IRCC holds Express Entry draw, issuing invitations to immigration candidates previously nominated in provincial nominee program draws. A total of 654 invitations were issued.
Candidates who previously successfully received a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program were eligible in a new Express Entry draw held on February 10 2021.
A total of 654 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 720 were issued invitations to apply (ITAs) for their permanent residence. The required CRS score was higher than normal since candidates who had received nominations through a PNP were automatically awarded 600 additional points to their CRS score.
The PNP specific draw held a few weeks ago on January 20 2021 had a CRS cut off score of 741, so 21 points higher than the February 10 draw.
Whenever any candidates with the same CRS score are tied during the draw, Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses a tie-breaking rule. In this case, the chosen applicants’ Express Entry profile had to have been submitted before August 14 2020 at 6:51:00 UTC.
Immigration Forecast:
The high number of invitations issued comes as no surprise given the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan unveiled last fall. Canada has made it clear 2021 would be a big year for immigration as the pandemic derailed many of the immigration goals and targets Canada had set out for itself.
Even though 2020 wrapped up with several record-breaking draws, and resulted in the issuing of 108,350 invitations to apply to Express Entry candidates, immigration numbers still took a hit.
In order to make up for the reduced number of invitations sent out in 2020, the immigration goals set out for 2021 are much more ambitious and aggressive, in fact, several provinces held provincial nominee draws during the very first week of the new year!
Since the country is still grappling with the effects of the second wave of the pandemic and dealing with challenges around border closures and travel restrictions, chances are high IRCC will be focusing on retaining and granting permanent residency to immigration candidates who are currently working and living in Canada.
As outlined in the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is aiming to welcome 401,000 newcomers into the country this year, that number will only increase in 2022 and 2023. By the end of the three years, Canada will have admitted over 1.2 million new immigrants.
For 2021, Express Entry managed programs have an allocation of 108,500 new immigrants. The allocation will increase in 2022 to 110,500 and yet again in 2023 to 113,750.
With this latest draw, IRCC has issued a total of 10,654 ITAs. IRCC has yet to hold an all-program draw in 2021.
For anyone looking to immigrate to Canada, now is the ideal time to get your documents in order and register your application to the Express Entry System.
Whether you’re already living in Canada or living overseas, don’t delay! All signs point to IRCC and the provinces holding more draws in the coming weeks and months. If you need help navigating the various programs and process, consider speaking to an RCIC consultant today.