The province of Saskatchewan invited 769 Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence in draws held September 25.

The draws were the first conducted since the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) dramatically expanded the number of high-skilled occupations that are eligible under its popular Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories last week, from 19 to 218.

Those invited in the September 25 draws represented 100 occupations, the SINP reported. Among those included were civil and chemical engineers, medical radiation technologists, psychologists and information systems analysts and consultants.

One year of work experience in an eligible occupation related to the candidate’s field of study is required in order to be considered for a provincial nomination through either sub-category, among other criteria.

A job offer in Saskatchewan and Canadian work experience are not required.

The September 25 draws were among the largest held by Saskatchewan since it switched its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories to an Expression of Interest (EOI) system in July 2018.

A total of 365 invitations went to Occupation In-Demand candidates and another 404 invitations were issued through the SINP’s Express Entry sub-category, which is open to eligible candidates with a profile in the federal Express Entry system.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada’s main Economic Class immigration categories — the  Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 points towards their ranking score and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

In order to be considered for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan, Express Entry candidates must register a separate Expression of Interest with the SINP.

Under the SINP’s EOI system, eligible candidates are issued a score based on factors such as their education, work experience, proficiency in English or French and connections to Saskatchewan.

Candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply for a provincial nomination through regular draws from the SINP’s EOI pool.

The minimum scores in the SINP’s September 25 draws were 70 for Express Entry sub-category candidates and 79 for Occupation In-Demand candidates.

For more information on the high-skilled occupations that are now eligible under the SINP’s Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand categories, visit this page.

* Photo courtesy of Tourism Saskatoon/Carey Shaw Photography

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