Express Entry off to its biggest start ever

Canada’s Express Entry system got 2019 off to its best start ever in January, issuing 11,150 invitations to apply for permanent residence over the course of three draws.  

The last draw of the month, held on January 30, saw the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score drop to 438 — the lowest score drawn in an all-program invitation round since October 2017.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s thee Federal High Skilled economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates are entered into the pool and issued a CRS score based on factors that include age, skilled work experience, education and their level of proficiency in English or French.

A set number of the highest-ranked candidates are drawn from the pool and invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular invitation rounds, which are typically held every two weeks.

In two of the three draws held in January, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,900 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Prior to these draws, the most ITAs that IRCC had issued in a single, January invitation round was 3,508 back on January 25, 2017.

These two draws helped push Express Entry to a new January record of 11,150 ITAs issued over the course of the month.

January’s results are indicative of what should be a big 2019 for the Express Entry system. IRCC has set higher admissions targets for the three programs managed by the Express Entry system for both this year and 2020.

In order to meet these targets, it is likely that IRCC will have to issue more ITAs over the next 11 months than it did in 2018 — a year that saw IRCC set a new ITA record. This could mean bigger draws in the coming months, or more frequent draws.

One advantage of more frequent draws is the effect they can have on the minimum CRS score. This effect was made clear in the January 30 draw, which took place only one week after the previous invitation round on January 23 and saw the minimum CRS score drop from 443 to a 16-month low of 438.

The fact only one week was allowed to pass between draws meant the Express Entry pool had less time to replenish with higher-scoring candidates.

Express Entry-linked provincial nominee programs

A number of Express Entry-linked provincial immigration streams also got off to big starts in January.

Nine Canadian provinces and two territories have provincial nominee programs that allow them to nominate a set number of economic immigration candidates each year for permanent residence.

Each participating province and territory has at least one immigration stream that is connected to the Express Entry system and allows it to nominate Express Entry candidates for permanent residence in that province or territory.

Express Entry candidates who are nominated by a province or territory receive an additional 600 points toward their CRS score, moving them to the front of the line for an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream is one of the most active Express Entry-linked provincial nominee streams and January was no exception.

The stream allows the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to search the federal Express Entry pool for candidates who meet the stream’s federal and provincial eligibility criteria.

On January 14, Ontario issued 1,493 Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry candidates with scores as low as 439 through the Human Capital Priorities Stream.

Ontario also issued 470 NOIs to Express Entry candidates through its Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams in January.

Other provinces that invited Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in January were Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island.

Nova Scotia invited 300 Express Entry candidates with work experience as financial auditors or accountants through its Labour Market Priorities Stream, which allows the province to search the Express Entry pool for candidates who meet specified labour needs and invited them to apply for a provincial nomination.

Express Entry candidates were also among nearly 700 immigration candidates invited through Manitoba’s Skilled Worker Overseas Stream in January. The stream operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) basis that requires Express Entry candidates to register a profile with the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program as a first step to being considered for a provincial nomination.

Like Manitoba, the province Saskatchewan also uses an Expression of Interest system to select Express Entry candidates for a provincial nomination. Saskatchewan held its first draw of the year on January 16, issuing 362 invitations to Express Entry candidates.

On Canada’s West Coast, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program held weekly draw through January that included invitations to registered Express Entry candidates in the province’s Express Entry-linked Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories.

Express Entry candidates who have registered an EOI profile with Prince Edward Island were also among 91 immigration candidates who were issued invitations in a draw held January 17.

A look at British Columbia Express Entry nominations in 2018

British Columbia nominated 3,100 candidates in the federal Express Entry system for Canadian permanent residence in 2018 through its provincial nominee program, the BC PNP. 

Figures provided to CIC News by the BC PNP show the majority of these nominations  — 1,999 — were issued through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) Skilled Worker category, which is open to skilled foreign workers with work experience and a job offer in an eligible high-demand occupation in the province.

Another 936 nominations were issued through the EEBC: International Graduate category and 165 went Express Entry candidates through the EEBC: International Post-Graduate category.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High Skilled economic immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class and the Canadian Experience Class.

