The thirteenth Express Entry draw occurred this year, wherein over 4,800 ITAs were issued, i.e., Invitations to Apply. To qualify for this draw, candidates required a minimum CRS score of 488. 

This was an all-program draw that took place on April 26. In an all-program draw, applicants from all three programs are managed under the Express Entry management system. The three programs are CEC, i.e., Canadian Experience Class; FSWP, i.e., Federal Skilled Worker Program; and FSTP, i.e., Federal Skilled Trades Program. 

This Express Entry draw follows the recent draw that took place on May 10. Herein 589 applicants received ITAs in a PNP-specific draw. Interestingly, in a PNP draw, applicants are considered if they are in the Express Entry pool & have been nominated by a Canadian province.

 

Express Entry Draw in 2023

The Express Entry draw of 2023 isn’t able to establish a robust pattern concerning the candidates invited, along with the type and frequency of draws.

The draws that took place in January observed a pre-pandemic practice of being two weeks apart & inviting candidates from all programs. However, this practice wholly changed in the month of February when IRCC organized 4 program-specific draws between February & March. 

Moreover, three draws occurred in February, along with one draw each week in March. As a result, over 21,000 applicants were invited throughout March. Thus, this was the second-highest number of ITAs issued in a month!. April resumed the pre-pandemic draw pattern, which was held every two weeks. 

 

In the latter part of this year, IRCC will begin holding draws that target Express Entry applicants on certain attributes instead of a CRS score. All this was possible when Bill C-19 received Royal Accent in June 2022. 

This Bill offered the authority to Canada’s immigration minister to invite applicants who can support Canada in its economic objectives. As a result, the pressure on specific sectors will ease a bit. 

Express Entry draws are wholly dependent upon the discretion of the immigration minister & IRCC. According to the IRPA, i.e., Immigration & Refugee Protection Act, there is no rule to say when the draws occur, in which program, and with how many candidates. In simpler terms, IRCC cannot follow a pattern or hold a draw if the minister does not deem it necessary. 

 

Express Entry: What Is It? 

The application management system of Express Entry overlooks 3 Canadian immigration programs, i.e., CEC, FSWP, and FSTP. 

Applicants, upon visiting Canada are evaluated in these three programs using CRS, i.e., the Comprehensive Ranking System. The system assigns scores and ranks the applicants based on language ability, education, work experience, occupation, age, etc. Applicants who receive the highest scores are likely to get an ITA to become permanent inhabitants of the country. 

According to the Immigration Level Plan 2023-25, Canada is expected to welcome 82,000 newcomers via Express Entry draw by the end of this year.