Canada has conducted a new Express Entry draw, issuing 183 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Provincial Nominee program (PNP) candidates.
The March 17 draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 682 points, 57 lower than the previous PNP draw. It was the fifth PNP draw of 2021 and eighth overall this year.
The draw is the second consecutive PNP draw after the previous record-breaking draw on February 13, which saw 27,332 ITAs issued to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates and a minimum CRS of 75.
IRCC has now issued 38,840 ITAs through eight draws to start 2021, including five PNP draws totalling 2,132 ITAs, and three CEC draws, issuing 36,708 ITAs.
When the coronavirus crisis began in Canada in March 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) switched to draws focused on PNP and CEC candidates, given they were more likely to already be in the country.
However, between August and December 2020, IRCC resumed regular all-program draws.
Canada set a new record for total ITAs in 2020 at 107,350, despite the year being marred by coronavirus. The previous record for ITAs in a calendar year was the 89,800 issued in 2018.
The latest draw saw the tie-breaking rule implemented on March 4, 2021 at 12.56 pm EST. If more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before this date and time received invitations.
This was the eighth round of invitations under Express Entry in 2021 and 178th overall.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on January 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and parts of the Provincial Nomination Programs.
Stakeholders expect to see continued high numbers of invitations issued as Canada builds towards its target of more than 400,000 new permanent residents in 2021, with a majority of draws featuring CRS scores around 470.
With the coronavirus crisis striking in March, Canada switch to program-specific draws aimed at Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates. This had the affect of significantly increasing the number of individual draws beyond previous years.
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- CRS Score Not High Enough? What Are My Canada Immigration Options?
- A Look Ahead: Canada Immigration In 2020
- Canada Immigration – 2019 Year In Review
- Express Entry 6-Month Review: Is Canada On Target to Break 2018 Invitation Record?
- Express Entry Year-End Report 2018: Record Numbers Show Interest In Canada Immigration
- Express Entry First Quarter Review: Canada Makes Strong Start to 2019
- Canada Immigration: 2018 Year in Review
- The 9-Month Review: Canada Express Entry Sees Busiest Quarter Of 2018 With 22,800 ITAs Issued
- First Half 2018 Express Entry Results Shows Consistency in Required CRS Scores
- 2018 Express Entry First Quarter Review
- Canada Immigration: 2017 Year in Review
- 2016 Express Entry Year-End report
What Can Employers Do to Recruit Foreign Workers?
Employers are encouraged to consider securing an LMIA or nomination under provincial nomination programs (PNPs) to ensure long-term retention of employees.
At immigration.ca we provide Canadian employers with unparalleled immigration legal services and recruitment of foreign nationals through our in-house SkilledWorker, skilledworker.com and skilledworker.com. We bring qualified candidates to Canada in the shortest time possible. Employers in a wide range of industries can directly benefit from our unique position as one of Canada’s leading immigration firms in the industry, with a strong online presence, to meet both their recruitment and immigration requirements.
Interested employers wishing to seek our assistance are invited to contact us here for further information.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
It is expected that the majority of applicants to be issued ITAs in 2021 will require a CRS score around 470 points, enabling a significant number of applicants to receive permanent admission to Canada without a job offer or nomination under a provincial immigration program. However, securing an approved offer of employment is highly recommended. Watch our Facebook livestream video on how to find jobs in Canada from overseas.
We offer all our individual clients with excellent employment services as well as a 60-minute Live, Face-to-Face LinkedIn tutorial on how to find jobs in all areas of Canada.
Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free online evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.
Resources:
- Immigration.ca News Articles – A daily news source outlining the latest developments in immigration, employment and the economy with commentaries by Attorney Colin Singer.
- At skilledworker.com we are dedicated to developing long-term strategic alliances with client companies and candidates alike. We strictly adhere to our guiding principles of honesty, integrity and confidentiality.
Colin R. Singer is immigration counsel for www.immigration.ca and Managing Partner of SkilledWorker, skilledworker.com, as well as skilledworker.com. He is one of Canada’s foremost senior corporate immigration attorneys. Colin is internationally recognized as an experienced and recommended authority on Canadian immigration and foreign recruitment. In addition to being a licensed human resources professional, he is a licensed Canadian lawyer in good standing with the Quebec Law Society for more than 25 years and is authorized by the Canadian government in all immigration matters.
