In March 2023, Express Entry achieved four major milestones, including setting a record for the highest number of Invitations (ITAs) issued in a single all-program draw since the Application Management System became operational in 2015 is included.
Express Entry is an application management system operated by the federal government of Canada, used to cumulatively manage immigration applications from three programs – the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). is done for
The enormity of this system is evident through the Immigration Level Plan 2023-2025, which indicates Canada intends to welcome at least 82,000 new immigrants to this country through Express Entry over the next three years.
Comment: The latest Immigration Levels Plan states that Canada is targeting 82,800 Express Entry immigrants in 2023, followed by 109,020 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025.
Towards this goal, Canada’s immigration system experienced several milestones through Express Entry during the month of March. The following will review these important moments.
1. Highest ITA in a month in two years, second-highest all-time
In March, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued its highest number of ITAs in a month since February 2021. A total of 21,667 ITAs were issued in the four draws in the entire month, making this figure the second highest for March 2023. Express Admission Months since the inception of the program eight years ago.
2. Biggest All-Program Draw in Express Entry History
The IRCC last month set a new record for the largest all-program draw in Express Entry history, bettering the record set in January this year. This was achieved on 15 March, when 7,000 candidates were invited to apply for the PR in Canada.
Comment: The previous record was 5,500 ITAs issued in the draw on January 18.
Immigration Canada went on to match this ITA figure in two successful draws as well, meaning that the IRCC issued 7,000 ITAs for three straight weeks.
3. Two weeks, 21,000 ITA
As a product of the above milestone, IRCC issued 21,000 ITAs over a two-week period as the Immigration Department conducted three draws between March 15 and March 29.
Beginning with an initial record-setting draw on March 15 (see above), the IRCC invited 7,000 immigration candidates to apply for the PR of Canada in an all-program draw. With a surprise all-program draw just eight days later, an additional 7,000 candidates received ITAs from the Canadian Immigration Department on March 23. in Canada.
4. Lowest all-program draw Comprehensive Ranking System score in 27 months
Success in the Express Entry system is based on a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This is because only those having CRS score above the cut-off score for a particular draw will receive ITA from IRCC during that round of invitation.
It is therefore worth noting that the CRS scores at the end of March hit their lowest (for all program draws) since December 2020. As of March 29, the cut-off CRS score has dropped to 481 after standing at 484 during the March 23 draw. and 490 on March 15.
Comment: At the end of 2020, the all-program CRS cut-off score was 468 (December 23)
future of express entry
From Express Entry draw, CRS score to number of ITAs, it has always been difficult to predict. This is expected to continue, as there is no standard procedure for when the IRCC should conduct the draw or how many candidates will receive an ITA during a particular round of invitations.
That being said, it is expected that IRCC will start conducting targeted draws at some point in the second quarter of this year. While the exact starting point of these draws remains to be determined, the targeted Express Entry draws will allow IRCC to issue ITAs to immigration candidates based on specific factors such as occupation, educational background, language skills, and more. Canada is expected to get better help from these draws. Allows all provinces and territories to increase the impact of immigration to this country, while addressing specific areas of need in the labor market.