First Express Entry Draw of 2024

In the latest draw, IRCC extended invitations to 1,510 candidates to apply for immigration. This round was a general draw, encompassing candidates from various Express Entry managed programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Unlike targeted draws, which focus on specific occupations or human capital attributes, a general draw casts a wider net, providing opportunities to a diverse range of candidates.

To be eligible for consideration in this draw, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 546. This score serves as a key determinant in the Express Entry system, reflecting a candidate’s overall profile based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. Unfortunately, a score of 546 is quite high, resulting in many applicants-in-waiting not being invited to apply.

Leading up to the recent draw, December witnessed a flurry of Express Entry activities with a total of seven draws, marking the highest number of draws in a single month for all of 2023. The draws included both all-program selections and category-based draws tailored to specific occupations and language proficiency criteria.

Among the four most recent draws from December 18-21, three were category-based selections. On December 19, a draw specifically targeted trades occupations, inviting 1,000 candidates with a minimum CRS of 425. The subsequent draw on December 20 focused on transport occupations, extending invitations to 670 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 435. Lastly, the December 21 draw centered around agriculture and agri-food occupations, with 400 candidates receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) and a minimum CRS score requirement of 386.