This is a surprise Canada Express Entry draws in two consecutive weeks. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its second draw of January 18, 2023. IRCC has now invited 11,000 total Express Entry candidates in only two draws in 2023.
Canada has held its second Canada Express Entry draw on 18 Jan, 2023. A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490 was required for invitations to be sent out to 5,500 candidates by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
As the second Express Entry round of invitations in as many weeks, this draw was unexpected. On January 11, the IRCC had just completed a draw for which it had also invited 5,500 applicants. The CRS cut-off score decreased by 17 points between draws, falling to 507 for last week’s draw. The score for this draw was originally published by IRCC as 507, but it has now been changed to the accurate 490. The first drawing since November 23, 2022 was last week. Every two weeks on Wednesdays, Express Entry draws often take place. The IRCC has not explained why there was a break in draws during this time.
However, the fact that draws have occurred in consecutive weeks to begin 2023 suggests that IRCC wants to bring in more skilled immigrants this year. The 11,000 ITAs already granted surpass the previous record of 10,000 ITAs issued in January 2021 to mark Express Entry’s fastest start since it was introduced in 2015.
Express Entry offers the fastest service standard of all of Canada’s more than 100 different skilled immigration channels, granting permanent residency to the majority of successful applicants in under six months.
Express Entry’s quick start to the year is a part of what is probably going to be a busy year for the primary skilled immigration channel of the IRCC.
