IRCC Extends 1,980 Invitations in Latest Express Entry Draw
In its latest move, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reached out to 1,980 candidates through the third Express Entry draw of the month. This draw, which encompassed a broad spectrum of candidates, saw invitations to apply (ITAs) being dispatched to 1,980 individuals. To qualify, candidates needed to meet a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 524.
Gurmeet Sharma
Today's announcement comes on the heels of two earlier draws held on March 12 and 13. The March 12 draw, which was open to a wider pool of candidates, granted ITAs to 2,850 individuals with a minimum CRS score of 525. Notably, this marked the lowest general draw score of the year up to that point.
This score demonstrated a decrease of nine points from the preceding general draw held on February 28 and a significant 21-point decline from the initial general draw of 2024 on January 10, which stood at 546. It's worth noting that IRCC considers candidates from all programs and categories in general draws.
The March 13 draw, on the other hand, adopted a category-based approach, focusing on Express Entry candidates in transport occupations. Applicants needed to meet a minimum CRS score of 430 to be considered, marking the first such draw since December 20, 2023.
Since the implementation of category-based selection draws, IRCC has extended invitations to 2,645 candidates in transport occupations.
Express Entry Draw Summary for 2024:
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 25 | General | 1,980 | 524 |
| March 13 | Transport occupations | 975 | 430 |
| March 12 | General | 2,850 | 525 |
| February 29 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 336 |
| February 28 | General | 1,470 | 534 |
| February 16 | Agriculture and agri-food | 150 | 437 |
| February 14 | Healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 |
| February 13 | General | 1,490 | 535 |
| February 1 | French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
| January 31 | General | 730 | 541 |
| January 23 | General | 1,040 | 543 |
| January 10 | General | 1,510 | 546 |
What Is Category-Based Selection?
Category-based selection draws were introduced by IRCC in May 2023 as a method to pinpoint Express Entry candidates possessing in-demand skills and attributes and extend ITAs accordingly.
IRCC established six categories that will remain effective throughout 2024:
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades occupations, including carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Strong French proficiency
These categories align with Canada's pressing labor shortages and IRCC's mission to promote the French language outside of Quebec. Notably, French-speaking candidates have received the highest number of ITAs since the introduction of these categories.
