IRCC held Canada’s category-based draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations on September 27. A total of 600 invitations were issued in this draw. To be qualified, applicants need a minimum of 354 CRS scores.
Targeting applicants with experience in the agriculture and agri-food industry is crucial, according to IRCC, which includes jobs like agricultural service providers, farm supervisors, and retail and wholesale butchers. This strategy is thought to be essential for luring the competent individuals required across Canada.
In 2022, the agriculture and agri-food sector in Canada exported considerable amounts of food and agricultural products to other countries, totaling almost $92.8 billion.
The third draw of the week took place with the most recent Express Entry draw, which took place today. On September 27, 500 applicants who had at least a 472 on the CRS were invited from the category of French-speaking proficiency. With a minimum CRS score of 504, 3,000 applicants from diverse programs were invited to the draw on September 26.
3000 applicants received ITAs in all-program Express Entry draw
In the latest Express Entry draw, 3000 applicants were invited by IRCC. This all-program draw required a minimum CRS score of 504 to receive an ITA.
IRCC continued its Express Entry selection process after a series of draws during the week of September 18. Through an all-program draw, IRCC issued ITA to 3,200 candidates on September 19.
In keeping with this pattern, on September 20, the IRCC conducted the first-ever category-based draw for Express Entry applicants. It focuses especially on those in the transport employment sector. One thousand applicants were selected at random to submit an Express Entry application for immigration.
A recap of Express Entry draw outcomes from June 2023 onward
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| Sept 28 | Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 600 | 354 |
| Sept 27 | French language proficiency | 500 | 472 |
| Sept 26 | All-program | 3,000 | 504 |
| Sept 20 | Transport occupations | 1,000 | 435 |
| Sept 19 | All-program | 3,200 | 531 |
| Aug 15 | All-program | 4,300 | 496 |
| Aug 3 | Trade occupations | 1,500 | 388 |
| Aug 2 | French language proficiency | 800 | 435 |
| Aug 1 | All-program | 2,000 | 517 |
| July 12 | French language proficiency | 3,800 | 375 |
| July 11 | All-program | 800 | 505 |
| July 7 | French language proficiency | 2,300 | 439 |
| July 6 | Healthcare occupations | 1,500 | 463 |
| July 5 | STEM occupations | 500 | 486 |
| July 4 | All-program | 700 | 511 |
| June 28 | Healthcare occupations | 500 | 476 |
| June 27 | All-program | 4,300 | 486 |
| June 8 | All-program | 4,800 | 486 |
About Express Entry category-based selection draw
IRCC made a big announcement about the Express Entry system in May of this year. They declared that in some draws, a new strategy would be used, putting more emphasis on particular traits rather than a CRS score as a whole.
In response to an amendment made to the IRPA in 2022, this change was predicted. This legal change bestowed upon the immigration minister the authority to select Express Entry applicants based on their potential to bolster Canada’s economy. Simultaneously, it empowered the minister to promote the use of French outside of Quebec, aligning with the nation’s overarching objectives.
Six different categories were developed to cater to high-demand professions and people who are fluent in French in order to achieve these goals. These groups cover a range of industries:
- Transport
- Agriculture and agri-food
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professions
- Healthcare
- Trades
Beginning on June 28, there was a substantial change to the Express Entry system marked by the introduction of category-based drawings, with the first draw concentrating on healthcare professionals. Since then, draws have been held by IRCC in each of these defined categories, spanning a range of professional fields. The category for agriculture and agri-food has been the only one to deviate from this tendency.
This switch to category-based draws has produced some notable trends, one of which is the clear advantage given to applicants with a strong command of French. The significant issuing of ITA under category-based draws, amounting to a noteworthy total of 6,900 ITAs, supports this desire.
About Express Entry
Express Entry is a specialized application management system that caters to individuals who are keen on pursuing economic immigration opportunities in Canada. Moreover, this system is designed to streamline and facilitate the immigration process for candidates who qualify for the FSWP, the FSTP, and the CEC.
Each of the aforementioned immigration programs uses the CRS as their principal evaluation methodology within the Express Entry system. Based on particular human capital variables, such as job experience, occupation, educational background, age, and language ability, this approach assesses and ranks candidates. Each of these particular qualities has a set point value assigned to it. And candidates accrue points in accordance with their qualifications. Consequently, in the subsequent Express Entry draws conducted by Canadian authorities, candidates who possess the highest cumulative CRS scores are more likely to be issued ITAs. This scoring system plays a pivotal role in determining which candidates are selected for immigration.
It is important to stress that Express Entry eligibility depends on the specific immigration program. For instance, there are different minimum standards for CLB proficiency for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the FSTP. Furthermore, while the CEC program does not need applicants to have these financial resources. Both the FSTP and FSWP programs require a minimum amount of settlement funds as a prerequisite. These distinctions highlight how crucial it is to comprehend the program-specific intricacies while determining one’s eligibility for Express Entry.
