Last Updated on August 19, 2021

Canada has issued 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a new Express Entry draw targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

The August 19 draw featured a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 403 points, one lower than the previous CEC draw.

It follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on August 18 that saw 463 ITAs issued and a minimum CRS score of 751 points.

IRCC has now issued 105,779 ITAs through 32 draws in 2021, including 16 PNP draws totalling 8,126 ITAs, and 16 CEC draws featuring 97,653 ITAs. The CEC draws include an all-time record draw on February 13 that saw 27,332 ITAs issued.

During the coronavirus crisis, IRCC has switched to draws focused on PNP and CEC candidates, given they are more likely to already be in the country as temporary residents.

Canada set a new record for total ITAs in 2020 at 107,350, despite the year being marred by COVID-19. The previous record for ITAs in a calendar year was the 89,800 issued in 2018.

The latest draw saw the tie-breaking rule implemented on August 1, 2021 at 6.13 am EST. If more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before this date and time received invitations.

This was the 32^nd round of invitations under Express Entry in 2021 and 202^nd overall.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on January 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and parts of the Provincial Nomination Programs.

Stakeholders expect to see continued high numbers of invitations issued as Canada builds towards its target of more than 400,000 new permanent residents in 2021, with CRS scores likely to drop.

With the coronavirus crisis striking in March 2020, Canada switched to program-specific draws aimed at Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates. This had the affect of significantly increasing the number of individual draws beyond previous years.

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What Can Employers Do to Recruit Foreign Workers?

Employers are encouraged to consider securing an LMIA or nomination under provincial nomination programs (PNPs) to ensure long-term retention of employees.

At immigration.ca we provide Canadian employers with unparalleled immigration legal services and recruitment of foreign nationals through our in-house Global Recruiters of Montreal, GRNMontreal.com and skilledworker.com. We bring qualified candidates to Canada in the shortest time possible. Employers in a wide range of industries can directly benefit from our unique position as one of Canada’s leading immigration firms in the industry, with a strong online presence, to meet both their recruitment and immigration requirements.

Interested employers wishing to seek our assistance are invited to contact us here for further information.

What Should Candidates Do Next?

Given the coronavirus crisis, it is difficult to predict what CRS scores will be required to secure an ITA in 2021. Scores have dropped as low as 75 for CEC draws.

However, securing an approved offer of employment is highly recommended. Watch our Facebook livestream video on how to find jobs in Canada from overseas.

We offer all our individual clients excellent employment services as well as a 60-minute Live, Face-to-Face LinkedIn tutorial on how to find jobs in all areas of Canada.

Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free online evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.

Resources:

• Immigration.ca News Articles – A daily news source outlining the latest developments in immigration, employment and the economy with commentaries by Attorney Colin Singer.
• At skilledworker.com we are dedicated to developing long-term strategic alliances with client companies and candidates alike. We strictly adhere to our guiding principles of honesty, integrity and confidentiality.

Colin R. Singer is immigration counsel for www.immigration.ca and Managing Partner of Global Recruiters of Montreal, GRNMontreal.com, as well as skilledworker.com. He is one of Canada’s foremost senior corporate immigration attorneys. Colin is internationally recognized as an experienced and recommended authority on Canadian immigration and foreign recruitment. In addition to being a licensed human resources professional, he is a licensed Canadian lawyer in good standing with the Quebec Law Society for more than 25 years and is authorized by the Canadian government in all immigration matters.