Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada conducted the second PNP-Only Express Entry Draw of 2023 on February 15, inviting 699 candidates.
Comprehensive Ranking scores in the fifth Express Entry draw of the year had a threshold of 791. It was the third program-specific Express Entry draw of 2023. The first draw of February 1 focused on PNP nominees, and the second program-specific draw of February 2 invited candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
Express Entry selection
Express Entry manages applications in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The application management program of Express Entry conducts all-program and program-specific draws as per Canada’s economic priorities. The decision about frequency and type of draws is at the sole discretion of Canada’s immigration minister.
Express Entry selects candidates as per the points in the Comprehensive Ranking System. Express Entry selection qualifies candidates to apply for permanent residency.
IRCC, to Establish Express Entry Draw Pattern
Normally, the Express Entry Draws follow a uniform bi-weekly pattern as IRCC holds the draw every alternate Wednesday. IRCC is yet to restore the bi-weekly draw pattern. The arrangement was in force during the pre-pandemic period.
The pandemic restrictions paused all-program Express Entry draws between January 2021 and July 2022. A long six-month gap preceded the January 11 Express Entry draw. According to the clarification by the IRCC, the delay was because of an IT issue during the switch-over to the new NOC 2021.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) marked a new beginning on February 2, 2023, when it held a program-specific draw to issue invitations to candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). The draw was the first ever FSWP-only draw since the launch of the Express Entry system in 2015.
