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When Canada resumes the all-program Express Entry draws in July, the number of invitations will be similar to pre-pandemic draws, predict news reports. It means the draw sizes are likely to become consistent with the average number of invitations issued before the outbreak of the pandemic and travel as well as public health restrictions that followed. Before March 2020, the number of invitations in Express Entry draws held in that year ranged between 3400 and 4500. In 2019, all-program draws ranged between 3200 and 3900.
A huge backlog of immigration applications was one of the reasons why the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) paused all-program draws. Pandemic-related obstacles also caused delays in the processing of applications.
Express Entry draws during pandemic
Before the pandemic, the IRCC used to conduct all- program Express Entry draws in every two weeks. However, after the borders were closed in 2020, the IRCC started conducting program-specific draws. In the first few months, the draws targeted only Provincial Nominee Program(PNP) and Canadian Experience Class(CEC) candidates. CEC candidates were targeted because they were less likely to be affected by travel restrictions. Similarly, PNP candidates were invited as part of the federal government’s commitment for supporting provincial immigration goals. IRCC stopped inviting Federal Skilled Worker Program candidates because a large percentage of them were likely to be residing overseas and it would have been difficult for them to travel to Canada when border restrictions were in place.
However, the backlog of applications caused Canada stop inviting CEC candidates. However, since the border restrictions were eased, IRCC has taken some serious efforts to reduce the Express Entry backlog. These have enabled Canada to resume all-program Express Entry draws in July.
Canada to welcome more immigrants
As per the Immigration Levels Plan of Canada for 2022-24, the country will be welcoming 432000 new immigrants in 2022. Though the target for Express Entry immigration is comparatively less this year, the country will be welcoming as many as 111500 Express Entry immigrants in 2024.
So, if you wish to migrate to Canada as a skilled worker, the first thing that you must do is to create and Express Entry profile. The profile might also help you to get a provincial nomination, which would speed up the process of migrating to Canada. Create your Express Entry profile with the help of Canada migration experts in CanApprove and enhance your chances of obtaining a Canada PR visa. Contact us now!
