Canada invites 3,750 applicants to latest Express Entry draw

Canada held its most recent Express Entry draw for all programs on September 28, 2022. This was the seventh draw for all programs since they resumed on July 6.

IRCC issued invitations to 3,750 applicants with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 504. As this was a draw for all programs, invitations were sent to eligible applicants from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), all programs that operate under the Express Entry system.

This draw is the third in a row where there has been an increase of 500 invitations issued from the previous draw. The September 14 draw invited 3,250 applicants and the August 31 draw invited 2,750. This is also the lowest minimum CRS since all program draws resumed. CRS scores declined in increments starting at 557 on July 6. In the first five draws, scores dropped by eight or nine points for each draw. The September 14 draw saw a decrease of just six points and this week’s draw was the same.

Draws for all Express Entry programs have been suspended for more than 18 months from December 2020 due to a backlog of applications resulting in travel restrictions related to COVID-19. During the break, only CEC or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates received invitations to apply. In September 2021, IRCC also suspended draws for the CEC.

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The backlog is decreasing

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently released data indicating that the backlog for all applications fell from 2.7 million to 2.6 between July and August 31. This includes a drop in the number of applications for Express entry awaiting processing. . At the end of July, there were 51,616 people in the Express Entry inventory. As of August 31, that number had fallen to 40,180, a decrease of more than 10,000 requests in about six weeks.

More than half of the applications currently in the inventory are from PCP applicants. This is notable because several PCPs are aligned with Express Entry programs, known as Enhanced Appointments. According to IRCC, the backlog of applications under Enhanced PCPs has decreased. However, there has been an increase in PCP applications in which applicants apply directly to a provincial government (basic PCP).

Express Entry Inventory

So far in 2022, Canada has issued invitations to 28,039 immigrants through Express Entry programs. This is part of the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan in which Canada is targeting some 432,000 new immigrants by the end of this year. So far, it appears that Canada is on track to achieve this goal as more than 300,000 newcomers, across all industries, have been welcomed.

Job vacancies at record high

Canada’s lofty immigration targets, including those for Express Entry programs, stem from several factors, including a vacancy rate that currently stands at 5.7%. There is also a notable shortage of skilled workers that will worsen as the largest demographic group of working-age Canadians, baby boomers, reach the retirement age of 65 over the next decade. .

In response to the labor shortage, Express Entry will change in 2023. IRCC will soon have the authority to issue ITAs to candidates with specific work experience, education or language skills who are well placed to support the Canada’s economy and workforce. This change will impact the importance of a high CRS for applicants, as there may be targeted draws that weigh more heavily on other factors.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the Express Entry pool are already eligible for at least one of these programs.

Express Entry uses a point-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidate profiles. Top-scoring applicants receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residency.

Once the candidate has applied, an IRCC officer reviews the application and makes a decision. The officer will request biometrics and may arrange an interview or request more documents. Once this is completed, if approved, the candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to Canadian citizenship.

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