Eighth Express Entry draw of 2023 invited 7000 candidates. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) successfully conducted this all-program draw.
484 was the CRS cut-off score for this draw. All the candidates who applied through Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) were invited. Draw on March 15 and March 23, both invited 7,000 candidates in March.
490 was the minimum CRS score scored by a candidate in the last draw. In previous record-high-all-program draw, 5,500 candidates were invited by IRCC on January 18. The latest draw came as a surprise as it marks the second consecutive week in which Express Entry candidates were invited IRCC. Express Entry draws happen twice a week usually.
The 7,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) marks the second-largest Express Entry draw size of all-time Behind the record-setting CEC-only draw that took place in February 2021, in addition to it being tied with the largest all-program draw ever held on March 15.
Between July and November 2022, all draws were all program, with the smallest draw inviting just 1,500 candidates on July 6. It was an all-program draw following a pause of 18 months because of COVID-19 pandemic. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) were majorly focused upon by Express Entry draws in early 2023. In 2023, there have been four PNP-only draws so far and the last one happened on March 1 in which 667 candidates were invited by Provincial Governments.
Before this, 3 other all program PNP draws and one targeted Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) draw occurred on February 2. It seems like IRCC is back on proceeding with regular manner, considering all candidates in the Express Entry pool.
Multi-Year PNP Plan Endorsed by Immigration Ministers
To discuss common issues and methods to attract and retain more newcomers, a meeting of the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) was held where all provincial immigration ministers met.
Advertising the first multi-year provincial immigration plan was one outcome of the meeting. Multi-year provincial immigration will work similarly to the Federal Immigration Levels Plan, which was outlined Immigration targets for three years.
To better support newcomers and retain them, provinces can plan accordingly in terms of future housing and infrastructure if they know about their allocation of provincial nominations in advance.
Some provinces announced an increase in PNP allocations for this year over 2022 after the meeting.
For example, the largest Canadian province, Ontario will see its allocation rise to 18,000 spots in 2025. In the allocation of Manitoba, 3,175 spaces were increased for 2023 over 2022 to 9,500. An allocation of 7,250 nominees in 2023 will be seen by Saskatchewan increasing to 8,500 in the year 2025. Significant increase of allocations was there for Alberta for 2023, from 6,500 to 9,750 spaces in 2022.
Allocations will continue to increase like Saskatchewan over the next 2 years, and go as high as 10,849 by 2025. Other provinces have still to release the data on their expected number of PNP allocations.
By obtaining a provincial nomination, chances for Express Entry candidates to receive an ITA can increase. If you are an Express Entry candidate nominated by province, 600 CRS points are added automatically. Even after not being in Express Entry program, economic immigration candidates can still be nominated by a province. The application of a candidate for permanent residency can be strengthened by this.
Another PGWP Extension Provided by IRCC
To many Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holders interested in gaining permanent resident, a reprieve was offered by IRCC last week. 18-month open work permit extension will be provided to PGWP holders, which they will be able to apply on the website of IRCC beginning April 6 as stated by immigration minister Sean Fraser due to the recent not so regular nature of Express Entry draws which have impacted PGWP holders eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) in a bad way.
It means that more PGWP holders will be able to continue to vie for Invitations to Apply for Express Entry. As noted by IRCC, There were some 286,000 PGWP holders in Canada at the end of 2022.
