IRCC Issues 6,300 Invitations in Latest Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 6,300 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. This draw, held on July 17, 2024, required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 515. This is the lowest score of the year for a non-category-based selection draw and is also lower than the last CEC-only draw held on May 31, which required a minimum CRS score of 522.

Table of Contents

1. Express Entry Draw Details
2. Summary of 2024 Express Entry Draws
3. Understanding Express Entry
4. What is Category-Based Selection?
5. Conclusion
6. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
7. About Education Planner

Express Entry Draw Details

In July 2024 alone, IRCC issued a total of 17,361 ITAs over six separate draws. Here’s a brief look at some recent draws:

• July 17: 6,300 ITAs for CEC candidates, minimum CRS 515.
• July 16: 1,391 ITAs in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-only draw, minimum CRS 670.
• July 8: 3,200 ITAs in a category-based draw for French proficiency, minimum CRS 420.

CRS scores for PNP-only Express Entry draws tend to be higher because candidates nominated for the PNP automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points. For instance, an Express Entry candidate with a score of 300 who is successfully nominated will have an overall CRS score of 900.

Summary of 2024 Express Entry Draws

Understanding Express Entry:

Express Entry is an application management system for three economic immigration programs in Canada:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

These programs use the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate immigration candidates based on human capital factors such as occupation, age, education, language ability, and work experience. Each factor receives a score, and the total creates a candidate’s CRS score. The system, introduced in 2015, helps IRCC speed up processing time for successful applicants, with a published service standard of six months.

What is Category-Based Selection?

Category-based selection was launched in 2023 to further target Express Entry candidates most likely to help Canada fill urgent workforce gaps or strengthen demographics. IRCC introduced six categories:

1. Healthcare occupations
2. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
3. Trades occupations (e.g., carpenters, plumbers, contractors)
4. Transport occupations
5. Agriculture and agri-food occupations
6. French-language proficiency

Draw for these categories are not program-specific, and permanent resident applicants must be in the Express Entry application pool to be eligible.

Conclusion

The latest Express Entry draw by IRCC Newhighlights the dynamic nature of Canada’s immigration system. With significant invitations issued for Canadian Experience Class candidates and continuous draws for various categories, IRCC is strategically addressing labor market needs and enhancing the country's demographic strength. Understanding these changes is crucial for prospective immigrants aiming for permanent residency in Canada. Staying informed and prepared can significantly improve the chances of success in the Express Entry process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the minimum CRS score for the latest Express Entry draw?

Ans: The minimum Ans. CRS score for the latest Canadian Experience Class draw was 515. Sometimes scores differ from low to high.

Q2. How many ITAs were issued in the latest draw?

Ans: IRCC issued 6,300 ITAs in the latest draw for Canadian Experience Class candidates.

Q3. What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)?

Ans: CRS is a points-based system used to evaluate Express Entry candidates based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language ability etc. The more your CRS score is, the more chances of you being selected.

Q4. What is category-based selection?

Ans: Category-based selection targets Express Entry candidates likely to fill urgent workforce gaps or strengthen demographics in specific sectors. In this way the country can hire foreign labor workers to kill labor shortages.

Q5. How does a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) affect CRS scores?

Ans: Candidates nominated for PNP receive an additional 600 CRS points, significantly boosting their overall score. For example if someone points is 300 and he got nominated by Province then he will get 600 points extra and his total CRS will be 900.