British Columbia’s EEBC categories allow the BC PNP to select eligible Express Entry candidatesand nominate them for permanent residence in the province.

The main advantage of a provincial nomination for Express Entry candidates is the 600 additional points that the nominated candidate receives toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which effectively assures an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

A full-time, permanent job offer in the province is required in order to be eligible for the EEBC: Skilled Worker category and the EEBC: International Graduate category, which is open to Express Entry candidates who graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college within the last three years.

A job offer is not required in order to receive a nomination through the EEBC: International Post-Graduate category, which is open to international graduates of eligible B.C. institutions who have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree in an eligible scientific discipline.

Express Entry candidates who wish to be considered for a provincial nomination through the EEBC: Skilled Worker and EEBC: International Graduate categories are required to register via the province’s points-based Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), which helps B.C. to select workers who are best-suited to its labour market needs.

SIRS registrants are given a score based on factors that include their job offer, its location and annual wage. Points are also awarded for their education, related work experience and proficiency in English.

The BC PNP also requires that a candidate’s potential employer meet specified eligibility requirements.

Candidates who are not in the Express Entry pool can be nominated through one of the BC PNP’s Skills Immigration nomination streams.

These so-called “base nomination” streams issued 3,339 nominations in 2018, of which 1,699 went to candidates in the Skills Immigration: Skilled Worker category.

Another 61 nominations were issued through the BC PNP’s Entrepreneur Immigration Stream.

British Columbia had an allocation of 6,500 nominations through Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program in 2018.

Canada opened its door to more than 40,000 immigration applicants in January

If the first month of 2019 was any indication, Canada should have no trouble achieving its goal of welcoming one million immigrants by the end of 2021. 

January saw the Government of Canada and provinces across the country open the door to more than 40,000 potential applicants through key economic immigration and family sponsorship programs.

Both economic immigration and family sponsorship are central components for Canada’s newthree-year immigration levels plan, which has a target of 331,000 new permanent residents for 2019.

This number is set to rise to 341,000 in 2020 and reach 350,000 by 2021 — nearly one per cent of Canada’s population. A one per cent immigration rate is considered vital for ensuring the continued growth of Canada’s labour force and economy in the years ahead.

The majority of these new arrivals are expected through Canada’s various economic immigration programs, namely those managed by the federal Express Entry system and Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program.

Canada’s Express Entry system is its principal source of skilled foreign labour and expedites permanent residence applications from immigration candidates with the talents needed to integrate quickly into Canada’s labour market.

January saw the Express Entry system get off to its biggest start ever, issuing 11,150 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Invitations are based on a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which considers factors such as age, education, work experience and proficiency in English or French.

January’s Express Entry ITA record came on the heels of a banner 2018 for the Express Entry system, which issued 89,800 invitations to apply for permanent residence over the course of the year — the most ever in its five-year history.

Given Canada’s higher admissions targets for 2019 and 2020 for the three economic immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system, it is expected that a new record will be set this year.

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program, or PNP, also contributed to the impressive numbers produced in January.

The PNP allows participating provinces and territories to nominate a set number of economic immigration candidates for permanent residence.

Nearly 5,000 immigration candidates were issued invitations to apply for a provincial nomination last month through programs in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Another big factor in January was the reopening of Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) to new expressions of interest.

The Parents and Grandparents Program provides an opportunity to eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents over the age of 18 to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada.

The first step in the process is completing an Interest to Sponsor form, which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made available on January 28 on a first-in, first-served basis.

IRCC had a target of 27,000 expressions of interest for the PGP’s reopening, which it met in a matter of minutes.

The next step in the process is inviting eligible interested sponsors to apply to the program. IRCC will issue invitations in the order Interest to Sponsor forms were received.

Family reunification is a central pillar of Canada’s immigration program. As IRCC noted in its 2018 report to Parliament, “family reunification plays an essential role in attracting, retaining and integrating newcomers so that they are able to build successful lives in Canada.”

Parents and Grandparents sponsorship: The Super Visa option

The latest expression of interest period of Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program on January 28 saw more than 100,000 individuals try to access the required form and only 27,000 get through. 

