Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw, the second one this week. The draw specifically targeted healthcare occupations, with 3,500 candidates receiving invitations. Applicants needed to meet a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 422 to qualify.
Following a general draw on February 13, where 1,490 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 535 received ITAs, today’s draw focuses on healthcare occupations. This year, there was another category-based selection draw on February 1, inviting 7,000 candidates with strong French language proficiency, marking the largest draw of the year. Additionally, January witnessed three general draws, collectively inviting 3,280 candidates, with minimum CRS scores ranging between 546 and 541.
What is category-based selection?
In May 2023, IRCC implemented category-based selection rounds of invitations, introducing six distinct categories aimed at specific human capital attributes. One category prioritizes candidates showcasing proficiency in the French language, while the remaining five categories are occupation-based, focusing on:
Healthcare occupations
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades occupations, including carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
Transport occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
To qualify for category-based selection, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for an Express Entry program and have an application in the pool through one of the three programs
These categories were selected after thorough consultations with various stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, employers, immigration researchers, and settlement services. These consultations aimed to identify the most significant gaps in Canada’s labor force and to target candidates who are best equipped to address these gaps by filling vacant positions.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry functions as an application management system overseeing three economic immigration programs tailored for skilled workers: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Utilizing the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), these programs assess candidates based on various human capital factors, including language proficiency, work history, occupation, educational background, and age. Each factor is assigned a score, and these scores are aggregated to calculate a candidate’s overall CRS score.
Subsequently, candidates with CRS scores are placed into the Express Entry application pool and ranked against one another. Those with the highest CRS scores are prioritized and are more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the subsequent Express Entry draw.
Upon receiving an ITA, candidates have 60 days to submit their final application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for consideration of permanent resident status in Canada.
