The new Express Entry

Rounds of invitations resume for all Express Entry programs

The month of July saw the first two all-program draws under Express Entry since the beginning of the pandemic. For 18 months, no candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs were invited, and since September 2021, Express Entry rounds of invitations were exclusively held for provincial nominees. On July 6, a total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates with a minimum CRS score of 557 were invited to apply for permanent residence (PR). This was the highest score since 2015 when the Express Entry system was implemented. The second draw on July 20 saw a slight increase in invitations for a total of 1,750 invitations which dropped the required score to 542. 
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has since confirmed that both rounds of invitations included candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) streams. IRCC generally prioritizes invitations under the CEC which explains why no Federal Skilled Trades (FST) candidates were invited to apply. Candidates who are eligible for more than one program, like FST and CEC, will receive an invitation under CEC. CEC candidates are not required to show settlement funds when submitting their PR application so it is advantageous for candidates who are eligible for more than one program to apply through CEC. FST candidates that were not also eligible for CEC wouldn not have reached the cut-off for the two draws held in July.

Both July draws saw less candidates invited at once than previous all-programs invitation rounds which typically averaged between 3,000 and 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Minimum CRS scores are expected to drop as more ITAs are issued. IRCC has announced a return to regular processing times for these new Express Entry applications. This means that approximately 80% of applications are typically expected to be finalized within six months.

Good news for international students

Another update to the Express Entry system acknowledges the reality of student life over the past two years. During the pandemic, international students both inside and outside of Canada have been forced to attend school online. While distance learning is not normally considered under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry, IRCC is now granting Canadian educational credential points for candidates who studied online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

According to the new update, Express Entry candidates who earned a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate online are now eligible to earn points for their Canadian education. Those who completed any part of their study program between March 2020 and August 2022 can get CRS points even if they completed the program entirely

  • through distance learning;
  • from outside Canada; or
  • through part-time studies.

Candidates are asked by IRCC to update their Express Entry profile by August 2 to ensure the changes are reflected in the next Express Entry draw for a chance to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Express Entry draws are typically held every two weeks and the next round of invitations is expected on August 3, 2022.

Future changes to the Express Entry system

In the future, IRCC is planning to start holding targeted Express Entry draws for candidates based on regional labour market demands. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained that Express Entry invitation rounds could be based on a candidate’s occupation, language, or level of education rather than their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score alone. The department is preparing the technical implementation of these targeted rounds of invitations for the first quarter of 2023.

Express Entry remains one of Canada's most popular immigration pathways. Contact us to determine your eligibility and find the best program for you!

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