By admin (October 11, 2024)
IRCC Latest Express Entry Draw Invites 1,000 Candidates Skilled in French Language
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a new round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw. This draw saw the issuance of 1,000 ITAs specifically for candidates proficient in French. Applicants were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 444 to be eligible.
A Series of Draws This Week
This latest draw is the third of the week. Earlier, IRCC invited 1,613 candidates who had Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations, with a higher CRS score requirement of 743. Additionally, on October 9, 500 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) were invited, needing a minimum score of 539.
Prior to this week, the last draw took place on September 19, where 4,000 candidates from the CEC were invited. These applicants needed a CRS score of at least 509, reflecting a slight increase from the prior CEC draw on August 27, which had a minimum score of 507.
Changes in Selection Approach
Recently, IRCC has decreased the number of category-based selection draws, focusing mainly on French language proficiency since a healthcare-focused draw on July 5. In contrast, CEC draws have increased in frequency, with IRCC granting 21,800 ITAs to CEC candidates since July. This change aligns with IRCC aim to prioritize domestic draws and decrease the number of temporary residents, assisting in meeting their annual permanent resident goals.
The current draw marks the third one in October. In comparison, last year, IRCC conducted four draws during the month, inviting a total of 9,173 candidates.
Express Entry Draws List of 2024
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| October 9 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 539 |
| October 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,613 | 743 |
| September 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 509 |
| September 13 | French Language Proficiency | 1,000 | 446 |
| September 9 | Provincial Nominee Program | 911 | 732 |
| August 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,300 | 507 |
| August 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,121 | 694 |
| August 15 | French Language Proficiency | 2,000 | 394 |
| August 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,200 | 509 |
| August 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 763 | 690 |
| July 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 5,000 | 510 |
| July 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 964 | 686 |
| July 18 | French language proficiency | 1,800 | 400 |
| July 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,300 | 515 |
| July 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,391 | 670 |
| July 8 | French proficiency | 3,200 | 420 |
| July 5 | Healthcare occupations | 3,750 | 445 |
| July 4 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 436 |
| July 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 920 | 739 |
| June 19 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,499 | 663 |
| May 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 522 |
| May 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 2,985 | 676 |
| April 24 | French proficiency | 1,400 | 410 |
| April 23 | General | 2,095 | 529 |
| April 11 | STEM occupations | 4,500 | 491 |
| April 10 | General | 1,280 | 549 |
| March 26 | French language proficiency | 1,500 | 388 |
| March 25 | General | 1,980 | 524 |
| March 13 | Transport occupations | 975 | 430 |
| March 12 | General | 2,850 | 525 |
| February 29 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 336 |
| February 28 | General | 1,470 | 534 |
| February 16 | Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 150 | 437 |
| February 14 | Healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 |
| February 13 | General | 1,490 | 535 |
| February 1 | French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
| January 31 | General | 730 | 541 |
| January 23 | General | 1,040 | 543 |
| January 10 | General | 1,510 | 546 |
What is Express Entry?
Launched in 2015, Express Entry is a management system designed to help IRCC select candidates for economic immigration, addressing critical labor shortages. It oversees applications for three primary programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates are assessed through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates essential factors such as work experience, age, language skills, education, and occupation.
Points are allocated based on these criteria, with additional points available for candidates immigrating with a spouse or partner, having a sibling in Canada, or holding Canadian work experience or education. A higher CRS score greatly enhances the chances of receiving an ITA in future draws.
Understanding Category-Based Selection
Category-based selection draws generally feature lower CRS scores than other types of draws. These draws, introduced in May 2023, aim to help IRCC select candidates who can fill urgent labor or demographic needs. The six established categories include:
- Healthcare
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions
- Skilled Trades
- Transport
- Agriculture and Agri-Food
- French Language Proficiency
These categories were chosen after comprehensive consultations with various stakeholders and analysis of labor market trends. This approach also considers IRCC’s goal of admitting 6% of newcomers into French-speaking minority communities outside of Quebec. While CRS cut-off scores in category-based draws tend to be lower, candidates still need to be in the Express Entry pool, and having a competitive CRS score is advantageous for success.