IRCC issues ITAs to Express Entry candidates in the second draw this week

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to candidates in the second Express Entry draw of the week.

The department issued 1,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw for French language proficiency.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 388.
Yesterday’s draw was general (meaning candidates were considered from all Express Entry programs, regardless of their eligibility for category-based selection) and invited 1,980 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 524.

This represented a one-point decrease from the last general draw on March 12 in which 2,850 candidates with a minimum CRS of 525 received ITAs.

There has been one other draw this month. On March 13 IRCC held a category-based selection draw for candidates in transport occupations. The department invited 945 candidates with a 430 minimum CRS score.

What is category-based selection?
Category-based selection draws were introduced in May 2023, as a means for IRCC to identify Express Entry candidates with the in-demand skills and attributes and issue ITAs.

The department created six categories that will remain in place throughout 2024. They are:
Healthcare occupations
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
Transport occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
Strong French proficiency
The categories reflect many of Canada’s acute labor shortages as well as IRCC’s mandate to promote the French language outside of Quebec. French-speaking candidates have received the highest number of ITAs since the categories were introduced.

What is Express Entry
Express Entry is an application management system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Candidates from all programs are ranked against each other within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The system assigns points to candidates based on their human capital attributes such as language ability, education, occupation, work experience and age.

Those who obtain the highest overall scores are the most likely to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent resident status to IRCC.

Once a candidate submits their final application to IRCC, they should receive a final decision within six months (the department’s published service standard).