Lowest CRS Yet: 7,000 Express Entry Invitations – "French Focus" !
In its latest Express Entry draw, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) to 7,000 candidates. This draw focused on selecting candidates with proficiency in the French language.
Gurmeet Sharma
Candidates eligible for consideration in this category-based selection draw were required to achieve a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 365. Remarkably, this marks the lowest minimum CRS score recorded so far this year.
This draw, conducted on February 1, is the second of the week, with a preceding draw on January 31 that invited 730 candidates in a general draw. The latter group required a higher minimum CRS score of 541.
Earlier in January, two additional draws took place. On January 23, a general draw invited 1,040 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 543, while the draw on January 10 invited 1,510 candidates with a CRS score of 546.
As the year progresses, it remains uncertain how Express Entry draws will unfold in 2024. Looking back at 2023, IRCC conducted 42 draws and issued ITAs to over 110,000 candidates, contributing to meeting the admission targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan for both 2023 and 2024.
Summary of Express Entry draws results in 2024:
- February 1: French language proficiency - 7,000 ITAs, Minimum CRS 365
- January 31: General - 730 ITAs, Minimum CRS 541
- January 23: General - 1,040 ITAs, Minimum CRS 543
- January 10: General - 1,510 ITAs, Minimum CRS 546
Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permits:
Many Express Entry candidates acquire the necessary work experience in Canada through the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after graduating from a Canadian post-secondary institution. On January 22, IRCC announced changes to PGWP eligibility criteria effective September 1.
Under the new criteria, international students enrolled in a program at a private college affiliated with a public college through a curriculum licensing agreement will no longer qualify for a PGWP. Additionally, graduate-level students in programs shorter than the standard eight months will now be eligible for a three-year PGWP.
Previously, graduates in programs shorter than eight months were ineligible for a PGWP, and the permit's validity was tied to the length of the academic program. These changes aim to provide more opportunities for graduate-level students to gain work experience in Canada and enter the Express Entry application pool.
