IRCC invites 1,000 French speakers in latest Express Entry draw

In the most recent Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) extended invitations to 1,000 candidates who have demonstrated proficiency in French. These invitations, known as ITAs (Invitations to Apply), were part of a targeted effort to address the need for French-speaking professionals in Canada.

Candidates who received an ITA were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 446. This draw is the second of its kind this month, highlighting the federal government’s ongoing commitment to balancing immigration across the country.

The recent draw follows a particularly active summer for IRCC, which saw a record number of Express Entry draws. In July alone, there were nine draws, setting a new benchmark for the number of draws conducted in a single month since the system's inception in 2015. The previous Express Entry draw before this one, held on September 9, invited 911 candidates who were part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

IRCC has recently adopted a pattern of holding multiple draws every other week, typically including at least one for PNP candidates. This approach aligns with the department's goal to provide more opportunities for temporary residents in Canada to transition to permanent residency, as well as to manage the influx of temporary residents.

The current draw on September 13 is part of a broader strategy by IRCC to address immigration pressures in Quebec and Ontario. The government aims to spread the responsibility of accommodating asylum seekers and other immigrants more evenly across the provinces. This strategy is reflected in the variety of categories targeted by recent draws.

The Express Entry system manages three primary economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a critical component of this system, assigning points based on factors like language ability, work experience, education, and age. Higher scores increase the chances of receiving an ITA.

Candidates who receive a nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) receive an additional 600 CRS points, making it almost certain they will receive an ITA in a subsequent draw. This enhanced nomination is a key way for candidates to boost their chances of immigrating to Canada.

Since 2023, IRCC has also implemented category-based draws to target candidates with specific skills and qualifications. These categories include healthcare occupations, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professions, trades occupations, transport occupations, agriculture and agri-food occupations, and French-language proficiency. These targeted draws aim to address particular labor market needs and demographic demands.

The latest draw, which focused on French language proficiency, underscores the importance of bilingualism in Canada’s immigration strategy. As the labor market and demographic trends evolve, IRCC reviews and adjusts these categories to better meet the country’s needs.