Skilled Workers

CRS cut-off score decreases to 459

January was a busy month for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs, particularly those associated with the federal Express Entry system. The two Express Entry draws conducted by the Government of Canada in January were complemented by the opening of five Express Entry-linked Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams over the course of the month.

According to a report published last year by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), Canada needs 182,000 new workers in the Information Technology (IT) sector by 2019. Fortunately for Canadian employers and international workers alike, over the past year Canada’s Express Entry immigration system has helped to address this labour shortage.

The launch of the Express Entry system in January 2015 marked a significant departure from Canada’s previous approach to managing applications to its main Economic Class immigration programs.

Targeted improvements to the Express Entry system are being made on November 19, 2016. Supporting Canada’s Global Skills Strategy, the changes will help better attract some of the best minds in the world, including former international students, experienced professionals and talented workers who will strengthen Canada’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The Express entry immigration selection system continues to grow, giving more hope to applicants who are interested to immigrate to Canada through this program. The latest draw, which took place on January 25, issued invitation to apply for 3,508 candidates in the pool with 453 or more points.

East coast provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have both opened Express Entry Immigration Selection System which offers six month duration for application process. None of these immigration programs need a job offer from a Canadian employer and application can be submitted without any arrange of employment.

However, candidates must keep in mind that they must meet the eligibility requirements of at least one of the following programs:

•  Federal Skilled Worker Program
•  Federal Skilled Trades Program
•  Canadian Experience Class

New Brunswick Express Entry Labour Market Stream

This program is based on EOI submission. Candidates who want to apply under New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form within the first 15 days of each month.

These forms will be evaluated and a score will be assigned to each. And the highest scored candidates will receive an invitation to apply for New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program. The minimum required point for this program will be 67 out of 100.

Selection factors are:

•  Language ability in English and/or French
•  Level of education
•  Work experience
•  Age
•  Job offer

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

Eligibility requirements of Nova Scotia Experience – Express Entry program are listed below:

•  Age
•  Work experience
•  Previous work Experience in Nova Scotia
•  Education
•  Language ability in English and/or French
•  Adaptability & intention to settle

Candidates for Express Entry are reminded that profiles are only valid for twelve months from the date they are created. Candidates who have not received an Invitation-to-Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence and who are still interested in immigrating to Canada must create new profiles in the Express Entry pool.

Despite record-high PNP draws in the first three months of 2022, Canada has only invited 6,488 Express Entry candidates so far this year.

Canada has been playing catch-up this past quarter, resulting in a relatively slow start to the year for Express Entry.

Express Entry is Canada’s most popular immigration selection system and is the country’s largest driver of economic immigrants.

In a complete and informative report, Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada (IRCC, formerly known as CIC) has provided precious insights on the first 12 months of the Express entry selection system in 2015 , which came into operation on January 1, 2015.

On August 4, the BC PNP issued ITAs across the following categories. Further details on these categories are available below the table.

Express Entry system had a banner 2018, and could be even more exceptional in 2019 and 2020.

The cut-off score in today’s draw was 450, which is one point lower than the minimum score in the previous draw on April 17, which was 451.
This is the fourth time that the cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score has decreased since February 20.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are still in the process of evaluating its Express Entry strategy for 2022, according to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

The Minister of Immigration, John McCallum, has made it quite clear that he wants to increase the overall number of new immigrants to Canada over the coming years. Not only that, but the Express Entry system may also be modified. The exact modifications, if and when they happen, are not yet known. Consequently, and taken together with an expected increase in invitations issued over the coming draws, I would encourage individuals who are currently eligible to enter the pool to do so. It is only once they are in the pool that they can attract the attention of Canadian provinces that are looking to welcome newcomers through a PNP, as well as employers hiring through the system.”

Canada’s Express Entry system had a banner 2018, and the coming year could be even more exceptional.

Canada has invited 7,257 PNP candidates so far in 2022.

On April 13, Canada invited 787 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence.

IRCC invites 7,000 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 490. This is the first all-program draw since January 18.

ITAs issued to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 533.