Updated June 29, 2022: Bill C-19 was passed on June 23, 2022
When Express Entry resumes in July 2022, Director General Philip Somogyvari of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has proposed amendments to division 23 of Bill C-19 that would allow the immigration minister to invite Express Entry candidates based on occupation and economic need. Somogyvari said under the Express Entry changes, the government would make decisions that "will strengthen Canada's capacity to choose applications that meet its economic requirements" after consultation with employer groups, stakeholders, the objectives within the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Employment and Social Development Canada, and provincial and territorial governments.
“Eligibility requirements to be a member of a category would be established by the minister and could be based on factors such as work experience, educational background or language skills.”
The immigration minister would be required to state the economic goal they are attempting to reach and submit an annual report to Parliament on the results of the changes to Express Entry. Eligibility conditions and other specifics to the Express Entry draw will remain available on the IRCC website.
in an email to CIC News, spokesperson Aiden Strickland said that the proposed changes will improve Canada’s ability to select applicants that match its economic needs:
“Through our growing pool of candidates seeking to become permanent residents, this will allow IRCC to conduct targeted draws aimed at selecting those in the queue that have certain language skills or health care qualifications to name a few examples. This will be essential in addressing Canada’s labour shortages.”
Economic Immigration Goals Drive Express Entry Changes
Since December 2020, the pandemic has caused Express Entry draws to prioritize ITAs to candidates with the highest CRS score. Canada is experiencing labour shortages with nearly 1 million job vacancies and a record low unemployment rate of 5.3%. Canada is actively recruiting foreign workers to address the labour crisis, and "immigration will be crucial to easing our labour shortage," said Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
What Is Express Entry?
Launched in January 2015, Express Entry is a way for Canada to choose skilled immigrants to invite to become Permanent Residents of Canada based on their ability to successfully settle in Canada. Express Entry uses a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate the highest-scoring candidates and issue them an Invitation to Apply (ITA). IRCC also uses invites CEC (Canadian Experience Class) and PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) candidates to participate in the Express Entry draws.
The CRS awards points for qualifications including:
- skills
- experience
- education
- language
- family in Canada
CALCULATE YOUR EXPRESS ENTRY SCORE
Ackah Law's Express Entry calculator is a free tool to use as a guide to finding out your CRS score and whether you may qualify to become a Permanent Resident of Canada.
Currently and if BillC-19 changes are approved, an Express Entry applicants's CRS score is their strongest opportunity to get an Invitation to Apply to become a Canadian permanent resident.
Learn More:
Express Entry candidates can stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If they do not get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence within 12 months of submitting an Express Entry profile, they may submit a new profile. If they still meet the criteria, they can re-enter the pool.
Are You Ready to Apply For Express Entry?
Don't wait until July: start your Express Entry application now. An experienced immigration lawyer can save you time and stress - and prevent costly mistakes and missed deadlines. With 50+ years of combined immigration experience, our immigration legal team can identify and resolve potential problems BEFORE they happen. Contact Ackah Business Immigration Law today to discuss your situation at 403-452‑9515.
