PNP candidates eligible in new Express Entry draw
Over 1,000 PNP candidates received invitation by IRCC
As June winds down, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for candidates who successfully received a provincial nomination.
The draw was held on June 23, 2021 and resulted in a total of 1,002 immigration candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 742, receiving invitations.
This draw was bigger than the previous PNP-only draw when IRCC issued 940 invitations to candidates with scores of 711.
For this draw, the 742 feels like a high score, but the thing to keep in mind is that successful Provincial Nomination Program candidates are automatically awarded an additional 600 points on their existing CRS scores. This means the minimum score for each candidate is actually 142!
A cut-off time was published for the tie-break rule. In order to be considered for this draw, candidates had to have submitted their profiles in the Express Entry system by February 18, 2021 at 04:04:56 UTC.
One of Canada’s immigration goal for 2021 is to admit 108,500 newcomers through Express Entry-managed programs.
By holding regular draws since the start of this year, IRCC is very close to meeting this goal.
6,000 new candidates invited in Express Entry draw
CRS score drops to second-lowest ever for newest CEC candidates only draw
Following the PNP-specific draw, IRCC held a much bigger CEC-specific draw on June 24, 2021.
Express Entry candidates with CRS scores of 357 were selected from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
A total of 6,000 immigration candidates received invitations to apply for their permanent residency.
The CRS score required for this draw is the second-lowest ever for a CEC-specific draw. The draw of February 13, 2021 where 27,332 candidates received invitations; saw the score drop to an all-time historic low of 75.
Why are scores so low? As Canada looks to invite more candidates from within Canada to meet its immigration targets, the requirements are being tweaked and scores are being dropped to widen eligibility.
Aside from meeting the CRS score requirement, CEC candidates need to have intermediate language proficiency.
They also have to demonstrate they have one year of valid work experience, working for a Canadian employer in a skilled occupation.
For administrative reasons, IRCC always publishes a cut-off time for the tie-break rule. In this draw, Express Entry profiles had to be submitted by February 17, 2021 at 10:15:50 UTC for consideration.
To date, IRCC has issued a total of 88,715 invitations to eligible candidates. Last year at this time, the number was almost half at 46,392.