Canada completed off 2020 by issuing 107,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Express Entry candidates. This was the highest invitation total since the Express Entry system was introduced in 2015 to manage the pool of candidates.
In Canada, the Department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) hosted 36 invitations in 2020. This is 10 more than last year, as the IRCC was drawing lots in the early weeks of the epidemic, targeting only CEC and PNP candidates. This was done in an attempt to give choice to express entry candidates who were already in Canada.
Main features of “Express Entry from last year
- The smallest draw was once the PNP draw on April 15, with only 118 invites issued.
- By the end of 2020, Canada issued 5,000 ITAs on a single draw.
- The lowest CRS cut-off score in the FSTP draw in 2020 was 415.
- The lowest CEC rating required in June 2020 was 431
What could be expected this year?
The increase in the number of draws could be an attempt to attain the immigration goal of 401,000 new permanent residents next year. Applicants for permanent residency are commonly determined within six months after acquiring an ITA, so candidates who obtain an ITA by the end of the year will start turning into permanent residents in 2021. Of the 401,000 new immigrants expected this year, Canada has allocated 108,500 to come through the Express Entry Management Program in 2021. These goals could rise to 113,750 in later years in 2023 alone. This increase is due to a decrease in enrollment levels in 2020. Travel restrictions in Canada and around the world have made it challenging for many people to land in Canada.
The “Express Entry Program” draw is made for Canada’s three Federal High-Skilled immigration programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) as well as some of its Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
Details of some of the last express entry draw
(a) Details of latest “Express Entry” round of invitations (Express Entry system #170 – December 23, 2020)
Ministerial Instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system #170 – December 23, 2020.
- Number of invitations issued: 5,000
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 5,000th or above
- Date and time of round: December 23, 2020, at 14:40:08 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 468 (less than last time’s CRS score)
- Tie-breaking rule: June 4, 2020, at 13:39:44 UTC (If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.)
(b) Details of latest “Express Entry” round of invitations (Express Entry system #169 – December 9, 2020)
Ministerial Instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system #169 – December 9, 2020.
- Number of invitations issued: 5,000
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 5,000th or above
- Date and time of round: December 9, 2020, at 14:30:47 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 469
- Tie-breaking rule: June 4, 2020, at 22:26:05 UTC (If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.)
(c) Details of latest “Express Entry” round of invitations (Express Entry system #168– November 25, 2020)
Ministerial Instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system #168 – November 25, 2020.
- Number of invitations issued: 5,000
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 5,000th or above
- Date and time of round: November 25, 2020, at 13:04:56 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 469
- Tie-breaking rule: October 15, 2020, at 08:50:10 UTC
The PNP-specific draw requires a high rating because having a provincial nomination gives candidates an additional 600 points toward their own CRS score. In all program draws, it does not depend on who the program candidates are. Since then Canada has not considered the need for a CRS to reduce a program. When a candidate enters the pool there is an aspect of time and time again when the IRCC imposes a tiebreak position on candidates who are bound for at least the CRS cut-off.
Express entry programs
The following are Canada’s immigration application management system for federal economic-class programs through the Express Entry system.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal skilled Worker Program
What is “Invitation to Apply” (ITA)?
The standard procedure used to issue ITA is the Comprehensive Ranking System Score. Express entry is a competitive immigration selection system and the CRS score is a points system used to rank candidates against each other. Only the most competitive candidates get ITA.
What is CRS?
“The Comprehensive Rating System (CRS) is used by the Express Entry System to score candidates who apply through the federal government’s Skilled Worker Programs. These programs include the Federal Skilled Workers Program, the Federal Skilled Trade Program, and the Canada Experience Class.”
What is a tie-breaking rule?
If there comes a tie between candidates in terms of gained score, IRCC applies the tie-breaking rule. For example, candidates who had a CRS score of 478 or more, need to have submitted their Express Entry profile before October 27 at 06:18:11 UTC in order to receive an invitation.
Canada travel restrictions
Canada has announced for the 5th time in a row the new travel restrictions. The country will have a travel ban until January 21. Canada has issued a new order to the council stating that travel restrictions that have been in place since March are being extended.
Canada immigration overview from last year
More than 190,000 immigrants arrived in Canada in 2019 under the economic class. Of these immigrants, only just over 90,000 arrived by express entry. Canada welcomes about 60% of its permanent residents in economic class. This will be the case as well under the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan. The PNP program also contributed to the main immigration stream. Almost 71% of immigrants made it through Ontario. The ratio has been 8% for Alberta whereas 17% for British Columbia. There were 68,647 people selected through the Provincial Nominee Program in 2019, the highest number since the program’s launch.
Read here the complete report for Canada visa stats.
Parents and Grandparents of Canada