On 8th March 2021, Canada’s federal immigration department – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – held a round of invitations – also known as a Canada Express Entry draw. Through this draw, 671 candidates who scored 739 or more points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) – and were nominated for permanent residence (PR) by a Canadian province/territory – were invited to submit a PR application to IRCC.
Only those who filed an Expression of Interest under the Express Entry System on or before 16th February 2021 at 19:10:25 UTC received invitations. The point cut-off for this draw was high (739 points) as provincial nominees automatically receive 600 additional points for being nominated, which increases the average score of candidates in the pool and leads to a higher cut-off.
So, the candidates invited in this round had CRS scores as low as 139 before receiving a nomination. A provincial nomination can thus provide a big boost to your application. Throughout the pandemic, IRCC has regularly issuing invitations to provincial nominees, since they are likely to benefit the local labor market – due to the fact that they are nominated only if their skills are highly in-demand in the nominating province/territory.
The Express Entry System determines the eligibility of candidates through a point-based system, wherein points can be claimed for meeting CRS selection criteria. The highest-ranking candidates who meet the point cut-off are invited to apply for PR through regular draws. The cut-off changes with each draw.
To calculate your point score and check your eligibility, seek the guidance of the best immigration consultants at Abhinav Immigration Services – who use more than 26 years of experience to deliver customized immigration solutions, and offer authorized representation through a licensed RCIC agent in compliance with regulatory norms.
11 of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories nominate eligible foreign nationals for permanent residence through different Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Nominations are issued to those who can boost local economic growth by filling labor market shortages or generating employment in the province. PNPs are run by provincial/territorial governments in collaboration with IRCC.
The requirements for nomination vary across provinces and territories. Each PNP has different categories or ‘streams’ dedicated to specific applicant profiles. Each stream has different eligibility requirements. Eligible candidates can express interest in being nominated. The most qualified candidates are invited to apply for nomination through the Canada PNP draws, which are different from the federal Express Entry draws. If nominated, they can apply for PR to IRCC by submitting a paper application or online through the Express Entry System.
To understand the nomination requirements of Canadian provinces and territories, identify the best PNP for your profile, submit a strong application for nomination, and increase your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence through a Canada Express Entry draw, avail authorized representation for lawful immigration to Canada by calling 8595338595 or writing to [email protected].