Forth Express Entry draw of July 2023
IRCC held its first-ever French category-based Express Entry draw, inviting 2,300 candidates with strong French-speaking abilities. The minimum CRS score required is 439, which is the lowest CRS score this year for the forth express entry draw of this month
In the last two weeks, IRCC has invited a total of 9800 candidates through the Express Entry system.
On July 6, IRCC invited 1,500 candidates with work experience in the healthcare profession. The first-ever Express Entry invitations for healthcare professionals were held on June 27, inviting 500 healthcare professionals. The July 4 round of invitations featured an all-program draw, inviting 700 candidates. The CRS score required was 511, marking it as the highest requirement for any all-program draw conducted in 2023.
Forth Express Entry Draw for French-speakers
Of the six new category-based selections, strong French-speaking abilities are the only one that does not use work experience as the key factor.
The immigration minister of Canada, Sean Fraser, has a specific responsibility to encourage the use of the French language in regions outside of Quebec. In a statement announcing the selection process for French-speaking candidates in the Express Entry system, IRCC stated that by giving priority to inviting French-speaking immigrants, Canada seeks to foster economic development through Francophone immigration in areas beyond Quebec.
Category-Based Express Entry Draws
Sean Fraser, Canada’s Immigration Minister, has announced the implementation of category-based selection draws targeting Express Entry candidates. These draws aim to attract a greater number of highly skilled professionals specializing in specific occupations that are in high demand within Canada.
The new categories under the Express Entry Programs are:
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and Agri-food occupations
- French-language proficiency
IRCC reviews these categories each year and may change them in the next year.