IRCC invites 5,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class in Express Entry draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a new round of invitations in the Express Entry system, targeting 5,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 510.

This latest draw is part of a particularly busy month for Express Entry, with IRCC having already issued a total of 25,125 invitations in July alone. The draws this month have alternated between program-specific invitations and category-based selections.

In July, invitations were issued in various categories, including 5,000 for candidates with French language skills across two draws, 3,750 for healthcare professionals on July 5, and 1,800 for trade occupation candidates on July 4. The Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have also seen significant activity, with 11,300 ITAs issued to CEC candidates and 3,275 to PNP candidates by the end of July.

The resurgence of program-specific draws, which resumed on May 30 after a year-long hiatus, reflects IRCC's commitment to focusing more on domestic candidates. This approach aligns with the department's broader goal, announced earlier this year, to better balance the number of temporary residents with the targets for permanent residents, as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan.

In March, IRCC set a new objective to reduce and stabilize the number of temporary residents while meeting permanent resident targets. This shift in strategy aims to streamline the immigration process and address Canada's evolving needs for skilled workers.

Here’s a summary of the Express Entry draw results for 2024:

• July 31: 5,000 ITAs for Canadian Experience Class candidates, minimum CRS of 510.
• July 30: 964 ITAs for Provincial Nominee Program, minimum CRS of 686.
• July 18: 1,800 ITAs for candidates with French language proficiency, minimum CRS of 400.
• July 17: 6,300 ITAs for Canadian Experience Class, minimum CRS of 515.
• July 16: 1,391 ITAs for Provincial Nominee Program, minimum CRS of 670.
• July 8: 3,200 ITAs for French proficiency, minimum CRS of 420.
• July 5: 3,750 ITAs for healthcare occupations, minimum CRS of 445.
• July 4: 1,800 ITAs for trade occupations, minimum CRS of 436.
• July 2: 920 ITAs for Provincial Nominee Program, minimum CRS of 739.

Express Entry is the system used to manage applications for key Canadian immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The system ranks candidates based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language skills, with higher scores increasing the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply.

Category-based selection draws, introduced in May 2023, target specific skills and attributes Canada needs, including healthcare, STEM fields, trades, transport, agriculture, and French-language proficiency. These categories will continue throughout 2024, with potential adjustments for the following year.