Canada invites 4,250 candidates in latest all-program Express Entry draw

Canada’s most recent all-program Express Entry draw was held on October 12, 2022. It was the eighth all-program draw since they resumed on July 6.

IRCC issued invitations to 4,250 candidates with minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 500. Candidates were eligible to receive invitations from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), all programs that operate under the Express Entry system.

Express Entry all-program draws were paused for over 18 months starting in December 2020. During the pause, only candidates from the CEC or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were issued invitations to apply (ITAs). The draws were paused because of a backlog in applications caused by COVID-19 related travel restrictions. In September 2021, IRCC also paused draws for the CEC.

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Today’s draw is a continuation of lower CRS scores. By lowering the CRS score, it increases the number of candidates who are eligible to receive ITAs through Express Entry. This has been the trend since draws resumed on July 6. The score for that draw was 557 and for the first five draws, decreased by eight or nine points each time. The two most recent draws on September 14 and 28 saw smaller decreases of six points.

New Immigration Levels Plan expected soon

IRCC looks to hit its target of some 432,000 new permanent residents as part of the Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024. Each year IRCC releases a new plan year that outlines the number of immigrants Canada hopes to welcome over the coming three years, and further breaks it down into the class of immigration and their programs. For 2022, the Immigration Levels Plan targets 55,900 new permanent residents through Express Entry. So far, between January and August 31, Canada has admitted just over 28,000 new permanent residents through Express Entry programs. A new Immigration Levels Plan is expected to be announced by November 1 this year.

Physicians are now able to apply for Express Entry

Canada has also removed some of the barriers that prevent physicians already living and working in Canada as temporary residents to apply for Express Entry programs.

Physicians were not eligible because, most often, Canada’s medical system works on a “fee-for-service” model, that is different than a traditional employer/ employee relationship. This means, in a technical sense, physicians are considered self-employed. Self-employed work experience gained within Canada is not eligible to be included as part of an Express Entry application.

Being self-employed on its own does not render a candidate ineligible. If a candidate has gained at least one year of work experience abroad, or as an employee in Canada, they may still be eligible for an Express Entry program.

Changes coming in Express Entry

The exception for physicians is one of the first changes to Express Entry that can be expected to continue into 2023. Bill C-19 received Royal Assent in Parliament in June, and will give IRCC more authority to target Express Entry candidates based on specific work experience, education, or language abilities, rather than the current system of issuing ITAs to a wide range of candidates solely on their CRS scores.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the Express Entry pool are already eligible for at least one of these programs.

Express Entry uses a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidates’ profiles. The top-scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residency.

After the candidate applies, an IRCC officer reviews the application and decides if they are approved. The officer will ask for biometrics and may set up an interview or request more documents. Once this is complete, if approved, the candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen.