Express Entry: IRCC Invites 4,300 Candidates, Introduces New Categories In Latest Draw

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently held its fifteenth Express Entry draw of the year 2023. In this all-program draw, a total of 4,300 candidates were invited to apply for immigration to Canada.

To qualify for consideration, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486.

Continuing the trend of frequent draws, this was the second draw to take place this month. The previous draw on June 8 also invited candidates in an all-program draw, with 4,800 candidates receiving invitations. Similar to the current draw, the minimum CRS cut-off score was set at 486.

82 Occupations Added for Category-Based Selection

In an effort to broaden the scope of Express Entry draws, IRCC announced on May 31 that it would introduce six new categories for eligible candidates. These categories include

• Healthcare
• Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Professions Trades, such as Carpenters, Plumbers and Contractors
• Transport Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Individuals with strong French-speaking abilities.

Candidates falling within these categories and possessing the required work or language experience will receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the upcoming draws. Among the eligible occupations, healthcare professions constitute nearly half, followed by a significant presence of STEM occupations.

It’s important to note that candidates with work experience in the listed occupations must also be part of the Express Entry pool to be eligible for an ITA. While the CRS score remains a crucial factor, those with higher scores have a greater likelihood of receiving an ITA.

Selection of Categories and Reporting

IRCC collaborated with provinces, territories, and other stakeholders to determine the six new categories for Express Entry draws. The department intends to include the results and effectiveness of these draws in its annual report to parliament.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the categories may be subject to change in subsequent years.

Understanding Express Entry

Express Entry serves as an application management system for Canada’s prominent economic immigration programs, namely the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Eligible candidates for these programs are required to create an online profile with IRCC, which is then evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The CRS assesses various factors such as work experience, language proficiency, education, occupation, age, and other human capital elements. Candidates with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive an ITA in the subsequent draws.

Once an ITA is issued, candidates must submit their final applications for permanent residency to IRCC within 60 days. Immigration officers then review these applications and determine whether the candidates will become permanent residents of Canada.