How Does IRCC Decide When to Hold the Draw?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) manage immigration pathways under the Express Entry application management system for highly skilled economic immigrants through three programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Eligible candidates submit their profiles on the IRCC website and receive a score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), with the highest scores being the most likely to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency.
In this blog, we will explore the rules that govern Express Entry Canada, the changes to come for Express Entry and the factors that influence IRCC's decision-making process for holding the draw.
Rules That Govern Express Entry
The frequency of Express Entry draws is at the discretion of the immigration minister and IRCC, with no set law in the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act (IRPA) dictating how often the draws should take place. The immigration minister is responsible for inviting candidates based on Canada's economic priorities, addressing labour market shortages, and supporting Francophone immigration and economic growth.
The minister also has the flexibility to issue ministerial instructions that align with the government's vision of a positive impact on Canada's workforce while also allowing invited candidates to easily integrate. The number of candidates invited and the minimum cut-off CRS score is decided by the immigration minister through ministerial instructions.
Express Entry has a yearly target outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan, with the target for Federal High Skilled Workers in 2022 being 55,900 and rising to 82,880 in 2023 and 109,020 in 2024. The minister and IRCC must examine these targets and plan for the number of candidates to invite, which means deciding on CRS scores that are high but not necessarily so high that it limits the number of candidates.
Changes to Come for Express Entry
IRCC has announced that starting this spring, candidates may be invited through categories that target specific attributes such as occupation, work experience, education, or language ability. This change is part of the implementation of Bill C-19, which aims to make the immigration system more responsive to Canada's economic and labor market needs.
Factors That Influence IRCC's Decision-Making Process
The frequency and size of Express Entry draw are influenced by various factors, including:
- IRCC's yearly target outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan
- Canada's labour market needs and priorities
- The number of applications and backlogs in the system
- Technical issues and system glitches
The recent pause in Express Entry draws, which took place from November 23 to January 11, was due to a system glitch caused by the implementation of NOC 2021. IRCC stated that technical issues with the implementation of the new classification system had adverse implications for November 23, 2022, Express Entry invitation round but have since been resolved.
In conclusion, IRCC has discretion over the frequency and size of Express Entry draws and takes into consideration factors such as the Immigration Levels Plan, Canada's labour market needs, and technical issues when making decisions. With changes to come for Express Entry targeting specific attributes, the drawing process will become more responsive to Canada's economic and labour market needs.
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