Express Entry Draw 240 | First Ever Federal Skilled Worker-Only Draw
The latest Canadian Express Entry draw was just held, marking the fourth draw of 2023, and already the second draw of February. Express Entry draw 240 saw a CRS score of 489 and invited 3,300 candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Express Entry Draw 240
Date of Draw: February 2nd, 2023
Number of Invitations Issued: 3,300
Minimum CRS: 489
Program Specified: Non-specified
Tie-breaking rule: March 29, 2022, at 16:09:00 UTC
Do you qualify for Express Entry?A Unique Start to the Year for Express Entry
The fourth Express Entry draw of the year was just held. Express Entry draw 240 issued 3,300 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of 489. This draw was also notable as it was the first ever FSW-specific draw since the IRCC began conducting draws began in 2015.
Today’s draw was also the second consecutive draw, after yesterday’s PNP-specific draw. Prior to this, draws for the past six months have all been for all-program draws. In an all-program draws, candidates can be invited from any of the three economic programs managed by Express Entry. However, yesterday’s draw invited only Express Entry candidates who had received a Provincial Nominee (PNP).
Today’s draw continued the trend of a unique start to the year for Express Entry. After pausing draws for five weeks at the end of last year, January kicked off the start of the year with two draws one week apart. Although there is no rule stating when Express Entry draws need to take place, typically draws have been held bi-weekly on Wednesday afternoons. 2023 has also been one of the quickest yearly starts to Express Entry with 11,000 candidates invited in January and with the addition of today’s draw, over 15,000 candidates invited this year. The strong start to the year signals the IRCC’s dedication to landing more skilled immigrants in Canada this year.
What is the FSW Program?
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates who wish to settle permanently in Canada. Unlike the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, Federal Skilled Workers are not required to have Canadian work experience to enter the Express Entry pool. Instead, candidates must meet a minimum points requirement based on factors such as work experience, language ability, and education. Once in the pool, applicants with the most competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
What to Expect Next From Express Entry
The IRCC has been working to create draw categories since Bill C-19 received royal assent back in June. This will be a big shift from the way Express Entry draws are currently held. Currently, only the top-ranking candidates in the entire Express Entry pool receive an ITA. Targeted draws by category would also allow the government to better fill specific labour shortages and target those with in-demand skills.
Currently, it has yet to be announced exactly what these categories are or more details on how exactly these draws will take place. The minister of immigration is expected to announce these categories before invitations are issued.
While the categories have not been announced, it is likely that they will be based on a candidate’s qualities such as education, occupation, work experience or language ability. This will better allow the government to target those with skills that are most urgent in Canada. This also means that applicants who may not have a top CRS score compared to the entire Express Entry pool, will have a better chance at being selected if they have qualities that are targeted by these draws.
What Is Express Entry and How Can I Apply?
Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for Canadian permanent residency. Express Entry uses a point-based system, the CRS, to rank candidates’ profiles. The system manages three main programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW);
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST); and
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Applying to Express Entry is a two-step procedure. The first step is to submit your profile with the required documents. Required documents usually consist of language test results, educational credentials and passport or travel documentation.
After you submit a profile and receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence, you can submit your complete application for the IRCC to review. Your complete application should include supporting documents such as reference letters, additional identity documents, police clearance certificates, and results of a medical examination.
Interested in learning more about your options to enter the Express Entry pool? Complete our free online assessment form today!
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