As 2018 comes to a close, record breaking Canadian immigration draws pile up. Not only are more applicants being issued invitations to apply (ITAs), the minimum cut off points are also hitting record lows. The prairie province of Saskatchewan is no different. On 1 November, 2018 Saskatchewan held its largest Occupation In-Demand and Express Entry draw of this year! Learn how you can make this picturesque province your home below.
Canadian Immigration to Saskatchewan is Booming!
The Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand draws together saw the issue of 926 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. This is by far the largest draw for Saskatchewan so far. Of the 926 invitations, 671 was for the Occupation In-Demand subcategory and the remaining 255 was for Saskatchewan Express Entry linked Provincial Nominee Program.
Saskatchewan Occupation In-Demand Subcategory
The draw of 1 November saw a record high of 671 invitations to apply being issued to eligible candidates and that is not the only news to celebrate. What made this draw particularly special is that the lowest ranked candidate had a score of 61 points, which is the lowest score we have seen in 2018. Remember this score is not your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Rather, it refers to your score based off of Saskatchewan’s point assessment grid. This grid is specific to Saskatchewan and looks at the following selection factors.
| Selection Factor |
Maximum Points |
| Education and training |
23 |
| Skilled work experience |
15 |
| Language ability |
20 |
| Age |
12 |
| Connection to Saskatchewan labour market |
30 |
The minimum pass mark for the point assessment grid is 60. In addition to meeting this requirement, you must also have at least one year of work experience in one of the province’s In-Demand occupations during the past 10 years. If you would like to immigrate to Canada easily, Saskatchewan’s In-Demand subcategory may be your best Canadian immigration option because you don’t need a job offer to qualify!
Saskatchewan Express Entry Subcategory
The Saskatchewan Express Entry draw also broke a record for the lowest-ranked candidate. The latest draw issued 225 invitations to apply and the minimum cut-off mark was 60 points on the points assessment grid. Candidates must have at least 60 points to qualify for the subcategory, meaning this draw saw that every person who qualified received an ITA. This subcategory is linked to the Federal Express Entry system. The Express Entry system has become the most popular route to Canada because it enjoys a fast average processing time of six months. Candidates who receive a provincial nomination are awarded 600 points towards their CRS score essentially guaranteeing them a spot in the next Express Entry draw.
| You need to meet the following requirements to qualify for this subcategory |
| You must be entered into the Express Entry pool with an Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code. |
| You must Score at least 60 points on the points assessment grid. |
| You must provide language test results that match what was entered on your Express Entry profile. |
| You must have a tertiary qualification that meets Canadian standards. |
| You must have work experience in a highly skilled in occupation that is in-demand in Saskatchewan. |
| You must have enough money to settle in the province. |
How Does the Expression of Interest System Work?
In July of 2018, Saskatchewan introduced an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Before you can be selected during a draw, you must create an EOI profile. The profile requires of you to answer some basic questions about yourself. You are assigned a points assessment grid score based off of your answers and then ranked against other candidates in Saskatchewan’s EOI pool. Those with the highest scores are most likely to be selected in the next draw. You have 60 days to submit your application once you receive an ITA. If you would like to make Canada your home, now is the perfect time to apply. Canada is set to welcome over 1,3 million newcomers into the country by the year 2021. Take charge of this opportunity while there are still many spots available.
There are over 70 Canadian immigration programs to choose from so let us handle your application today.
