IRCC conducted the latest Express Entry draw for the French category on February 1, 2024. The immigration department issued 7,000 invitations to candidates with strong French language skills. The candidates had to meet a minimum CRS score of 365, which turned out to be the lowest until now.
Two other draws occurred in January. The first draw, which took place on January 23, issued invitations to 1,040 candidates who could meet the lowest score cut-off of 543 in a general draw.
Before this one, a draw also occurred on January 10 this year. This draw was also general and issued 1,510 ITAs with the lowest CRS score of 546.
It is still impossible to anticipate the frequency and timing of Express Entry draws this year. However, according to last year’s pattern, IRCC conducted 42 draws and sent over 110,000 ITAs to candidates to help fulfill the admission targets for 2023 and 2024.
2024 Express Entry draw outcomes in a nutshell
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1 | French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
| Jan 31 | General | 730 | 541 |
| Jan 23 | General | 1,040 | 543 |
| Jan 10 | General | 1,510 | 546 |
PGWP latest updates
The Post-Graduation Work Permit is the standard work permit for recent graduates. Most Express Entry candidates obtain their work experience in Canada for their respective programs through their work after graduation. However, IRCC announced specific eligibility criteria for PGWPs on January 22. With effect from September 1, international students in a program at a private college who have a curriculum licensing agreement with a public college won’t qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Those who have graduated in a less than eight-month program will now qualify for a three-year PGWP. Presently, graduates don’t qualify for a PGWP if their program is less than eight months. Additionally, PGWP’s length is valid for the same length as the graduate’s academic program.
For instance, a program of at least one year will have the validity of a one-year permit.
Furthermore, it implies that a rising number of students at the graduate level will have sufficient Canadian work experience to apply for a slot in the pool of Express Entry.
IRCC conducted the latest Express Entry draw for the French category
The Express Entry system is an application system for handling applications from three chief programs:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program;
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program; and
- The Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates within these programs attain scores through the Comprehensive Ranking System. These CRS scores typically rely on human capital characteristics. These attributes include education, age, work experience, occupation, and language abilities. For instance, candidates between the age groups 20 and 29 are able to obtain 100 CRS points. However, after reaching the age of 30, they receive fewer points, and as the age increases, the points get reduced.
In May 2023, the immigration department introduced six new categories for Express Entry category-based selection draws. These types of draws focus on candidates possessing recent work experience and in-demand occupation skills. They also target candidates with stronger French language proficiency. The French language category is one of the six new categories, and the other five are occupation-based.
The other five categories include the following occupations:
- Healthcare occupations;
- STEM occupations – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics;
- Transport Occupations;
- Trade Occupations – Carpenters, Plumbers, and Contractors;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations
An Express Entry application submission involves multiple steps. The very first step for any Express Entry applicant must be a self-evaluation of their program eligibility. The three distinct Express Entry programs have separate eligibility requirements. The second step is to begin an Express Entry profile and obtain a CRS score. Lastly, candidates must continue to wait for an ITA. Once they receive it, they must gather their documents and submit their PR application directly to IRCC within 60 days.
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