It was one of the most significant years in the express entry system; despite the hits, the Canadian government took its immigration level to the greater extent in 2020.
This year, Canada ended off by issuing 1,07,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the express entry applicants. This figure was one of the highest invitations since the launch of the express entry system in the year 2015 to handle a pool of applicants for Canada’s three Federal High-Skilled immigration programs— the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Also, some of its Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
Canada’s immigration department Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) organized 36 invitation rounds in 2020. These figures are ten times greater than the last year as in the recent weeks of the pandemic; IRCC was managing only those draws, which have targeted CEC and PNP candidates. This was performed to prioritize Express entry candidates who were already in Canada.
This year 2020 has broken records of both the highest and the smaller express entry draw. The smallest draw was the only PNP draw, which took place on April 15 when 118 invitations were issued. When this year 2020 was about to end, the Canadian government started to managing 5,000 ITAs at a time.
The reason behind the increase in the draw size might be an attempt to accomplish the target of reaching 401,000 new permanent residents. After obtaining an ITA, those candidates who apply for permanent residents are often given a decision in six months. Those applicants who received ITAs at the end of 2020 will turn into permanent residents in 2021.
As 401,000 new immigrants are expected to welcome in the next year, Canada has allocated 108,500 to invite through the Express Entry-managed program in the upcoming year 2021. All these objectives go up only in the subsequent years, a maximum of 113,750 in 2023.
The increased target is relatively low just because of the lower admission level that Canada faced in 2020. The imposed travel restrictions in Canada and worldwide made it immensely difficult for many immigrants to arrive in Canada.
Draw Sizes in 2020
This year 2020, begins with a steady increase in draw sizes. A gigantic figure in the first quarter was on February 19; at that time, IRCC issued 4,500 invitations.
The PNP-only draw took place on March 18, on the same day when the travel restrictions were imposed on Canada and worldwide.
This draw only issues 668 ITAs. This happened for the first time after introducing the new Express Entry system when IRCC manages to hold just a small PNP – only draw figure pursues by a larger CEC-only draw. Both the draw size would add up to a round figure, thereabout between 3,600 and 3,900.
There was one all-program that was organized first in July and another in August. Canada returns to hold consistent all-program draws held in September. From that time, the figure rises from 4,200 to a record-breaking 5,000 ITAs per draw.
Moreover, there was only one Federal Skilled Trades draw in 2020. Overall, 250 skilled trades’ workers were admitted on August 6.
Minimum Required Score
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is set by considering how many high-scoring applicants Canada chooses to admit in any given round. When the applicants visit the pool, the date and time are the main factors when IRCC puts in the tiebreak rule for the applicants awaiting the minimum CRS cutoff.
In the overall program draw, it does not matter in which programs applicants are in. IRCC only welcomes the high-scoring candidates. PNP-specific draws frequently require a higher score as obtaining a provincial nomination automatically rewards the applicants with an additional 600 points considering their CRS score.
CEC draws require high score requirements as they are not competing with the several other high-scoring candidates in the FSWP or the PNP. FSTP draws of quiet lower CRS cutoffs as Canada only admits a few at a time, and they make a more small part of the Express Entry pool of candidates.
The smallest CRS cutoff score for 2020 was 415, and it was an FSTP draw. Moreover, the smallest CEC score eligibility was 431 on June 25.
The CRS requirement has now come down to 468 on December 23 for the overall program draw. Moreover, Canada has never seen such a drop-down in a CRS requirement since October 2019.
Express Entry 2021
With the motive to accomplish the set target for the upcoming year, Canada must approve even more 8,946 Express Entry Applicants every month by organizing two draws every month, which is about 4,473 applicants.
For that applicant who doesn’t want to arrive in Canada or if their application was not approved, Canada will have to welcome more than 4,500 applicants in each draw in 2021.