February 4th, 2024 at 03:30 am

New Changes to PGWP: Express Entry 2024 for Skilled Workers & Int’l Students

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited 7,000 Express Entry candidates, marking a significant shift in Canada’s immigration policy. This invitation was sent out via a category-based drawing with a special emphasis on fluency in French.

This action demonstrates Canada’s dedication to supporting linguistic variety and encourages French-speaking speakers to add to the rich cultural mosaic of the nation. When we examine this draw’s specifics, it becomes clear that the country’s immigration policy is heavily influenced by linguistic ability, particularly in French.

IRCC Invites 7,000 Express Entry Candidates in Category-Based Draw for French Language Proficiency

Invitations to Apply have been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The department invited 7,000 candidates in a category-based selection draw for candidates who speak French in the most recent Express Entry draw. A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 365 was required of candidates (this is the lowest minimum CRS score of the year thus far).

This draw is the second one held in the week after the general draw on January 31, which invited 730 candidates. A CRS of 541 was the least they required. Two additional draws took place in January.

• First, a general draw was held on January 23rd, inviting 1,400 individuals who had at least a 543 CRS score.
• Before that, on January 10, a general draw was held to which 1,510 individuals with a CRS score of 546 were invited.

Predicting the course of Express Entry draws in 2024 is still premature as the year is not even halfway gone. To assist in meeting the 2023 and 2024 admissions targets outlined in the immigration levels plan, the IRCC conducted 42 draws and issued ITAs to over 110,000 individuals in 2023.

Summary of Express Entry Draw Results in 2024

1. Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permits

Upon graduation from a Canadian post-secondary institution, many Express Entry candidates gain the work experience required for their studies by finding employment in Canada. The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is one of the most popular work permits for recent graduates. The IRCC announced modifications to the PGWP qualifying requirements on January 22.

International students enrolled in a private college program that is covered by a curriculum licensing agreement with a public college will no longer be qualified for a PGWP as of September 1. In addition, graduate students enrolled in programs lasting less than the required eight months will now be qualified for a three-year PGWP.

At the moment, graduates whose programs last less than eight months are ineligible for a PGWP, and the duration of a PGWP is dependent upon the length of the graduate’s academic program. A one-year program, for instance, would be good for a one-year permit. This implies that a greater number of graduate students will be able to obtain sufficient work experience in Canada to be eligible to apply for a position in the Express Entry applicant pool.

What is Express Entry?

Three of Canada’s most well-known economic immigration programs, the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skill Trades Program (FSTP), are managed by the Express Entry application management system. The Comprehensive Ranking System is used in these programs to assign a score to candidates (CRS)

Human capital variables including age, occupation, education, job experience, and language proficiency are used to calculate scores. For instance, a candidate gets 100 CRS points from 20 to 29 and less from 30 and older.

The IRCC declared in May 2023 that category-based selection draws would be implemented for Express Entry applicants who could prove they have prior work experience in a high-demand field. The first is for applicants who speak French well, while the other five are divided into categories according to occupation.

• Healthcare occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions
• Trades occupations such as Carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and Agri-food occupations

Applying for Express Entry

Applying for Express Entry requires completing several steps.

• An applicant must first determine whether they qualify for an Express entrance program by looking within. There are three separate qualifying requirements for the Express Entry programs.
• Creating an Express Entry profile and getting a CRS score is the second stage.
• Afterwards, applicants have to wait to be invited to apply for an Express Entry draw. A candidate has sixty days from the moment they get an ITA to compile the necessary paperwork and send the IRCC their completed application for permanent residency.

The IRCC’s most recent category-based draw demonstrates the value of linguistic diversity in Canada’s immigration strategy and the nation’s acknowledgment of the substantial contributions people who speak French may make to Canadian society.

It is evident from observing the dynamics of immigration regulations as they change that language proficiency, especially in French, is becoming an increasingly desirable asset. This attraction to the Great White North for those hoping to build their futures is evidence of Canada’s dedication to fostering a multilingual and inclusive society that welcomes people from all linguistic backgrounds and enriches the country in the process.