Canada Resumes All-Program Express Entry Draws Issuing 3900 ITAs on July 8

Here is a big reason to smile as Canada conducted its first all-program Express Entry draws since March 4. 

July 8 marked the resumption of all-Program Express Entry draws by issuing 3900 Invitations To Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in Canada. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 478 to be eligible to receive an ITA in this year’s 22nd invitation round. Typically, CRS score is awarded to Express Entry profiles based on core-human capital factors as age, skilled work experience, education and proficiency in English or French. 

Ever since the travel restrictions were imposed in Canada on March 18, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made minor changes in the conduct of Express Entry draws. Sixteen Express Entry draws were conducted during the current travel restrictions limited only to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canada Experience Class (CEC) candidates. It also seemed convenient since most CEC candidates were already in Canada and least affected by the current travel restrictions. However, few candidates who received ITAs in these draws were also outside of Canada.

Meanwhile, the majority of candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skills Trade Program (FSTP) were left in a catch-22 situation as they were excluded due to the unprecedented travel restrictions. July 8 draw not only brought relief to such candidates but also increased the total number of ITAs issued in 2020 to 53,800.  

Tie-break rule was applied by IRCC with timestamp recording February 11, at 13:08:31 UTC. It effectively means that candidates with a CRS score equal to or above 478 and who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before the selected date and time, were only eligible to receive an ITA in this invitation round.

All-program Express Entry draws in 2020

Candidates are eligible to be considered for immigration programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skills Trade Program (FSTP), in addition to the Canada Experience Class (CEC) program and Express-Entry linked Provincial Nominee Program streams. 

While a candidate need not have a job offer to apply, those having one are awarded additional points under CRS. 

Canada Experience Class-specific Express Entry draws in 2020

Candidates who receive ITA for permanent residence in Canada under the CEC program are required to have prior one-year work experience in Canada.  

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Candidates who apply for Express Entry having a provincial nomination has an inherent advantage. They can seek upto an additional 600 points on their CRS. It shall effectively make them eligible to receive an ITA for permanent residence in Canada.  

Travel restrictions in Canada were recently extended till July 31 by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and it only remains to be seen if it continues beyond. However, Canada has given enough hopes to aspiring immigrants by regularly conducting Express Entry draws, Provincial Nominee Program draws to continue their planning for migration in the near future.

CanApprove wishes to advise all aspirants to utilize this time in improving their skill assessment and language proficiency scores. Stay in touch with our immigration consultants for the latest updates.