Express Entry Draw Number 147 and 148

On the 13th and 15th of May 2020, Canada held it’s 147th and 148th Express Entry draws respectively, inviting another 3,900 applicants to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The first draw was exclusively for applicants who had received provincial nominations. A total of 529 candidates with a provincial nomination, which is worth 600 points on your Comprehensive Rankings Score (CRS), were sent Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. The cutoff CRS score for this draw was 718 points, which means only 118 points came from the Human Capital Category out of a possible 600! What this comes down to is that a provincial nomination is a hot ticket.

Once you earn one, you are just about guaranteed an invitation to apply for permanent residency. In the ongoing fashion, the much larger second draw focused on the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), one of three Express Entry programs. And in an ongoing fashion, the cut-off CRS score continued to be lower. 3,371 CEC Express Entry applicants were issued ITA’s a cut-off score of 447 points. Counting these latest Express Entry draws, this brings the total number of ITA’s issued to 38,200 for 2020. The Immigration, Refugees Council Canada (IRCC) has stayed true to its goal of inviting 85,800 skilled and qualified immigrants to immigrate to Canada in 2020, which is exceptional considering the condition the global migration system has been in this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s first take a quick look at how the Provincial Nomination Program works, and then we will look at the Canadian Experience Class program, it’s requirements and which option may be the smartest path to becoming a permanent resident in Canada.

Start Your Journey

Provincial Nomination Program

You can apply for a provincial nomination by creating an expression of interest in a particular province that you wish to live and work in on your Express Entry profile. If your skillset and/or qualifications matches up with the province’s labour demands, they will issue you with a provincial nomination, which will contribute 600 points out of the overall 1,200 points available on your CRS score, pushing you to the very top of the Express Entry pool and into a much smaller group awaiting the next Express Entry draw. You can improve your chances of earning a provincial nomination by:

• Creating an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the right province - different provinces have different human capital requirements while some provinces have immigration streams dedicated to certain professions. Know if a province needs you before you create your EOI.
• Make sure your profile is complete and that you highlight the best parts of yourself - don't make false claims, when it comes to work experience and/or qualifications. If you are invited to apply you will need to back up your application.

The Canadian Experience Class Program

The differentiating factor between the Canada Experience Class and the other two immigration programs in the Express Entry system is that applicants must have at least 1 year of work experience in Canada within the last three years. The work can be in a part-time position, but must then equal one years’ full time work experience. Additional eligibility requirements include:

• The position must fall within the NOC 0, A or B (Managerial jobs, professional jobs and technical jobs or skilled trades);
• You must be able to prove you met or currently meet the requirements of the positions as specified;
• You must score a minimum of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark tests for NOC 0, A or a 5 for NOC B positions;
• There is no education requirement, however you can increase your CRS score by attending a post secondary school in Canada or having your foreign credentials assessed; and
• You must be admissible to Canada.

Working in Canada before relocating here full time might be smart for more than one reason. You will get to see what life is like here, whether you love the food, the country, the people (which you absolutely will) before making the commitment to relocate permanently. Once you do make the decision to stay in Canada, or to return to Canada, it will make the immigration process so much less stressful, because you will already be a head above the rest thanks to your Canadian work experience and the ability to show you can fit in well into your new society. You will need to secure a valid job offer and a work permit before you can set out on this path.

Starting the Application Process

It is entirely possible to move to Canada without a job offer, in fact that is what the Express Entry system is based on for the most part. To receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency you must have an Express Entry profile. If you have a high enough Comprehensive Ranking System score on your profile you will receive an ITA. Remember, receiving an ITA is not the same as receiving your certificate of permanent residency (COPR). You will still need to complete a number of forms and submit all necessary supporting documentation for the information you provided on your profile. It is very important that the information you provide on your Express Entry profile is accurate and represents your skills and experience as effectively as possible.

What We Do at MDC

Navigating the Canadian immigration and visa system can be confusing and intimidating. There are copious amounts of forms to complete, documents to submit and strict submission dates. We wouldn’t blame you for being slow to take off with your application. That's what we’re here for. MDC is an all inclusive immigration and visa service, we take the stress and hassle out of the application process. Our accredited RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are ready to evaluate your eligibility, review all documentation and submit your application and supporting documents on your behalf. Using an RCIC not only gives you the best possible chance of receiving an ITA but will make the entire process simple and stress-free. We handle the paperwork while you secure a good job offer. All you have to do is complete our online eligibility form and we’ll take care of the rest. It's just that simple.