Express Entry Draw #238

In a surprise draw, Canada held its second Express Entry draw of 2023 on January 18, 2023, making it the second in two consecutive weeks. 

In draw #238, the Canadian government issued 5,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490. 

The draw was non-specified, meaning that candidates were chosen from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Non-specified draws are intended to focus on the most highly-skilled candidates, regardless of which program they are eligible for. 

In Express Entry draws, candidates are ranked based on their CRS score, which takes into account factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. The highest-ranking candidates are then invited to apply for permanent residence.

The minimum CRS score of 490 was a drop of 17 points from the 507 CRS score in the last draw that was held on January 11, 2023. 

This was also the second consecutive week with 5,500 ITAs being issued, making January 2023 the quickest start in a year to the Express Entry since its launch in 2015, showing the Canadian government’s intention to bring more skilled immigrants to Canada in 2023. 

2023-2025 Immigration Targets 

As Canada faces labour shortages, it plans to bring 1.4 million immigrants to Canada in the next three years to fill these shortages.

The 2023-2025 plan holds the role of immigration as a strategy to help businesses find workers and fill labour shortages in various sectors such as health care, skilled trades, manufacturing, and technology. 

Express Entry draws will be crucial in helping Canada reach these targets and welcome skilled foreign workers to Canada. 

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