In the inaugural Express Entry draw of 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended invitations to 1,510 candidates in a general draw. The department set a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 546 for eligibility.
This all-program draw considers candidates from various Express Entry managed programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), without targeting specific occupations or human capital attributes.The December 18th, 2023 all-program draw invited 1,325 candidates with a minimum CRS of 524. The subsequent draws focused on candidates meeting specific criteria for category-based selection, such as trades occupations (minimum CRS of 425), transport occupations (minimum CRS of 435), and agriculture and agri-food occupations (minimum CRS of 386).Throughout December, a total of seven Express Entry draws occurred, marking the highest number in a single month for all of 2023. This surge followed a six-week pause from October 26 until the December 6 draw, though IRCC did not provide a specific reason for the interruption.Looking ahead to 2024, the Immigration Levels Plan indicates that Canada aims to admit approximate 110,000 new permanent residents through Express Entry, a significant increase from the 82,880 targeted in 2023. However, achieving this goal doesn’t guarantee admission for all candidates by the year’s end, as the processing time for Express Entry applications for permanent residency is set at six months.
The image 1 below breaks down how IRCC plans to meet its goals for 2024 immigration levels plan under the economic category. PNP and Express Entry having the highest level of immigrants. (Source canada.ca)
The Express Entry pool as of March 11th, 2024 still remains very “heavy” at CRS scores between 451 to 500; 401 to 450 and 351 to 400. Each having more than 50,000 candidates. (Source canada.ca)
Many candidates question “why are the selective CRS scores so high?” This table give us some what of an answer. If Express Entry target is at approximate 110,000 immigrants, and the government were to drop scores, for example to 451, they would have filed their quota for Express Entry in just one drop. But will that allow them to fulful the areas that are in demand? Probably not. We are not saying this is the only reason, but it does pull some weight, and which leads us to the recently introduce Catergory Based Draws that allows the government to target the career fields that Canada is most in need of. Remember, Express Entry is an ECONOMIC program.Express Entry operates as an application management system overseeing the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Utilizing the Comprehensive Ranking System, candidates receive scores based on various attributes, including language proficiency, education, work experience, occupation, and age. The system aims to rank candidates against each other, with those attaining the highest CRS scores having better chances of receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in subsequent draws. Additionally, category-based selection draws introduced in May 2023 focus on specific attributes, including healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, and French-language proficiency.
Are you stuck on the pool?
Book a time to dicuss your case and look at the options you may have to increase your chances in the pool or other immigration programs you maybe interested in.
