In the second Express Entry Draw of the week the IRCC invites 500 applicants

The IRCC has issued invitation to 500 applicants in the latest Express Entry draw. This draw has mainly targeted Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.  In this draw the eligibility requirements stated that the applicants need to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 539.

The Key Highlights of the Draw –

•  ITA - 500
•  CRS score – 539

The latest Express Entry Draw – CEC

The latest Express entry draw has increased the number of applicants selected in the CEC category this week. Within  a week the IRCC has announced the second draw. In the draw prior to this one the IRCC selected 1,613 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, with a minimum CRS score requirement of 739. The frequent invitations reflect IRCC's efforts to balance economic immigration targets across multiple categories.
Earlier than this, the Express Entry draw took place on September 19 and  targeted 4,000 CEC-only candidates with a minimum CRS score of 509. This represented a slight increase compared to the previous CEC-specific draw on August 27, which required a minimum score of 507.

Why IRCC is conducting so many CEC specific Draws?

CEC draws have become increasingly common in recent months.  It has been the scenario since July when the IRCC issued 21,800 ITAs to CEC candidates alone.  There is a strategic shift towards focusing on applicants already residing in Canada and it has led to reduction in the number of temporary residents while there are increasing permanent residency pathways for those already contributing to Canada’s economy. 
Today’s draw is the second Express Entry round of October. In October 2023, IRCC conducted four draws, issuing 9,173 ITAs in total. If this trend continues, we can expect to see more draws later this month.

The Express Entry Draw summary for 2024

What is Express Entry Program?

Express Entry is a skilled foreign worker immigration channel for Canada PR visa. The program was started in 2015 and it selects the applicants in three federal immigration programs: 

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program, 
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program, 
• The Canadian Experience Class. 

Applicants are  selected and assessed as per their ranks using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The score is calculated based on the factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. Those with the highest scores are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws and the highly skilled workers are selected  to meet its economic needs.