In response to widespread criticism that the process was unfair, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said eligible sponsors who did not manage to submit an Interest to Sponsor form on January 28 may still be able to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada on a temporary basis on what’s known as a Super Visa.

A Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa that is valid for up to 10 years and allows eligible parents and grandparents to visit their family in Canada for up to two years at a time.

The Super Visa is ideal for parents and grandparents living in countries that require aTemporary Resident Visa (TRV) for entry to Canada, who will be able to travel freely between Canada and their country of residence without having to re-apply for a TRV after six months.

The Super Visa is a popular option because it is available year round and has a lower income requirement than Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program.

IRCC says most applications for a Super Visa are processed within a few weeks, thoughprocessing times vary depending on the visa office.

In order to apply for a Super Visa, a parent or grandparent must:

• Have a signed letter from a child or grandchild who invites them to Canada that includes:
  • a promise of financial support for the duration of their visit
  • the list and number of people in the household of this person
  • a copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document

• Have medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that:
  • is valid for at least one year from the date of entry
  • provides at least $100,000 for minimum coverage
  • have proof that the medical insurance has been paid (quotes aren’t accepted)

The recipient must also:

• be allowed to enter Canada
• take an immigration medical exam

IRCC says Super Visa applicants must be a genuine visitor to Canada who will leave by choice at the end of their visit.

New Express Entry draw caps record January, minimum CRS hits 16-month low

A new Express Entry draw held January 30 saw the number of invitations issued this month rise to 11,150, making this the biggest start to a year in the Express Entry system’s five-year history.  

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in today’s draw was 438, which is a five-point reduction over the previous invitation round on January 23 and the lowest minimum score for an all-program draw through Canada’s Express Entry system since October 4, 2017.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High Skilled economic immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for these categories are entered into the Express Entry pool and are given a ranking score that is based on factors such as their age, education, work experience and proficiency in English or French.

The highest-scoring candidates are then issued invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular invitation rounds, which are typically held every two weeks.

The one-week interval between last week and this week’s draw helps explain today’s low score — less time between draws means the pool of candidates has less time to replenish with higher-scoring candidates.

IRCC applied its tie-break rule in the January 30 draw. The time stamp used was April 26, 2018, at 05:00:46 UTC. This means that all candidates with a CRS score above 438, as well as those candidates with scores of 438, who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before the selected date and time, received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in this invitation round.

The 3,350 ITAs issued in today’s draw brings this month’s ITA total to 11,150 — the most invitations issued in January since the Express Entry system’s introduction in 2015.

This quick start reflects Canada’s higher admissions targets for 2019 and 2020 for candidates in its three Federal High Skilled economic immigration categories, most of whom have their applications for permanent resident status processed through the Express Entry system.

In order to meet its admissions targets for 2019 and 2020, it is expected that IRCC will have to issue more ITAs over the course of this year than it did in 2018 — a year that saw IRCC set a new ITA record.

The following are hypothetical examples of candidates who would have obtained an ITA in the January 30 draw:

Jade is 29-years-old and holds a bachelor’s degree. She has been working for three years outside Canada as an administrative assistant. She has never studied or worked in Canada. Jade took the IELTS exam, and obtained a score of 8 in each category. Her CRS score of 438 would have been sufficient to obtain an ITA in today’s draw.

Melanie and Christian are 33 and 35-years-old, respectively. Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree as well as a two-year certificate and has been working for three years as a human resources consultant. Christian holds a bachelor’s degree and has been working for five years as a rental agent.  Neither has studied or worked in Canada.

Melanie took the IELTS exam and obtained a score of 8 in listening and reading and a score of 7 in speaking and writing. Christian also took the IELTS, and obtained a score of 6 under all categories. Melanie applied as the principal applicant and her CRS score of 438 would have been sufficient to obtain an ITA in today’s draw.

Open Work Permit Pilot for sponsored spouses and common-law partners in Canada extended

Canada’s federal government is extending its Open Work Permit Pilot for sponsored spouses and common-law partners who are living in Canada and in the process of applying for permanent residence under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.  

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said the Open Work Permit Pilot program, which was set to expire on January 31, 2019, will be extended until July 31, 2020.

