In the second quarter of 2021, Canada has invited nearly 44,591 candidates through the Express Entry Immigration System. IRCC has broken the record of the first quarter in which the ministry issued 44,124 invitations.
All invited candidates are now eligible to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence.
As of today, IRCC has already issued 88,715 ITAs this year.
Major draws held, CRS score reduced in Q2
Since the beginning of 2021, IRCC has been conducting program-specific Express Entry draws only. The government of Canada has invited candidates belonging to Provincial Nominee Program and Canadian Experience Class.
In the express entry draws, IRCC is giving priority to those candidates who are already staying in the country. In May this year, 95 percent of the CEC candidates and 30 percent of PNP candidates were living in Canada. Hence, the ministry is issuing more invitations to CEC candidates. In fact, the IRCC invited over 25,000 CEC candidates in a single express entry invitation round held in February.
In the second quarter, IRCC increased the number of draws as compared to the first quarter. It has held 14 express entry draws in Q2 and 10 in Q1.
Canada held greater draws in the second quarter as it issued several invitations in the CEC-specific draws. It invited nearly 6,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates in the CEC-Express Entry Draw held in April. In addition, the Canadian government invited 1,000 PNP candidates for the first time in Q2.
The size of the express entry draws remained larger in the second quarter. And the Comprehensive Ranking System score has been reduced in each EE draw. The CRS score requirement for CEC candidates has been going down since May. So, this means that Canada is committed to welcoming several new permanent residents in 2021.
Express Entry: Looking ahead into the future
Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, more than half of the invitations went to Federal Skilled Worker candidates. However, the COVID-19 disruptions changed the entire immigration scenario in Canada.
Presently, IRCC is not conducting regular express entry draws. Because of the coronavirus-related travel restrictions, Canada shifted its entire focus on admitting immigration candidates present in the country. Thus, the government of Canada is not issuing invitations to candidates under the Federal Skilled Trades and Federal Skilled Worker program.
Over 95 percent of FSWP candidates are not living in Canada. Since there is no requirement for Canadian work experience for FSWP candidates, they are overseas and not staying in Canada.
In 2020, IRCC conducted program-specific express entry draws in the first half of the year. However, the country resumed inviting FSW and FST candidates during the express entry draws held in the second half of the year.
Now, Canada has lifted quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers. And the federal government has also allowed people with Confirmation of Permanent Residence to enter Canada.
Besides, the government of Canada is planning to vaccinate 75 percent of its citizens by the end of July. Thus, to conclude, we can assume that IRCC will soon start conducting regular express entry draws as well.
