By admin (May 21, 2024)

3500 Candidates Were Invited In the First Express Entry Draw of April

3500 candidates were invited in the first Express Entry draw of April by IRCC. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 486 for this all-program draw.

If candidates are considered from all the streams, i.e., Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the draw is considered as an all-program draw. In the three consecutive Express Entry draws those which occurred earlier than this draw, 7,000 Invitations Were Sent to Candidates in the Largest All-Program Draw Ever. Since December 2020, the lowest CRS cut-off score was also seen by the most recent draw held on March 29, which was 481.  

Most Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have already been issued in 2023, in comparison to the whole of 2022. Last November, the most ambitious Immigration Levels Plan by IRCC to date has been introduced. For permanent residents across all lines of business, immigration targets over three years were outlined by the plan. Through Express Entry, 82,880 candidates will obtain the status of permanent residents this year, and the target of 114,000 is set by the year 2025.  

Unprecedented Month for Express Entry

March 2023 can be considered as an unprecedented month in the history of Express Entry. Over four draws, 21,667 ITAs were issued by IRCC. The second-highest number of ITAs were issued in March since the launch of Express Entry in January 2015. A record of inviting the most candidates in a month was set in February 2021 when 27,332 candidates were invited by IRCC in a single draw targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

This recent draw followed 3 of the second-largest Express Entry draws to ever occur. CRS cut-off score was 490 for the first of these consecutive draws which were held on 15 March when 7,000 candidates were invited. The pattern of the draws was very unusual, as the next draw took place just a week later on March 23 but Express Entry draws typically occur every two weeks on Wednesdays. 7000 Candidates Were Invited in the Eighth Express Entry Draw of 2023 with a cut-off score of 484 which was even lower.

Another 7,000 candidates were invited in the next draw on March 29 which adds up to 21,000 candidates invited in 3 consecutive weeks. In a draw targeting only Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, the remaining 667 candidates were invited on March 1.

Extension of Post Graduate Work Permit is Available As of April 6

The large all-program draws may be profitable for candidates in the CEC, many of whom have been voicing growing concerns as their Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) is about to expire in a very short period.

PGWP holders are eligible to apply for an 18-month open work permit extension, as announced by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently. To assist PGWP holders, it has been made effective since April 6. 

If the PGWP of any candidate expires before receiving an ITA then he/she is no longer eligible to apply for permanent residence. Obtaining a visitor card or finding an alternative work permit can be time-consuming and expensive.

Due to a 6-week unplanned draw pause followed by 4 program-specific draws, few CEC candidates received ITAs between November 2022 and February 2023 that did not target CEC candidates.