IRCC Invites 3,750 Candidates in Third Express Entry Draw of the Week

IRCC Invites 3,750 Candidates in Third Express Entry Draw of the Week

In a noteworthy development, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in the third Express Entry draw of the week. This draw highlights IRCC’s dynamic approach to meeting Canada’s labor market needs and managing its immigration system.

Healthcare Occupations Draw

On July 5, IRCC conducted a category-based selection draw specifically for healthcare occupations, issuing 3,750 ITAs. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 445 to be considered. This draw reflects the Canadian government’s priority to address the country’s healthcare workforce needs by inviting skilled professionals from around the world.

Recent Draws Recap

This healthcare-specific draw followed two other significant draws earlier in the week:

  1. July 4, 2024: A category-based selection draw for 1,800 candidates in trade occupations.
  2. July 2, 2024: A draw exclusively for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), issuing 920 ITAs to those with a minimum CRS score of 739.

With these three draws combined, the total number of ITAs issued this week reaches 6,470, the highest number of ITAs issued in a single week since April.

Trends in Program-Specific Draws

The recent surge in program-specific draws, which began earlier this year, highlights IRCC’s strategic approach to immigration. Since May 30, IRCC has conducted four program-specific draws, three of which focused on PNP candidates. These targeted draws are designed to meet specific labor market needs and support Canada’s economic goals.

Program-Specific vs. Category-Based Draws

Program-specific draws consider candidates from specific Express Entry programs such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). In contrast, category-based selection draws, introduced in May 2023, allow IRCC to target candidates with in-demand skills or attributes, irrespective of their CRS scores.

Supporting Temporary Residents

The recent emphasis on program-specific and category-based draws aligns with IRCC’s efforts to stabilize the high levels of temporary residents in Canada. By offering more pathways to permanent residency (PR), IRCC aims to help temporary residents, such as those on work or study permits, transition to PR status. This strategy not only meets the immigration targets but also reduces the number of temporary residents in Canada.

Meeting Immigration Targets

The focus on candidates currently residing in Canada or with Canadian experience ensures that IRCC can meet its yearly target for “Federal High Skilled Workers” (Express Entry) as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan. This approach leverages the existing pool of temporary residents, who are often well-integrated into Canadian society and the labor market.

Summary of Express Entry Draw Results in 2024

Below is a summary of the Express Entry draw results so far in 2024:

Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
July 16 Provincial Nominee Program 1,391 670
July 8 French proficiency 3,200 420
July 5 Healthcare occupations 3,750 445
July 4 Trade occupations 1,800 436
July 2 Provincial Nominee Program 920 739
June 19 Provincial Nominee Program 1,499 663
May 31 Canadian Experience Class 3,000 522
May 30 Provincial Nominee Program 2,985 676
April 24 French proficiency 1,400 410
April 23 General 2,095 529
April 11 STEM occupations 4,500 491
April 10 General 1,280 549
March 26 French language proficiency 1,500 388
March 25 General 1,980 524
March 13 Transport occupations 975 430
March 12 General 2,850 525
February 29 French language proficiency 2,500 336
February 28 General 1,470 534
February 16 Agriculture and agri-food 150 437
February 14 Healthcare occupations 3,500 422
February 13 General 1,490 535
February 1 French language proficiency 7,000 365
January 31 General 730 541
January 23 General 1,040 543
January 10 General 1,510 546

Understanding Express Entry

The Express Entry application management system, introduced in 2015, aims to attract and process applications from candidates with in-demand skills. It oversees the FSWP, FSTP, and CEC programs. Candidates are assessed based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which considers factors such as age, work experience, education, language ability, and occupation. Higher CRS scores increase the likelihood of receiving an ITA.

What is Category-Based Selection?

Category-based selection draws, introduced in 2023, enable IRCC to invite candidates with specific skills or attributes needed in Canada’s workforce. The six categories for 2024 include:

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

These draws focus on specific skills, often resulting in lower CRS scores compared to general draws. Stay tuned with Swift Immigration Solution for more updates as we continue to unravel the latest news of Canada’s Immigration Policies and provide you with the tools you need for a successful immigration journey.