the first category-based draw for healthcare workers, IRCC has held in each of these categories except for Agri-food & Agriculture. The highest number of category-based ITAs have been issued to applicants with strong abilities in French.
Moreover, those who wish to immigrate to Canada via category-based selection should be in the Express Entry pool & meet a minimum CRS score.
What Is Express Entry?
Express Entry is used by the federal government for three economic immigration programs, i.e., CEC, FSTP, & FSWP.
Each of these programs uses CRS to evaluate & rank applicants according to particular human capital factors, like work experience, profession, education, age, language capabilities, etc.
Eligibility for Express Entry depends on the program. For instance, the FSWP & FSTP programs have different minimum CLB requirements. Moreover, while FSTP & FSWP require a minimum amount of settlement funds, the CEC does not need applicants to have them.