Express Entry System 2019 Analysis: A Hit or a Miss?

Introduced in January 2015, the Canadian Express Entry System is the most sought after migration framework. It is also reputed as one of the best Immigration systems globally. Express Entry allows candidates to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence through the following three economy class programs:

Express Entry System functions with the help of the federal government, provincial government, and employers. One of the best characteristics of this system is that it works in favour of both candidates and employers; candidates are able to secure a Canadian permanent residence, and employers get skilled workers for the growth of their businesses.

A look into the past:

2018 was a splendid year for the Express Entry program as 89,800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for the permanent residence were given. This figure turned out to be the highest since the launch of Express Entry System. Consequently, the year 2018 has set higher expectations from the Express Entry process.

Performance of Express Entry in 2019:

In 2019, a total of 85,300 skilled foreign workers were invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Clearly, the number of invitations issued is lower than that of 2018. However, this substantial immigration system of Canada still managed to set a record of second-highest invitations issued since its outset in 2015. The Canadian government held a sum of 26 draws in 2019. 24 of them were all-program draws and managed to issue invitations ranging in scale from 3,200 to 3,900.

Draw size decreased in 2019?

The year 2018 witnessed the incremental increase in the draw size with ITAs ranging from 2,750 to 3,900. The same pattern was expected in 2019 as well. However, the draw sizes remained unpredictable throughout the year 2019. In the beginning, 2019 opened up with as many as 3,900 ITAs. Then, the IRCC produced less number of invitations till mid-year. Slowly, in the month of October, the draw size rose significantly with issuing 3,900 ITAs. Finally, the year ended with two invitation rounds of 3,200 ITAs each. So, the invitation rounds of the express entry process remained inconsistent and unpredictable regarding the draw size. The larger draw produced 3,900 invitations while the smaller draw resulted in 3,200 ITAs.

Varying Comprehensive Ranking System Scores:

The Invitations to Apply for a Canadian permanent residence are issued to express entry candidates based on their Comprehensive Ranking System scores. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score awarded to an immigration candidate depends on a number of factors such as age, education, work experience, Canadian certificate of education, and language proficiency. The 24 express entry draws held in 2019 engaged all the Express entry managed programs. The CRS cut-off score for these draws went from a low of 438 to a high of 475. Evidently, the minimum required CRS score is rising each year and thus, the express entry draws have become highly competitive. The minimum required CRS score to receive an ITA is on a higher side when there is a gap of more than two weeks between the two subsequent express entry draws. In 2019, four draws were not held on a bi-weekly schedule and this eventually increased the cut-off score.

Immigration Plan for 2019-2021

In 2018, the Canadian government devised an Immigration plan for 2019-2021. According to this plan, the federal government is set on increasing immigration targets. The IRCC will welcome a large number of new permanent residents through the Express Entry program as well as through the Provincial Nominee Programs. In 2020, The IRCC is expected to hold larger and frequent draws in order to meet the 2020-21 immigration targets for the Express Entry program. Also, for the year 2020, the admission target for new permanent residents is expected to rise to 85,800 through the Express Entry program and to 67,800 through the Provincial Nominee Program. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is constantly working in the direction to increase the country’s immigration levels. It is believed that the intake of new permanent residents in Canada will be more than 3,00,000 by 2021. To conclude, though the draw size remained unpredictable and the Comprehensive Ranking System score varied throughout the year, 2019 still turned heads with a good number of ITAs issued and reduced processing times. And since the federal government is now working ambitiously to increase the number of intakes for permanent residence, it is suggested that the immigration candidates keep themselves updated with the Express Entry draws.