
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is conducting its 26th Express Entry draw, which ends today.
- IRCC will be issuing 1,468 invitations to apply for permanent residence for those who have submitted an Expression of Interest.
- The minimum qualifying score for this draw is 457.
Points are based on a comprehensive ranking system that focuses on factors such as core human capital and skill transferability, among others.
The frequency and size of Express Entry draws are at the discretion of IRCC, which continues to indicate its flexibility in the selection process. As in previous draws, IRCC is selecting candidates who did not have a valid Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a Provincial Nomination (PN) approval at the time their profile was selected.
Increased Selection Flexibility Over the Year
IRCC launched the Express Entry system on January 1, 2015. The most recent round of invitations is in sharp contrast to the selection a year ago.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
While an LMIA or PN approval will guarantee your employee’s selection and invitation for permanent residence, such documents are not required in all cases. This draw once again demonstrates that employees without LMIA or PN approvals continue to be selected in the Express Entry draw.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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