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Canada Express Entry issued more number of invitations in the first quarter of 2020 than invitations issued during the same time period in the previous two years. The number of invitations remained high despite the COVID-19 crisis slowing down the operations of the Canada immigration system. Express Entry draws were held as usual in every two weeks in the first quarter, after the first draw was held on January 8.
Even after introducing special measures to control the spread of COVID-19, Canada conducted two Express Entry draws. The one held on March 18 was exclusively for provincial nominees, while the other one held on March 23 targeted Canadian Experience Class candidates.
In a Tweet that appeared on April 1, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) said the draws were still happening and the applications for immigration would still be accepted and processed. However, the applicants who receive invitations in the latest draws will not have their applications processed for at least six months, says the Tweet.
So far, Canada has issued a total of 22600 Express Entry invitations this year. The number of invitations issued during the same period in 2019 was 21200 and in 2018, the number was 17500.
Express Entry in Q1 2020
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, the number of invitations issued through Express Entry grew 25.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020.
In Q1 2020, IRCC conducted a Federal Skilled Trades Program draw in which 500 candidates with minimum CRS score as low as 357 received invitations. The largest Express Entry draw ever also happened in the same quarter. In the draw held on February 19, Canada invited 4500 candidates to apply for permanent residence.
Canada Express Entry
The Express Entry system manages applications for immigration through the three major federal economic immigration programs of Canada–Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. The first step in applying for permanent residence through Express Entry is creating an Express Entry profile with information regarding human capital factors such as age, work experience, education and official language proficiency. After being assessed on the basis of these factors, each profile will be awarded a Comprehensive Ranking System(CRS) score. In the draws that are conducted regularly, highest-scoring candidates receive invitations to apply for permanent residence. Candidates who obtain provincial nomination receive 600 additional CRS points, which guarantee them an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent Express Entry draw.
Express Entry gives a faster and simpler option for candidates to migrate to Canada. Check your eligibility for Express Entry immigration by filling our free online assessment form.
