IRCC will hold another round of Express Entry invitations today
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IRCC has confirmed it will hold its next round of category-based Express Entry invitations today, following an unexpected draw it held yesterday.
Note: This is a developing story. CIC News will update it following the round of invitations.
Last week Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said 1,500 healthcare workers will receive an ITA via category-based selection today.
It was also announced that the first-ever category-based selection Express Entry draw for those in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professions will take place this week. It is not known what the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will be for these candidates.
The most recent category-based draw was last week on June 28 and invited 500 healthcare workers with a minimum CRS score of 476, the lowest CRS score in any Express Entry draw so far in 2023.
In its surprise draw yesterday, July 4, IRCC also invited 700 candidates in an all-program draw with a minimum CRS score of 511. An all-program draw considers Express Entry candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry
STEM occupations for category-based selection
In a recent news release, IRCC said by prioritizing the invitation of skilled newcomers with STEM experience, Canada aims to meet the growing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement.
Eligible occupations under the STEM draw include:
Architects
Architecture and science managers
Business systems specialists
Civil Engineers
Computer and information systems managers
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
Computer systems developers and programmers
Cybersecurity specialists
Data scientists
Database analysts and data administrators
Electrical and electronics engineers
Engineering managers
Industrial and manufacturing engineers
Information systems specialists
Land surveyors
Landscape Architects
Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries
Metallurgical and materials engineers
Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers
Software developers and programmers
Software engineers and designers
Urban and land use planners
Web designers
Web developers and programmers
Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, announced on May 31 that IRCC had finalized new category-based selection criteria for Express Entry draws. The categories were chosen based on labour market projections and discussions with IRCC partners and stakeholders as well as with provincial and territorial governments. They are as follows:
Healthcare
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food
Strong French-language proficiency
Category-based selection draws have been expected since June 2022, when the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support Canada’s economic priorities, such as specific work experience to fill labour market gaps, or knowledge of French.
Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry
Healthcare occupations for category-based selection
Healthcare occupations comprise the largest number of eligible occupations for category-based Express Entry selection, 35 in total:
Audiologists and speech language pathologists
Chiropractors
Dentists
Dieticians and nutritionists
Education counsellors
General practitioners and family physicians
Instructors of persons with disabilities
Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment
Licensed practical nurses
Massage therapists
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
Medical laboratory technologists
Medical radiation technologists
Medical sonographers
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
Nurse practitioners
Nursing coordinators and supervisors
Occupational therapists
Optometrists
Other assisting occupations in support of health services
Other practitioners of natural healing
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
Paramedical occupations
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
Physiotherapists
Psychologists
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
Specialists in surgery
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
Veterinarians
FAQ about the new category-based draws
Am I eligible if I have STEM work experience but am not an Express Entry candidate?
No. Candidates who receive invitations in a category-based selection draw must be in the Express Entry application pool through an Express Entry managed program such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Canadian Experience Class.
Does my CRS score still matter?
IRCC says category-based rounds of invitations will rank candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the category requirements and then invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. As in a regular draw, eligible candidates will be ranked according to their CRS score. Those with higher scores are still the most likely to receive an ITA.
Additionally, IRCC will continue to hold regular all-program or program-specific draws so a high CRS score is still necessary to be considered for those.
How often will there be category-based selection draws?
IRCC has no mandate to hold Express Entry draws on a specific schedule or to invite a targeted number of candidates through any program or category. Draws are at the discretion of the Immigration Minister and occur based on the minister’s mandate to support Canada’s economic priorities and support the French language. Put another way, draws can occur any time, for any category.
Are the criteria different in each new category?
To be eligible for one of the five occupation-specific categories, all candidates must:
have accumulated, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) within the past 3 years in a single occupation listed as eligible.
meet all requirements in the instructions for that round.
Candidates who are invited based on strong French language proficiency must have French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens and meet all the requirements in the instructions for that round.
