The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) has held yet another Express Entry draw in the third consecutive week, inviting another 7000 immigrants to apply for permanent residence in the country. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System(CRS) score of the invited candidates was 481. This is the lowest CRS score requirement for any all-program Express Entry draw held since December 20, 2020. Compared to the previous draw held on March 23, the CRS score has dropped by 3 points.
Canada Express Entry
Express Entry is one of the most popular, fastest and easiest pathways for immigrants to migrate to Canada. It is an online platform for managing applications for immigration under the three federal economic immigration programs Canada, which are the Federal Skilled Worker Program(FSWP), Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program(FSTP). Under the program, a candidate is assessed on the basis of various human capital factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency etc. and awarded a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Those with the highest scores are invited apply for permanent residence in the Express Entry draws that are conducted regularly.
Earlier, Express Entry draws used to be held every two weeks. But now the pattern has changed. The IRCC has conducted all-program Express Entry draws in the past three consecutive weeks, inviting 7000 candidates each. With the latest draw, the total number candidates invited by the IRCC over the past three weeks have grown into 21000.
Those candidates who have received the invitations may submit the complete application within 60 days. The applications are expected to be processed within six months. If their application is approved, the candidate can move to Canada as a permanent resident.
As per the Immigration Levels Plan of Canada for the year 2023-25, Canada will be welcoming nearly 83000 immigrants via Express Entry this year. In 2024, the target will be 109000 and in 2025, it will be 114000.
Express Entry immigration through PNP
The candidates who have received a provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program(PNP) will have 600 additional CRS score points added to their total score, which will guarantee them an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
Express Entry draws held so far in 2023
Express Entry draw number | Date | CRS cut-off score | Number of Invitations issued |
245 | 29 March 2023 | 481 | 7000 |
244 | 23 March 2023 | 484 | 7000 |
243 | 15 March 2023 | 490 | 7000 |
242 | 2 March 2023 | 748 | 667(PNP-specific) |
241 | 15 February 2023 | 791 | 699(PNP-specific) |
240 | 2 February 2023 | 489 | 3300(FSWP-specific) |
239 | 1 February 2023 | 733 | 893(PNP-specific) |
238 | 18 January 2023 | 490 | 5500 |
237 | 11 January 2023 | 507 | 5500 |
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