Before the coronavirus pandemic, express entry draws were adequately predictable. Even though it was not a formal policy, IRCC often held draws on Wednesdays every 14 days. Every draw would naturally feature more than 3,000 ITA (invitation to apply) for permanent residence and a CRS (comprehensive ranking system) cut-off of about 470 points. Everything was stable then, as express entry’s guidelines and goals had stayed hugely intact since the structure was presented in January 2015. Furthermore, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was almost close to attaining its objective of processing 80% of Express Entry PR applications within six months or lower and, therefore, could go ahead to allocate new invitations to apply in frequent intervals, which provided additional confidence to Express Entry applicants. Since the beginning of the coronavirus, Express Entry draws have taken place with a far lower extent of predictability. There is no other occurrence method of when a draw will happen, the type of draw, the number of invitations to apply, or comprehensive ranking system cut-off marks. In 2023, for instance, observed express entry draws occur often, approximately after two weeks, up to June. Once Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada presented a classification-founded option, draws started taking place more often, as Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sought to attain a more comprehensive array of guidelines objectives, which includes talking about labor depletions and embracing additional Francophone settlers.
From 27th June till 15th August, when classification-based choices were proposed, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) performed 12 express entry draws. This was outstanding; according to past trends, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would generally execute between 4-8 draws over a similar duration. IRCC then held off on allocating Express Entry requests for one month before holding an additional nine draws between 19th September and 26th October.
Since 26th October, there has not been a draw, and neither has Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) illustrated prospective motives for the stop. Hence, there are so many primary aspects that may have an impact on the time IRCC performs express entry draws.
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Immigration Levels Strategy
Annually, Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) discharges an immigration levels plan to set the target for the number of PR entries that will enter Canada every year for the next three years. These targets are again summarized by classification, which includes Express Entry applicants.
For instance, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada intends to welcome 110,770 immigrants through Express Entry in 2024 and 117,550 in 2025 and 2026. These digits relate to the leading candidate who obtains an Express Entry invitation to apply and their qualified spouses and kids or dependents whom they can attach to their permanent residence request.
To ensure that IRCC fulfills these targets, it must steadily assess the number of permanent residence requests in the processing line. Suppose there are sufficient requests for Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada to satisfy its targets for the present and years to come. In that case, it may be optional for the division to allocate more invitations to apply. If there are not sufficient applications in the processing line, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada will possibly execute more draws or allocate an increased number of invitations to apply.
When deciding on the number of invitations to apply to allocate to the target, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada regards the present year and the year to come since it takes six months to run an Express Entry applicant’s last application. This implies that invitation to apply allocated in the previous part of 2023 will likely lead to a permanent resident concluding their arrival in 2024.
IRCC Policy Goals
The division must also regard the kinds of draws it must hold to meet its policy goals. The immigration minister for Canada possesses authorization to boost the federal economy. The immigration minister performs this by allocating directions to invite new immigrants who have the mastery to take on the spaces in the labor force and donate to the economy as fast as they can after arriving in Canada.
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Another significant way this can be done is by allocating Express Entry requests to PNP applicants. Deciding on which applicant to invite takes a long time and deliberations. It can lead to interval stops to Express Entry draws as Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada assesses its choices. For instance, the minister is required to conclude if applicants are required to obtain invitations in every program draw, which regards applicants from the three Express Entry managed schemes, or if it is sensible to hold program-particular draws or invite applicants in classification-based rounds of requests.
In 2021, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) seeks to attain its objective of arriving more than 400,000 new PR, notwithstanding ongoing difficulties with the COVID-19 pandemic, including processing delays and travel limitations. One primary method it took to attain this objective is by performing large Express Entry draws for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, as so many of them were already in Canada. It would be faster for Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada to get them as PR. Recently, after it opened classification-based choices, IRCC has performed more draws to provide broader policy goals, which has to do with the following:
- Facilitate financial expansion in parts of the nation.
- Invite applicants with increased human capital who are adequately maintained to merge into the Canadian labor market.
- Promote temporary PR transitions.
- Boost francophone societies outside of Quebec.
- Inviting applicants with job skills in STEM, transportation, healthcare, experienced trades, and agriculture.
Modifications to The CRS and Express Entry Profiles
Periodic modifications to the CRS and other Express Entry profile modifications may affect Express Entry draws. While this does not occur every day, a modification in how Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada issues CRS points to particular qualities that can affect the frequency of Express Entry draws. For instance, in 2020, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada increased the number of CRS points applicants could obtain for French skills. When this takes place, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is required to conclude many technical updates to make sure that every existing profile is updated with appropriate CRS scores. Furthermore, using another instance, IRCC in 2022, was required to phase out NOC Skill Types in favor of the new TEER structure.
It’s Problems
IT problems, which have to do with glitches, are another aspect that can affect Express Entry. Recently, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated a problem with the Express Entry profile developer. Due to the glitch, applicants who have already obtained an Invitation to Apply may need help to upload their last PR application within 60 days. On 29th November 2023, IRCC declared that candidates who can not upload their profiles due to the glitch will have another 60 days to present their requests.
The rollout of new structures may lead to Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) glitches. For instance, at a recent conference of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, the deputy minister for immigration, Christiane Fox, stated that there were some IT issues due to the intro of classification-based choice rounds of requests.
When glitches like this occur, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may conclude to hold off on draws until it settles the issue. Again, no Express Entry draws were done between 23rd November 2022 and 11th January 2023 because of an IT issue linked to updates to the NOC structure. The glitch led to some unqualified applicants being allocated an Invitation to Apply.
Staffing Alterations at IRCC
An alteration in staff can also affect Express Entry draws. This could be anything from a new minister for immigration or deputy minister to other staff accountable for Express Entry. It takes time for officials to get up to speed in their new roles. Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reorganizing after ex-deputy minister Neil Yeates pointed out the division’s inadequacy. In the report, he suggested restructuring the organization of Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) according to business areas. In a talk with Paul Wells, the deputy minister stated that the division has started planning modifications to reflect some suggestions. This would invariably affect officials within the division.
