IRCC Invites 400 Candidates in Latest CEC Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw. A total of 400 ITAs were given to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. To be eligible for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 539.

This draw follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw held on November 18, which invited 174 candidates who had a CRS score of at least 816.

This marks the second consecutive week of Express Entry draws. The previous week, 1,933 ITAs were issued to candidates from the CEC, PNP, and French-language proficiency programs.

According to IRCC’s most recent Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government plans to increase immigration targets through the Express Entry system in the coming year. The department aims to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates in the next year.

Of this total, over 82,000 spots will be allocated to a new category within the Express Entry system, called the In-Canada Focus category. This category will primarily target CEC candidates, but could also include applicants from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and PNP-aligned Express Entry streams.

The remaining 41,700 permanent residency (PR) admissions will be set aside for the “Federal Economic Priorities” category. This category will focus on candidates with professional experience in occupations that are in high demand within the Canadian labor market.

Latest Draw Details 

• Draw Date: November 19, 2024
• Draw Type: Canadian Experience Class
• Number of Invitations: 400
• Minimum CRS Score Required: 539

Express Entry Draws List

Overview of Express Entry

Express Entry is a system used to manage applications for three main economic immigration programs: 

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) 

Candidates are ranked based on the CRS, which assigns points based on factors like age, work experience, education, and language skills. Additional points can be earned for having a sibling in Canada, applying with a partner or spouse, or combining both Canadian and foreign education and work experience.

Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream gain an additional 600 CRS points, which significantly boosts their chances of receiving an ITA. As a result, candidates with the highest CRS scores are the most likely to receive ITAs in future Express Entry draws, as long as they meet the specific requirements of each draw.