Saskatchewan issues new invitations to Express Entry, Occupation In-Demand candidates

Saskatchewan has issued 743 new invitations to candidates in its Occupation In-Demand and Express Entry immigration sub-categories in draws held December 6.

The bulk of these invitations — 532 — went to Occupation In-Demand candidates.

The remaining 211 invitations went to candidates in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program's Express Entry sub-category, which is linked to the federal Express Entry system and allows Saskatchewan to nominate eligible candidates for permanent residence.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry ranking score, which effectively assures an invitation from the Government of Canada to apply for permanent residence.

To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment.

Like federal Express Entry system, Saskatchewan uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to select candidates through these sub-categories.

Under this system, interested candidates create a profile that includes information on their education, work experience, proficiency in English or French and other factors.

Profiles are then given a score based on the information provided and those with 60 points or more are entered into the pool of eligible candidates for either the Express Entry or Occupation In-Demand sub-category.

Candidates are ranked in the pool of eligible candidates based on their score and a set number of the highest-ranked are issued invitations through regular draws.

The minimum score for both sub-categories was 61.

The December 6 invitation rounds were the sixth for both sub-categories since Saskatchewan adopted its EOI system in July. A total of 4,080 invitations have been issued since then, with 1,763 going to Express Entry candidates and 2,317 issued to Occupation In-Demand candidates.

In order to be eligible for the Saskatchewan's Express Entry sub-category, Express Entry candidates must have work experience in a high-skilled occupation found on the province’s In-Demand Occupations List, among other criteria.

A job offer from a Saskatchewan employer is not required.

This also applies to the Occupation In-Demand sub-category, which does not require an Express Entry profile in order to be eligible.

To find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration program, fill out a free assessment.

Photo: River and Sky art installation in Saskatoon. Credit: City of Saskatoon.