IRCC:  New Express Entry Draw announced and invited 400 applicants

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently conducted its fourth Express Entry draw of the week, inviting 400 candidates to apply for immigration in the category-based selection draw for individuals in agriculture and agri-food occupations. To be eligible for an Invitation to Apply (ITA), candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 386.

 The key Highlights of the draw-
•    ITA – 400
•    CRS score - 386

This draw followed three other draws earlier in the same week, showcasing Canada's commitment to welcoming skilled immigrants from various backgrounds. On December 18, the IRCC held an all-program draw and invited 1,325 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 542. The following day, on December 19, a category-based draw for trades occupations was conducted, resulting in 1,000 candidates receiving ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 425. The first draw of this kind occurred on August 3, inviting 1,500 candidates. On December 20, IRCC extended invitations to 670 candidates in another category-based selection draw, this time for transport occupations, with a minimum CRS score requirement of 435.

The previous week also saw active draws. On December 8, 5,900 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 481 were invited in a category-based selection draw for those in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) occupations. On December 7, a draw was held for individuals with French language proficiency, inviting 1,000 candidates from the Express Entry pool with a minimum CRS score of 470. An all-program draw on December 6 invited candidates with a minimum CRS score of 561, marking the first such draw in over a month. The last draw before this hiatus was a category-based selection draw for candidates in healthcare occupations on October 26.

IRCC's decision to pause draws for a brief period in November raised questions among applicants. Although the department did not provide an official reason for the pause, it was revealed on November 14 that there was an IT issue with the Express Entry profile builder for candidates who had already received an ITA and were trying to upload their final application to IRCC's website. On November 16, IRCC confirmed that the glitch had been resolved, but draws did not immediately resume as expected.

Delays in Express Entry draws can occur for various reasons, including meeting immigration targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan, technical issues, staffing changes, or updates to the Comprehensive Ranking System. Despite occasional interruptions, the Canadian government remains committed to its immigration goals, welcoming skilled individuals from around the world to contribute to the country's diverse and thriving communities.

 Summary of Express Entry Draws