According to an internal brief memo, when all programs Express Entry draws will start again in July the number of invitations through express entry could be similar to pre-pandemic.
Even though the approximate number of invitations proceed in every round was expurgated. As per the IRCC memo, the size of the draw would correspond with the average number of invitations issued before the pandemic.
Prior to March 18, all event draws in 2020 were between 3,400 and 4,500. In 2019, all event draws ranged from 3,200 to 3,900.
The March 28 memorandum states that by maintaining the pause till the end of June, the IRCC will be able to process fresh applications in six months. The current list of Express Entry applications is sufficient to meet the 2022 entry targets for IRCC. However, meeting the 2023 goals would require restarting the invitational round between July and September.
Express Entry affected by the pandemic
Prior to the pandemic, all candidates who applied for permanent residence through every program of Express Entry are invited by IRCC roughly every two weeks. Event draws were rarely held.
IRCC changed its strategies to hold event-specific draws when the border closed in March. Only PNP and CEC candidates were invited to apply in the starting few months of the pandemic.
IRCC continued to hold draws for CEC and PNP candidates to complete its record-breaking immigration goal with travel restrictions. Those CEC candidates who are already in Canada were less affected by the travel restrictions and IRCC continues holding Express Entry draws for them. PNP candidates were invited to apply due to the allegiance of the federal government to complete the provincial migration goals. Due to a large number of FSWP candidates in overseas Express Entry for FSWP was paused and they were not able to move to Canada due to travel restrictions.
IRCC resumed all program draws in July 2020 involving FSWP candidates, but stopped after December 2020 and has not conducted draws inviting FSWP candidates since then.
In May 2021, the government launched the Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR2PR) program in an effort to accept 90,000 new permanent residents already in Canada. This effort would lead to the transfer of IRCC resources to the new priority, which ultimately helped increase the backlog in immigration applications for Express Entry-managed programs.
In September 2021, IRCC Paused inviting CEC candidates because it is unable to process 80% of applications in the service standard managed in six months. Withholding Invitation to Application (ITA) allows IRCC resources to focus on processing the existing backlog. According to the information backlogs of Express Entry decreased by50,000 between September and February.
Express Entry draws for FSWP candidates and CEC candidates will start again in July announced by the Immigration Minister of Canada. By this time, IRCC’s standard of service for new Express Entry applicants is expected to resume in six months.
