Category based draws - GS Immigration Advisors

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Category based draws

NEWS

“Immigration Levels Plan 2024: How It Impacts Express Entry Success Rates”

The most recent Immigration Levels Plan in Canada has important ramifications for foreigners using the Express Entry system to apply for permanent residence. The Plan states that additional seats for permanent residency have been set aside for Express Entry applicants in 2025. These modifications should be advantageous to two categories of candidates: Canadian candidates; and applicants who are eligible for drawings based on categories. In 2025, it will likely be more difficult for candidates who do not fit into the aforementioned emphasis categories to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) through Express Entry. Increase in the allotment for Express Entry The federal government actually boosted the funding for Express Entry even though it reduced the goals for admissions of permanent residents by around 20% for 2025: 2025 target – current Plan 2025 target – last year’s Plan 2024 target – last year’s Plan 124,680 117,500 110,770 The combined 2025 objective of 124,680 for the “In-Canada Focus” and “Economic Priorities” categories is higher than the 2024 target as well as the 2025 target from the Immigration Levels Plan from the previous year. In 2024, the IRCC set a target of 110,770 for the “federal high skilled” (FHS) category, which includes the three federal immigration programs controlled by Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The IRCC set a goal of 117,500 for FHS in 2025 in the Immigration Levels Plan from the previous year. Applicants hoping to enter through programs run by Express Entry should anticipate receiving more invites in 2025 than in 2024. Canadian candidate prioritization The IRCC added a new category called “In-Canada Focus” to the budget for economic immigration for programs run by Express Entry in this year’s Plan. With the creation of this category, candidates who are already residing in Canada might anticipate that their chances of being invited to apply (ITA) would rise in 2025. For 2025, IRCC set a target of 82,980 for this category—about 42% of the federal economic immigration target of 197,650.* Overseas candidates for the FSWP or FSTP can expect reduced chances of receiving ITAs. *We’ve taken the total economic immigration target of 232,150 and subtracted the 34,500 for Quebec Skilled Workers and Business. Quebec controls its own immigration targets and admissions. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

Candidates Receiving ITAs Through Category-Based Selection Draws 

Candidates in Canada’s Express Entry pool with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores below 500 now have an improved pathway to permanent residency through eligibility for category-based selection draws. These draws, initiated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2023, focus on certain skills and professions crucial to Canada’s labor market and demographic goals. Unlike general and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, which have required CRS scores above 500 throughout 2024, category-based selection draws often set lower CRS cut-offs, giving candidates in specific fields a greater chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).  Get a Free Express Entry Assessment Overview of Category-Based Selection  IRCC’s category-based selection draws were launched to prioritize candidates in occupations or skills deemed high-need by Canada. These categories currently include:  French-language proficiency  Healthcare occupations  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations  Trade occupations  Transport occupations  Agriculture and agri-food occupations  To qualify for a category-based selection draw, candidates need at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience within their field in the past three years, either in Canada or abroad. Those applying through the French proficiency category must have Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) test results with a minimum score of seven across all language abilities.  Examples of Candidates Eligible for Category-Based Selection Draws  The following profiles illustrate how category-based selection draws assist candidates with CRS scores under 500 in receiving ITAs:  Example 1: Transport Occupations  Ahmad, a 32-year-old aircraft assembly inspector from the United Arab Emirates, has a master’s degree in aviation technology and advanced English proficiency (CLB 9). Though he has no Canadian work experience or degree from a Canadian institution, his CRS score is as follows:  Core Human Capital: 353/460  Skill Transferability: 100/100  Additional Factors: 0/600  Total CRS Score: 453  Factors determining CRS scores Qualifications Points accrued Age 32 94 Education Master’s degree 135 English language proficiency CLB 9 124 Skills Transferability: Education (language + post-secondary degree)  CLB 9 + Master’s degree 50 Skills Transferability:Foreign work experience (language + foreign work experience)  CLB 9 + 4 years of work experience 50 In March 2024, a Transport category draw had a CRS cut-off of 430. Ahmad’s score would have made him eligible for an ITA, had he been in the Express Entry pool at that time.  Example 2: Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations  Alvin, a 34-year-old from the Philippines, completed a three-year post-secondary degree in landscape design and horticulture in Canada and has worked as a landscape supervisor in Canada for three years. With high intermediate English skills (CLB 8), his CRS score is calculated as follows:  Core Human Capital: 367/460  Skill Transferability: 50/100  Additional Factors: 30/600  Total CRS Score: 447  Factors determining CRS score Qualifications Points accrued Age 34 83 Education Two or more post secondary courses 128 English language proficiency CLB 8 92 Canadian work experience 3 years 64 Skills transferability: Education (language + Canadian work experience)  CLB 8 + 3 years of work experience 50 Additional factors: Canadian post-secondary education   30 The February 16, 2024, agriculture occupations draw had a cut-off score of 437, meaning Alvin’s score would have qualified him for an ITA.  Example 3: French-Language Proficiency  Sara, a 27-year-old accountant from Morocco, holds a three-year degree in finance and has three years of relevant work experience. With advanced French (CLB 9) and intermediate English (CLB 5), her CRS score is as follows:  Core Human Capital: 358/460  Skill Transferability: 75/100  Additional Factors: 50/600  Total CRS Score: 483  Factors determining CRS score Qualifications Points accrued Age 27 110 Education Post secondary degree 120 French language proficiency CLB 9 124 English language proficiency CLB 5 4 Skills transferability: Education (language + Canadian work experience)  Points for language skills 25 Skills transferability:Foreign work experience (language + Canadian work experience)  Points for language skills 50 Additional factors: Proficient in French CLB 9 50 The most recent French language proficiency draw, held on October 10, 2024, had a cut-off of 444, so Sara’s score would qualify her for an ITA in this category.  Evolving Focus of Category-Based Selections  Canada’s category-based draws are responsive to evolving economic and labor market requirements. In 2023, nearly a third of ITAs went to candidates with STEM experience, while 2024 has seen increased emphasis on French language proficiency. IRCC anticipates that French-language candidates will receive approximately 30% of all ITAs this year, aligning with the federal goal of attracting more French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec. Targets for francophone newcomers settling outside Quebec are set to increase to 6% in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026.  The IRCC plans to introduce new categories based on input from provincial representatives, industry stakeholders, and immigration experts.  Impact of Category-Based Selections on CRS Cut-Off Scores  Since the adoption of category-based draws, general Express Entry draws have decreased, with the last one held in April 2024. Draws for CEC, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and category-based selections have become more frequent, with some weeks seeing up to three draws.  Category-based draws have influenced CRS cut-offs, with general draw cut-offs rising from an average of 489 in early 2023 to 536 in 2024—a nearly 50-point increase. Meanwhile, CRS cut-offs for category-based draws have varied, sometimes dropping significantly, as seen in the French proficiency draw on February 29, 2024, where the cut-off was 336.  All candidates eligible for category-based draws should ensure their profiles remain updated to take advantage of future selections that match their qualifications and expertise.  Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

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