IRCC conducted the 241st Express Entry draw on 15th February, 2023.
Draw number: 241
Draw Type: Provincial Nominee Program
Draw Date: 15.02.2023
Draw Day: Wednesday
Draw time: 16:13:27 UTC
ITAs issued: 699
CRS score cut-off: 791
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 699 Invitations to Apply in the latest Express Entry draws . The CRS score cut off for the 241st draw was 791, highest in 8 months. It was a targeted draw exclusively for profiles with provincial nomination. This is also the reason for an extremely high CRS cut-off and a low number of ITAs.
Who are Provincial Nominees?
The Provincial Nominee Program is a Canada Immigration program that allows Canadian provinces to nominate eligible applicants to apply for permanent residency. Applicants who acquire provincial nomination get 600 additional points by the Comprehensive Ranking System . This is why Express Entry profiles with Provincial Nomination certificates have high CRS score, thereby increasing the CRS cut-off for the draws targeted for them.
Previous Express Entry draws in 2023
The year 2023 has brought interesting trends in Express Entry draws. The rounds of invitations in 2022 were paused after the 23rd November. The first Express Entry draw for the year 2023 was held on 11th January, where IRCC invited 5500 eligible Express Entry profiles with a CRS score of 507 or more. It was an all program draw. Interestingly, there was just one more all program Express Entry draw which was held on 18th January 2023 and issued 5500 ITAs with the CRS score of 490 or more. Since 18th January, there has not been any draw for Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades program. All the draws in the month of February 2023 were targeted draws. The 239th draw held on 1st February 2023 was exclusively targeted for the Provincial Nominee Program, and the 240th draw held on 2nd February issued ITAs exclusively for Federal Skilled Workers. All the draws for the year 2023 are tabulated below:
Draw No. | Draw Date | ITAs issued | CRS Score cut-off | Draw Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
241 | 15.02.2023 | 699 | 791 | Provincial Nominee Program |
240 | 02.02.2023 | 3300 | 489 | Federal Skilled Worker |
239 | 01.02.2023 | 893 | 733 | Provincial Nominee Program |
238 | 18.01.2023 | 5500 | 490 | All program |
237 | 11.01.2023 | 5500 | 507 | All program |
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is one of the most popular and fastest Canada immigration pathways that invites eligible skilled foreign workers to settle in the country. It issues Invitation to Apply or ITAs to the following immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Applicants create an Express Entry profile through GCKey or Sign-in partner . They are then assigned an Express Entry program and a CRS score. The Comprehensive Ranking System rewards points out of 1200, as per the information you submit while creating your profile. Express Entry draws or rounds of invitations are held mostly every two weeks. They have a CRS score cut-off and issue ITAs to profiles with a CRS score equal to or greater than the cut-off. Once applicants receive an ITA, they must apply to the IRCC for Canada PR within 60 days.
