Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited record-breaking 44,124 immigration candidates in the first quarter of 2021 through Express Entry programs. The 1st quarter of 2021 was the highest since Express Entry was introduced back in 2015.
Express Entry Draws for first three months of 2021:
| Date | Draw | Number of ITA’s | Lowest CRS Scores |
| 6/1/2021 (PNP) | 1 | 250 | 813 |
| 7/1/2021 (CEC) | 2 | 4,750 | 461 |
| 20/1/2021 (PNP) | 3 | 374 | 741 |
| 21/1/2021 (CEC) | 4 | 4,626 | 454 |
| 10/2/2021 (PNP) | 5 | 654 | 720 |
| 13/2/2021 (CEC) | 6 | 27,332 | 75 |
| 08/3/2021 (PNP) | 7 | 671 | 739 |
| 17/03/2021 (PNP) | 8 | 183 | 682 |
| 18/03/2021 (CEC) | 9 | 5,000 | 449 |
| 31/03/2021 (PNP) | 10 | 284 | 778 |
Through PNP Express Entry, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan have all issued nominations to Express Entry applicants so far this year.
Normally IRCC holds draws after 14 days and invites applicants with top CRS scorers. But the COVID-19 has temporarily deviated from this view. Now, the IRCC is focusing on inviting most likely Canadian-based express entry candidates during the pandemic. Currently, program-specific draws are the new norm. This is why IRCC issued 10 express entry draws in the first 3 months of 2021 where 6 draws were for “Provincial Nominee Programs and 4 for CEC (Canada Experience Class). A total of 41,708 invitations were issued to CEC applicants and 2,416 to PNP applicants.
How Express Entry System Works?
Express Entry is an online application management system that aims to ensure faster processing and better economic outcomes for permanent residency in Canada under federal and some provincial programs. The process of Express Entry System works generally as under:
- Create an Express Entry profile
- Get the Registration done
- Obtain an ITA (invitation to apply for PR)
- Apply for permanent residence
- Get the PR or additionally work permit during your application is being processed
- Move to Canada
The program in total deals with the following three programs:
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program(FWSP)
Canada is promising to welcome 108,500 new immigrants via Express Entry-managed projects this year.
How Provincial Nominee Program Works?
All provinces and territories run a PNP except Quebec and Nunavut. The provinces want to invite skilled workers to promote economic progress. Canada runs its immigration system also through its provinces named as provincial nominee program. Canadian provinces are doors to its immigration system which helps one more to settle in Canada on a permanent basis.
There are 10 Canadian provinces, with three territories to the north. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. PNP currently has about 80 unique streams in the participating provinces and territories.
Each province and territory have their own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target:
- students
- businesspeople
- skilled workers
- semi-skilled workers
- The PNP works for those who:
- want to live in that province
- want to become permanent residents of Canada
- have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory
A better PNP stream related to the provincial nomination, namely Canada’s Express Entry System, will give the system a Comprehensive Rating System (CRS) score of 600 extra points. If you earn these extra points, it is practically guaranteed that you will receive an invitation from the Government of Canada to apply for permanent residency.