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Continuing its nomination streak of alternate program-specific Express Entry draws, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new draw on April 01.
The Express Entry system is nothing but an application database that manages profiles qualifying for three federal immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). In addition to these, specific Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may also nominate candidates directly from the same database.
April 01 Express Entry nomination draws issued Invitations To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR) to candidates with prior work experience in Canada, i.e. for Canadian Experience Class candidates only.
Typically, international students who are retained after their graduation in Canada qualify for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under the Express Entry system. Certain other foreign talents who migrate to Canada on temporary work permits may also qualify for permanent residence under the CEC program. All such candidates need at least one year of full-time work experience in a skilled occupation.
181th Express Entry Draw- at a glance
- Constant Draw Size: About 5,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canada PR and thus the draw size remained the same as that of the previous CEC-specific draw size. Also, the number of ITAs that IRCC issued so far in 2021 far exceeds last year’s levels. Canada has issued 49,124 invitations to Express Entry candidates in 2021 compared to 22,600 ITAs on this date last year.
- Decreased Cut-off Score: Each Express Entry profile is evaluated and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It considers core human capital factors such as age, language proficiency, work experience, education.
The total score is given out of 1200 points.
Invited candidates needed to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and have a score of at least 432 to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), 17 points less than the previous CEC-only draw.
- Tie-Break Rule: IRCC employs its tie-break rule when two or more candidates end up with the same CRS scores. April 01 draws included candidates who had the minimum score of 432 and had their Express Entry profile registered before February 16, 2021, at 09:51:22 UTC
IRCC Focusses Those Within Canada For PR
Even though Canada has still kept its borders closed for non-essential travel, it is allowing immigration for economic reasons. Besides, Canada also has an ambitious target of welcoming 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. It aims to invite up to 108,000 candidates to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system alone.
IRCC has been holding alternate PNP-specific & CEC-specific Express Entry draws since the start of the new year 2021. It also includes a historic Express Entry draws which resulted in 27,332 ITAs for Canada PR.
However, it is not to suggest candidates qualifying for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) to lose their hopes. In fact, before the pandemic, FSWP was prolific in welcoming foreign skilled workers to apply for permanent residence.
“Today marked the third-lowest CRS cut-off for a CEC draw during the pandemic,” said David Cohen, Senior Attorney of Campbell Cohen. “Only the historic February 13, 2021 draw and June 25, 2020, CEC draw have had lower CRS requirements over the past year.”
You may also take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration.
Read our previous blog to know more about the Express Entry system.
Contact CanApprove today to kick-start your immigration plans to Canada.
