In its third Express Entry draw in July 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,750 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw for healthcare occupations. This Draw is notable due to its emphasis on healthcare occupations and the significant number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued.
The latest draw explicitly targets candidates with experience and qualifications in healthcare occupations. Candidates need a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 445 to be eligible.
Through this Express Entry Draw, IRCC focuses on meeting the demand for skilled professionals in Canada's healthcare sector.
On July 4, IRCC conducted a category-based selection draw inviting 1,800 candidates in trade occupations. Earlier this week, on July 2, another draw exclusively for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates received 920 invitations granted, with 739 as the minimum CRS score.
Since April, IRCC has issued the greatest number of ITAs, a significant milestone in Canadian Immigration. As per the records, 6,470 ITAs were granted in the first week of July 2024 itself.
From May 30, 2024, IRCC conducted four program-specific draws in a very short span of time. Out of four, three of the draws targeted PNP candidates, contributing to the recent rise in ITAs issued.
IRCC is using Program-specific draws as its strategy for managing the temporary residents, who are on the rise at alarming levels.
These draws focus on candidates in the Express Entry pool who have applied through programs such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
In a PNP-only draw, candidates are eligible for consideration only if they have received a nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream of a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This process, known as 'enhanced nomination', ensures that candidates have met the specific criteria of the PNP and have been nominated for their skills and experience. This type of draw had not been conducted recently until the introduction of category-based selection draws in May 2023.
Since January, IRCC has offered temporary residents—those on work or study permits or visitor visas—more opportunities to transition to permanent residency.
Many temporary residents who already reside in Canada or have previous experience living there often choose to apply for PR through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Similarly, candidates nominated in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) also opt for this pathway.
This strategy enables IRCC to meet its annual targets for "Federal High Skilled Workers" (Express Entry) outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan.
Under its Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026, the country aims to welcome 500,000 new immigrants annually in the coming years, marking the highest levels in its history. Canada's immigration goals include strengthening the economy, reuniting families, and providing support to refugees. All these efforts simultaneously decrease the number of temporary residents in Canada.
Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
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 |
Introduced in 2015, Express Entry is the application management system for skilled worker immigration to Canada. It is the fastest and most popular migration path, where skilled workers are chosen based on their experience and ability to contribute to Canada's economy.
It oversees applications from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks applicants, and selected applicants can apply for permanent residency based on their CRS score.
The CRS in Express Entry assesses candidates based on age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and job offer. The scores for each criterion are calculated to get an overall CRS score. The CRS scores influence the likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in future draws. The higher the CRS scores, the better the chances of getting an ITA for permanent residency.
There are different types of Express Entry:
Canada is dedicated to welcoming in-demand professionals to various parts of the country. IRCC introduced category-based selection to reduce the labour shortage across Canada and attract more French-speaking professionals to French minority communities outside Quebec.
Candidates can receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the following six categories:
Unlike program-specific draws, these draws are not restricted to any specific immigration program. Often, they require a lower CRS score when compared to General draws, increasing the likelihood of receiving an ITA and, subsequently, Canadian PR.
ImmiLaw Global is ready to provide comprehensive assistance in navigating the various immigration paths available for skilled workers in Canada Our experienced immigration lawyers can assist with everything from creating Express Entry profiles to selecting Provincial Nominee Programs, obtaining work permits, and assembling complete visa packages tailored to individual needs.
Contact us today to kickstart your immigration journey.
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