

Canada Express Entry Draw

CRS score slightly lower than last draw, at 504
•Canada held its latest All Program Express Entry Draw on September 28, 2022. This is the seventh all-program draw since it resumed on July 6.
•IRCC has issued invitations to 3,750 candidates with a minimum Overall Ranking System (CRS) score of 504. As this is a program-wide draw, invitations are sent to qualified candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All of these programs run under Express Entry. system.

•This is the third draw in a row, with more than 500 invitations issued compared to the previous draw. The Sept. 14 draw invited 3,250 candidates, and the Aug. 31 draw invited 2,750 candidates. The same goes for CRS. The CRS score has been steadily declining since the July 6 score of 557. In the first five games, the two sides drew 8-9 points. The draw on September 14 was down just six points, and this week's draw is no exception. •As of December 2020, draws for all Express Entry programs have been suspended for more than 18 months due to backlogs caused by COVID-19-related travel restrictions. During the break, only CEC or State Candidate Program (PNP) candidates receive an invitation to apply. In September 2021, IRCC also suspended the CEC draw

Backlog is decreasing

•Data recently released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that between July and August 31, the backlog of all filings fell from 2.7 million to 2.6 million. This includes reducing the number of Express Entry applications waiting to be processed. As of the end of July, Express Entry had 51,616 items in stock. That number had dropped to 40,180 as of Aug. 31, a drop of more than 10,000 applications in about six weeks.
•More than half of the applications in the current inventory are from PNP applicants. This is notable because some PNPs use an Express Entry program called Extended Nomination. According to IRCC, the backlog of requests to strengthen the PNP has slowed. However, there has been an increase in PNP applications (basic PNP), where candidates apply directly to the state government.

Job vacancies at an all-time high
•Canada's high immigration goals, including its Express Entry program, are attributable to several factors, including a current vacancy rate of 5.7 per cent, and baby boomers reaching the retirement age of 65 over the next decade.
•Fast Track will change in 2023 due to labor shortages. IRCC will soon be authorized to issue ITAs to candidates with specific work experience, education or language skills and the ability to support Canada's economy and workforce. This change affects the importance of high CRS to candidates, as some draws may be affected by other factors.
•Express Entry is the application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the Express Entry pool are already eligible for at least one of these programs.

What is Express Entry?
•Express Entry uses a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidate profiles. The highest scoring candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can
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