This marks the fourth time the Open Work Permit Pilot has been extended since its introduction in 2014.

The pilot allows eligible spouses and common-law partners who are living in Canada and who are being sponsored by Canadian citizens or permanent residents under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class (SCLPC) to apply for an open work permit.

An open work permit is one that is not tied to a specific job or employer. Employment in childcare and healthcare is, however, restricted to those who have obtained the required medical clearance.

In order to be eligible, they must have valid temporary resident status, either as a visitor, student or worker, and live at the same address as their sponsor, among other criteria.

“Canada recognizes that when families can work while living together, their integration outcomes are improved. Extending this pilot ensures applicants are able to work, provide for their families and contribute to the Canadian economy while waiting for their permanent resident applications to be processed,” IRCC said in an update published January 30, 2019.

How to Obtain the Open Work Permit

Individuals applying under the Open Work Permit Pilot may submit a work permit application at the same time as your sponsorship application, along with an application for permanent residence.

Applicants who have already submitted an application for permanent residence but have not yet obtained a work permit, may submit a work permit application separately.

Applicants who have already received approval in principle on your permanent residence application – meaning they have received a letter from IRCC stating they meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements, but they (or their family members) have not yet passed the medical, security and background checks – may apply for an open work permit online.

IRCC says that individuals who have a work permit obtained through the pilot program must apply for work permit extension before their current permit expires.

Manitoba issues new invitations to immigration candidates, bringing January total to 1,082

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program held its second Expression of Interest draw of 2019 on January 31 for candidates in its Skilled Worker Overseas, Skilled Worker in Manitoba and International Education immigration streams.

The program, known as the MPNP, issued 456 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence to candidates across the three streams.

The MPNP’s Skilled Worker in Manitoba, Skilled Worker Overseas and International Education streams employ an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to select candidates.

The Government of Manitoba requires eligible graduates, who are interested in applying for immigration under the MPNP’s International Education Stream, to register for an information session before submitting any forms. 

Under the EOI system, candidates register a profile with the MPNP and provide the required information on their education, work experience, proficiency in English or French, among other factors.

Eligible candidates are then awarded a score and the highest-scoring candidates are issued Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) through regular draws. 

An unspecified number of candidates in the federal Express Entry system were issued LAAs through the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream’s Express Entry Pathway.

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada’s main economic immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class and the Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their ranking score, which effectively guarantees an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

In order to be eligible for this pathway, candidates must have profiles in both the Express Entry system and the MPNP’s EOI system.

Express Entry candidates were one of two groups of Skilled Worker Overseas candidates who were issued a combined total of 299 LAAs in the January 31 draw. The lowest-ranked candidate in these two groups had a score of 572.

Those Express Entry candidates who were invited had to have a valid Express Entry ID and job seeker validation code and at least six months of recent work experience in an occupation that the MPNP has listed as in-demand.

A second group of Skilled Worker Overseas candidates who received an LAA had the following:

• a close relative residing in Manitoba or past education or work experience in Manitoba;
• at least 6 months of recent experience in an occupation on Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list; and
• a minimum language proficiency of CLB/NCLC 5 unless work experience is primarily in a regulated occupation (minimum CLB/NCLC 7) or a compulsory trade (CLB/NCLC 6).

A further 16 invitations to apply for provincial nomination for permanent residence were issued to Skilled Worker Overseas candidates through one of the MPNP’s Strategic Recruitment Initiatives. The lowest-ranked candidate to receive an invitation with this group had a score of 705.

Strategic Recruitment Initiatives include overseas recruitment missions conducted by the MPNP.

Skilled Worker in Manitoba and International Education Stream

The MPNP also issued 124 invitations to Skilled Worker in Manitoba candidates with scores as low as 575. 

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream is for eligible qualified temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently working in Manitoba and have been offered a permanent job with their Manitoba employer.

An additional 17 invitations went to International Education Stream candidates.

Created last year, this stream provides faster pathways to permanent residence for international graduates of Manitoba post-secondary institutions who have skills required by employers in the province.

The International Education Stream has three pathways — Career Employment Pathway,Graduate Internship Pathway, and the Student Entrepreneur Pathway.