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Canada invited a record number of candidates through Express Entry in the third quarter of 2020. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) issued a total of 28450 Invitations to Apply in the third quarter, the highest in any quarter since the Express Entry system came into existence in 2015. In total, the Express Entry has issued 78350 invitations so far this year.
In the second quarter of 2020, the total number of ITAs issued was 27300, the highest since Q4 2018. Federal Skilled Worker Program candidates had been completely left out in the second quarter, when the pattern of Express Entry draws changed owing to the impact of coronavirus pandemic. In the second quarter, the general pattern of Express Entry draws was alternate draws that invited Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program(PNP) candidates. However, after a gap, the FSWP candidates were included in the draw held on July 8th. In the third quarter since September 2, IRCC has been conducting all-program draws that do not discriminate against any immigration program type.
Four different types of Express Entry draws were held in August. An all-program draw was held on August 5th, followed by a Federal Skilled Trades draw on August 6th. On August 19th and 20th, Express Entry draws went back to the previous pattern of exclusive draws for Provincial Nominee Program and Canadian Experience Class candidates. Three draws held in September invited 4200 candidates each, one of the highest number of invitations to be issued.
Provincial Nominee Programs in Q3 2020
The Provincial Nominee Programs also remained active during the third quarter of 2020. The provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island conducted PNP draws and invited many candidates to apply for provincial nomination. The Express Entry candidates who are nominated by a province will receive and additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 600 that would guarantee them an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent Express Entry draw. Provincial Nominee Programs give a chance to those candidates whose CRS score is low as well as those do not have an Express Entry profile to apply for Canada PR.
The high number of invitations issued in the third quarter shows that the coronavirus pandemic has not affected the number of immigration candidates being invited by Canada. Further, it shows that Canada remains committed to its immigration targets set for 2020.
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