IRCC has extended invitations to further candidates to apply under the Express Entry system for permanent residency. 1470 invitations were issued in the general Express Entry draw and Applicants needed to achieve a minimum CRS score of 534.
The three draws that preceded today’s take occurred between February 13 and February 16. As well as the IRCC also invited 1,490 candidates having a minimum CRS score of 535 to participate in the second general draw of the month on February 13. Two targeted lotteries were then held for jobs in healthcare, agriculture, and agri-food. Candidates had to have a CRS score of at least 422 and 437 for these draws, respectively.
Overview of the outcomes of Express Entry draws in 2024
- February 28: A general Express Entry draw resulted in 1,470 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 534.
- February 16: A draw specific to agriculture and agri-food occupations issued 150 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 437.
- February 14: In a draw for healthcare occupations, 3,500 ITAs were granted, requiring a minimum CRS of 422.
- February 13: Another general draw on this date yielded 1,490 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 535.
- February 1: A draw focusing on French language proficiency granted 7,000 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 365.
- January 31: A general draw issued 730 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 541.
- January 23: In a general draw on this date, 1,040 ITAs were issued with a minimum CRS of 543.
- January 10: Another general draw resulted in 1,510 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 546.
IRCC affirms that there will be no changes to category-based selection in 2024
The department began sending out invitations for category-based selection rounds in May 2023 to candidates who could demonstrate they met the requirements for one of the six recently established Express Entry draw categories:
- Proficiency in Strong French
- Trades Occupations, including carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Healthcare Occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Professions
- Transport Occupations
- Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations
When the agency first made the statement, it stated that it will evaluate these categories and make any changes it thought appropriate. The IRCC confirmed on February 13 that these classifications will not change in 2024.
Furthermore, these categories were chosen after discussions with IRCC stakeholders, which included employers, settlement services, province and territory governments, and Canadian companies.
To be eligible for consideration, candidates with characteristics that fit into these criteria must be part of the applicant pool. They should be under one of the three Express Entry-managed programs.
An overview of Express Entry
Express Entry functions as a management tool intended to expedite the immigration application processing procedure. Candidates seeking economic immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class are the main topic of this article.
Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System to rank candidates according to a range of human capital criteria, such as age, job experience, education, language ability, and vocation. Also, the candidates who score the highest are given priority and have the best chance of being invited to apply for the status of permanent residence.
600 more CRS points are available to applicants who are nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program. This essentially guarantees that they will be chosen in a future drawing for an ITA.
Moreover, to be eligible for Canadian permanent residency, Express Entry candidates must apply to IRCC one last time within sixty days of obtaining an ITA.
Projected Number of ITAs through Express Entry for the Current Year
The IRCC has published the Immigration Levels Plan, which states that the agency intends to use the Express Entry system to admit 110,770 new Permanent Residents (PRs) in 2024. In the previous year, the government targeted 82,880 arrivals for Canadian Permanent Residency using the same system. The current goal represents a significant increase compared to that. Going forward, it is projected that this number will stabilize around 117,500 in 2025 and 2026.
Moreover, Canada’s allotment for new permanent residents under the Provincial Nominee Program is expected to increase to 120,000 starting in 2025. With this change, provincial gateways will now serve as Canada’s main gateway for the overall reception of new economic immigrants.
Seek professional assistance from Immigtoronto for a hassle-free immigration process. Our skilled consultants are focused on guiding potential immigrants. If you have inquiries, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]
