Canada’s most recent all-show express-entry draw was held on October 12, 2022. It was the eighth all-show draw since they resumed on July 6.
IRCC sent invitations to 4,250 candidates with a minimum score of 500 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Candidates were eligible to receive invitations from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), all programs that operate under the Express Entry system.
Lotteries for all Express Entry programs were paused for more than 18 months beginning in December 2020. During the pause, only CEC or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The drawings were stopped due to a backlog of applications caused by travel restrictions related to COVID-19. In September 2021, IRCC also stopped the draws for CEC.
Today’s draw is a continuation of the lowest CRS scores. By lowering the CRS score, you increase the number of candidates who are eligible to receive ITA through Express Entry. This has been the trend since the draws resumed on July 6. The score for that draw was 557 and for the first five draws, it dropped by eight or nine points each time. The two most recent draws on September 14 and 28 saw smaller declines of six points.
New Immigration Levels Plan expected soon
IRCC seeks to reach its goal of some 432,000 new permanent residents as part of the Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024. Every year, the IRCC publishes a new annual plan that outlines the number of immigrants Canada expects to receive in the next three years and further breaks it down by immigration class and its programs.
By 2022, the Immigration Levels Plan targets 55,900 new permanent residents through Express Entry. So far, between January and August 31, Canada has admitted just over 28,000 new permanent residents through Express Entry programs. A new Immigration Levels Plan is expected to be announced on November 1 this year.
Physicians are now able to apply for Express Entry
Canada has also removed some of the barriers that prevent doctors who already live and work in Canada as temporary residents from applying for Express Entry programs.
Physicians were not eligible because, in most cases, Canada’s medical system operates on a “fee-for-service” model, which is different from the traditional employer-employee relationship. This means that, in a technical sense, doctors are considered autonomous. Self-employment experience gained within Canada is not eligible to be included as part of an Express Entry application.
Being self-employed alone does not make a candidate ineligible. If a candidate has obtained at least one year of work experience abroad, or as an employee in Canada, they may still be eligible for an Express Entry program.
Changes coming in Express Entry
The exception for doctors is one of the first changes to Express Entry that is expected to continue until 2023. Bill C-19 received royal assent in Parliament in June and will give IRCC more authority to identify candidates for Express Entry based on your specific work experience. , education or language skills, instead of the current system of issuing ITAs to a wide range of candidates solely based on their CRS scores.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the Express Entry pool are already eligible for at least one of these programs.
Express Entry uses a point-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidate profiles. The highest scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residence.
After the candidate submits the application, an IRCC officer reviews the application and decides whether to approve it. The officer will request biometrics and may schedule an interview or request more documents. Once this is complete, if approved, the candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen.
