The meetings between the immigration attorneys and minister lead to discussions on the Express Entry strategy in 2022. The IRCC is still evaluating the best Express Entry strategy suitable for this year 2022.
Express Entry is the most general way economic immigrants can immigrate to Canada. Individuals that are eligible for the FSWP, CEC, or FSTP can upload their Express Entry profile on the main website of IRCC. Then, their profile is ranked according to the CRS score system that is based on a variety of factors. These factors include age, education, language, work, and many more. Nearly after two weeks, IRCC invites applicants to apply for permanent residency. Before the pandemic days, the FSWP applicants were the major recipients of the Express Entry ITAs for permanent residency.
However, after and during the pandemic, the CEC candidates have become the major ones in terms of that factor. Ever since September, the IRCC has only been generalizing Express Entry draws for the PNP participants to reduce its backlogs. IRCC keeps holding regular Express Entry draws for its clarification as recently done on 19th January.
IRCC still Working on Express Entry Strategy with No Plans on Cancelling
Recently, the IRCC briefing memo has led to speculation on Canada’s Express Entry strategy for 2022. The memo focuses on extending the Express Entry invitation holds to FSWP, FSTP, and CEC applicants during mid-year. This will allow the IRCC to have more time and reduce backlogs. Nevertheless, due to the heavy nature of the memo, many aspects are missing for clarification. This leaves the readers keeps guessing on how IRCC plans to manage its Express Entry this year. The overall immigration application backlog exceeds over 2.8 million as of 2021’s December.
The Immigration Minister Sean Fraser cleared some of the speculations to conclude within a meeting with the CBA section in January. The CBA section is an association that represents the country’s attorneys and discusses with the government on improving the immigration system. The minister also clarified that IRCC will schedule its next CEC and FSWP draw. However, their priority is still at the Express Entry draws for the year 2022. The minister also explained to the CBA that the IRCC has no plans to refund or cancel permanent residency applications. Even though the speculations stated that it would help the IRCC cut down its backlogs, it still isn’t happening. Furthermore, he also pointed out the IRCC’s balancing the application processes to manage its backlogs. Not only that, but the government of Canada has also supported this goal by forwarding an additional $85 million in finances.
Occupation Focused Concluding Possibilities for the Future
Fase concluded that the IRCC is finding possibilities to hold occupation-focused draws for Express Entry with respect to labor requirements. The overall 2021 budget by the Canadian government hinted at this express entry strategy. However, the government’s desire was to reform the strategy to have applicants best for Canada’s labor market requirements. Issuing these invitations focusing on an occupational base is ideal for Express Entry. However, it would also harness a long-term direction used by IRCC and the provinces for over decades. In the past, the candidates of FSWP must come under the NOC in demand to apply for the FSWP. However, nowadays, using various pathways, they need to fall under applicable NOC to pursue immigration using this pathway.
Express Entry Strategy on Occupation for 2022
Ever since its launch in the year 2015, Express Entry has managed all the pathways’ candidates focused on their CRS score. All that especially during the pandemic focuses on the program of eligibility. Before COVID, IRCC invited applicants having the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residency despite their pathway. Those with the highest CRS score were more likely to immigrate to Canada’s labor market.
The IRCC recently held an overall draw on December 2022 and issued invitations to CEC and PNP applicants eligible for Express Entry. This time, the CEC applicants are more likely to immigrate to Canada and wouldn’t be restricted by any measures. Inviting PNP applicants was focused so that IRCC can help provinces and occupations in fulfilling market necessities.
Conclusion
Allowing this occupation-focused express entry strategy would help IRCC in balancing its labor shortage. Not only that, but the Express Entry also awards up to 200 CRS points for employment arrangements that may also lead to permanent residency for applicants. During 2020, only 16 percent having the ITA were from arranged employment section.
