Latest Express Entry Draw: Canada Invited 1,510 Candidates for PR on January 10, 2024

In the first-ever Express Entry Draw of 2024, 1,510 invitations were issued for applying for permanent residency (PR) in a general round of invitations that includes all programs.

The invitations were extended to candidates who achieved a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 546 or higher.

Compared to the Express Entry draw on December 18, 2023, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score has gone up by 4 points in the latest draw.

Moreover, the number of invitations has only seen a slight increase of 185 compared to the previous general draw with similar criteria.

Express Entry draws that encompass all programs include profiles from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP).

Additionally, profiles holding a provincial nomination within any of the mentioned categories are also considered in these draws.

IRCC Updated Processing Time for Express Entry Programs

As of January 9, the processing times for all three Express Entry programs by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have been updated:

• Canadian Experience Class: 5 months
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: 5 months
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: Not Enough Data (information not available)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry: 8 months

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a Canadian immigration system designed to manage the application process for skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada. It offers a shared platform for both federal and provincial governments. Moreover, it facilitates employers to choose prospective candidates out of the Express Entry pool. This Pool consists of such candidates, who stand eligible for any one of the mentioned below “Federal Economic Immigration Programs”.

1. The Federal Skilled Trades Program
2. The Federal Skilled Worker Program
3. Canadian Experience Class

The candidates may receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration. However, such candidates must hurry to complete their application form and submit it along with the required documents. The time for applying is 60 days and it takes six months from the date of receiving the application to complete the process.

The IRCC introduced a fresh set of selection criteria on May 31, 2023, placing a stronger emphasis on distinct professional and demographic attributes of candidates, going beyond their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. As a result, six new categories have emerged for Express Entry candidates:

1. Healthcare
2. STEM Professions (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
3. Trades
4. Transport
5. Agriculture and Agri-Food