Canada Express Entry Draw: Record ITAs, Low CRS cut-off

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the second Express Entry draw of 2023 on Friday, issuing a total of 5,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. This round saw a significant drop in the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which had increased in the previous draw.

One notable aspect of this draw was that no specific program was specified, meaning that candidates were invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) under the Express Entry system.

Drop in CRS Score

The CRS score for this round of the Express Entry draw was 490, a significant decrease of 17 points from 507 in the previous draw.

This marks a consistent trend of decreasing CRS scores since Express Entry draws resumed in July 2022. In November, the minimum CRS score was at a relatively low 491, however, the subsequent draw saw a notable spike to 507 points, likely due to the extended period of time between draws.

Over 11,000 ITAs in Two Weeks

Express Entry draws typically occur every two weeks, usually on Wednesdays. IRCC has not provided an explanation for the pause in draws over this period, but the fact that draws have taken place in successive weeks to start 2023 indicates IRCC's desire to attract more skilled immigrants to Canada this year.

Express Entry 2023: Changes to Come

In the coming months, the Express Entry draw is likely to see some major changes, a few of which were already introduced in the second half of 2022.

In November 2022, IRCC implemented the new TEER system, an updated version of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system that determines a candidate's profession and skill level in the Express Entry pool.

The new TEER system has given a fresh perspective to NOC 2016's skill levels, revamping them from 0-E and introducing a new set of 5 comparable TEERS. This new system also made 16 new occupations eligible to apply for economic immigration programs managed by Express Entry, such as the FSWP or CEC, as per a report.

Overall, this draw of Canada's Express Entry system saw a record number of ITAs issued in just two weeks, and a significant drop in the CRS cut-off score. With changes to the NOC and TEER systems, and more draws to come, it's an exciting time for skilled workers looking to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry program.For more information you can contact us at 8595338595 or [email protected].