Saskatchewan holds another major draw for Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand candidates

Saskatchewan held another major selection round October 24 for immigration candidates in its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories, issuing 922 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

The invitations were the latest in a series of high-invitation selection rounds for these popular Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) sub-categories, neither of which requires a job offer in Saskatchewan or Canadian work experience in order to be eligible.

The SINP's Express Entry sub-category is linked to the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for Canada's three Federal High Skilled immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

The Occupation In-Demand sub-category is open to immigration candidates who do not have an Express Entry profile.

Find out if you are eligible for the Express Entry pool

9 draws since September 25 and nearly 4,000 invitations

The SINP has now held five selection rounds through its Express Entry sub-category and four for Occupation In-Demand candidates since September 25. A total of 3,846 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination have been issued to candidates in both sub-categories over the course of these nine invitation rounds.

The draws follow the SINP's adoption of a new approach to the occupations that are considered eligible under the two sub-categories, which both require at least one year of work experience in an occupation that is considered in-demand in Saskatchewan and is related to their field of study, among other criteria.

The new approach saw the SINP introduce an Excluded Occupations List that dramatically expanded the number of eligible occupations from 19 to more than 200.

The five draws held since then have issued invitations to candidates with work experience in a large number of occupations and the 130 professions included in the October 24 draw was the widest range yet.

Occupations included in this latest draw spanned managerial, professional and technical/skilled trades professions.

Expression of Interest

In order to be considered for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan through either sub-category, candidates must register an Expression of Interest, or EOI, with Saskatchewan.

Eligible candidates for both sub-categories are awarded a score out of 100 based on the SINP's International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid, which considers factors such as age, education, skilled work experience, proficiency in English or French and connections to Saskatchewan.

The highest-ranked candidates are issued an invitation to apply through regular draws conducted by the SINP.

Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand candidates invited on October 24 had a minimum score of 69.

Express Entry candidates who apply for and receive a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs