Canada has conducted a first all-program Express Entry draw since the coronavirus crisis took hold in March, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to 3,900 candidates to bring the total for 2020 over 50,000.
The July 8 draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 478, much higher than the most recent Canadian Experience Class draw (431), but comparable to the previous all-program draw on March 4 (471).
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s move away from program-specific draws means Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades candidates were eligible for ITAs for the first time in four months.
IRCC had adopted a policy of targeting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and CEC candidates since COVID-19 travel restrictions were put in place on March 18.
The logic was that candidates in the two categories are more likely to already be in Canada than those coming through other Express Entry-linked programs, meaning they will not be affected by travel restrictions.
Since March 18, Canada has conducted 16 program-specific draws, eight targeting PNP candidates and eight targeting CEC candidates. Those draws saw 27,712 ITAs issued, including 3,648 to PNP candidates and 23,572 to CEC candidates.
Canada has now issued 53,800 ITAs so far in 2020, after issuing a total of 85,300 in 2019. IRCC broke the record for annual Express Entry ITAs in 2018 with 89,800.
Canada’s high-skilled immigration admission target for 2020 is 85,800, up from 81,400 in 2019. However, it is likely that permanent resident admissions will be affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
The latest draw saw the tie-breaking rule implemented on February 11, 2020 at 3.17am UTC, which is February 10, 2020 at 11.17pm 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 22nd round of invitations under Express Entry in 2020 and 155th 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 near 30 draws and more than 80,000 invitations issued in 2020, with a majority of draws featuring CRS scores around 470 to enable Canadian immigration authorities to meet targeted annual immigration levels for 2020.
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Read More
- 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 on-line 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 2020 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 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.
