Express Entry #175: 654 ITAs are issued in the new draw

Express Entry #175: 654 ITAs are issued in the new draw

Canada held its 175th Express Entry draw on January 20. A total of 654 ITA are issued.

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in this round was 720. Today’s draw CRS score was 21 points lower than that of the previous PNP-specific round of invitations held on January 20, 2021.

A total of 654 candidates are invited by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in this draw and they needed a minimum score of 720.

Canada’s main three categories are managed under the Express Entry System are: –

• Federal Skilled Worker Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Class
• Canadian Experience Class

In the Express Entry system, eligible candidates for the FSWC, FSTC, CEC programs, and some Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates are scored based on the Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS.

Candidates are ranked in the pool based on the CRS that considers 4 main factors: –

1. Age
2. Education
3. Skilled work experience
4. Proficiency in English or French

Express Entry is a two step process. In step one, candidates who are eligible under at least one of the three aforementioned skilled worker programs upload their profile onto IRCC’s website. They then get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on their human capital such as their age, education, language skills, and work experience.

In step two, IRCC holds Express Entry draws approximately every two weeks and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates with the highest CRS scores. If a candidate receives an ITA, they can go ahead and submit a permanent residence application to IRCC.

Candidates can receive an additional 600 CRS points if they receive an invitation through an Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This effectively guarantees they will successfully receive an ITA for permanent residence.

The PNP is the second main way Canada welcomes skilled worker immigrants. Most of Canada’s provinces and territories operate their own immigrant selection systems through the PNP to welcome skilled newcomers who can help address their local labour market needs. Candidates who meet the selection criteria of an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream are eligible to obtain the additional 600 CRS points assuming they receive a provincial nomination invitation.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) applied a tie break rule in today’s draw; candidates had to have submitted their profiles before August 14, 2020, at 6:51:00 UTC. This means that all candidates with CRS scores above 720 , as well as those with scores of 720 who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before this date and time, received an ITA.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was a record-breaking year for Express Entry. By the end, Canada had issued 108,350 ITAs to Express Entry candidates. This year is expected to be even bigger, as IRCC has raised immigration targets to make up for the reduced number of new permanent residents admitted to Canada last year.

While a job offer is not required in order to be eligible under the Express Entry system, the CRS does award additional points to candidates who have one.