Upfront medical exam no longer required for Express Entry applicants

Oct 6, 2023 | Blog, Express Entry, Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency, Why you need an immigration specialist

Effective October 1, 2023, Express Entry applicants and their family members are no longer required to submit an upfront Immigration Medical Exam (IME) before submitting their application. This is a significant change, as it was previously a requirement for all Express Entry applicants.

Under the new policy, Express Entry applicants will receive instructions to attach proof of their upfront medical exam within their Profile Builder after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This means that applicants will no longer need to spend the time and money on an IME before they know whether they have been invited to apply for permanent residence.

If you have already completed an IME for another immigration application, you can include it in your current submission using the same upload slot, providing the IME or UMI number from your most recent examination. Alternatively, if you have not had an IME before, you can upload a blank document in the same slot. You will then be guided on how to complete the medical exam if necessary.

What does this mean for Express Entry applicants?

Under the new policy, Express Entry applicants will still need to complete an IME, but they will not need to do so until they have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This means that applicants can now wait until they are more confident in their chances of success before spending the money on an IME.

Once an applicant has received an ITA, they will be given instructions on how to complete their medical exam. They will need to visit a panel physician and have the required tests completed. The results of the IME will then be submitted to IRCC by the panel physician.

It is important to note that applicants must complete their medical exam within six months of receiving their ITA. If they do not, their ITA will be cancelled and they will need to re-enter the pool.

Benefits of removing the upfront medical exam requirement

The removal of the upfront medical exam requirement has several benefits for Express Entry applicants, including:

Reduced costs: An IME can cost several hundred dollars, so removing the upfront requirement can save applicants a significant amount of money.
Reduced processing times: Removing the upfront requirement can also reduce processing times for Express Entry applications, as IRCC will no longer need to review IME results before inviting applicants to apply.
Increased flexibility: The new policy gives applicants more flexibility in terms of when they complete their medical exam. Applicants can now wait until they have received an ITA and are more confident in their chances of success before spending the money on an IME

Tips for completing your Express Entry medical exam

If you are an Express Entry applicant, here are a few tips for completing your medical exam:

Make sure to schedule your exam with a panel physician. A list of panel physicians can be found on the IRCC website.
Bring all of the required documentation to your exam, including your passport, ITA, and any other relevant documents.
Be honest and forthcoming with the panel physician about your medical history.
If you have any questions or concerns about the medical exam, be sure to ask the panel physician.

Understanding Express Entry

Express Entry is an innovative application management system that oversees the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are assessed based on various factors like work experience, language ability, education, and age. They are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score, and those with the highest scores are most likely to receive an ITA.

New Category-Based Selection Criteria

Since May 31, IRCC introduced new category-based selection criteria, focusing on specific attributes rather than just a high CRS score. The six new categories for Express Entry candidates are:

Healthcare
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food
Strong French-language proficiency

Benefits of Express Entry

Moreover, Express Entry has revolutionized how Canada selects its immigrants, prioritizing those who bring valuable skills and experience to the country. With unparalleled efficiency, this program processes applications at lightning speed, providing applicants with the opportunity to settle in Canada quickly and effectively.

Eligibility and Requirements

To succeed in Express Entry, meeting certain requirements is paramount. Your work experience, education, language proficiency, and other factors will determine your score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Keep your documents in order and strive to reach the minimum required score to receive an invitation.

Tips to Increase Your Chances

Want to enhance your chances of receiving an ITA in future draws? Here are some tips to boost your Express Entry profile:

Improve Language Skills: Dedicate time to enhancing your language proficiency in English or French. Higher language scores can significantly improve your CRS score.
Job Offer Advantage: Having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer can increase your CRS score and chances of receiving an ITA.
Maximize Education: Pursue higher education to gain additional points in the CRS system and stand out in future draws.
Stay Informed: Stay updated with the latest Express Entry draws and changes to the selection criteria.
Professional Guidance: Furthermore seek assistance from experienced immigration consultants to navigate the Express Entry process smoothly and optimize your profile.

How can we help you?

When you receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply), a new series of steps begins for you to obtain your permanent residency in Canada.

Get in touch with us as soon as possible to get access to our Post-ITA (post invitation to apply) services.

Do you want to do it yourself? Find out more about how to get an ITA and what to do next – Quick Guide.

Our expert immigration consultants are here to guide you through the Express Entry process and ensure a seamless and successful journey to permanent residency in Canada! You can speak with one of our consultants by clicking the button below.

IRCC has released its annual Express Entry Year-End Report for 2022.

Sep 29, 2023 | Blog, Express Entry, Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency, Why you need an immigration specialist

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases an annual report on Express Entry, with the latest one being the 2022 version.

Understanding Express Entry

Express Entry is an innovative application management system that oversees the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are assessed based on various factors like work experience, language ability, education, and age. They are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score, and those with the highest scores are most likely to receive an ITA.

It’s important to note that the system also manages a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), but PNP candidates must be eligible for at least one of the three core programs to come to Canada via Express Entry.

2022 Express Entry Statistics

In 2022, a total of 428,391 Express Entry profiles were submitted, which was a slight decrease of 3% from the previous year but an increase of 19% from 2020. Of these profiles, at least 74% were eligible for one of the immigration programs managed by Express Entry, remaining unchanged from 2021.

More profiles were submitted by men (56%) than women (44%), with the proportions staying the same as in 2021. While the eligibility rate for men remained steady at 71%, women saw a slight increase to 78% in 2022.

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Scores

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to rank Express Entry candidates based on criteria like age, language ability, education, and work experience. The majority of eligible candidate profiles in 2022 had CRS scores in the 301-500 range.

Additional CRS points can be earned for factors like education in Canada, French language proficiency, or having siblings in Canada. In 2022, 55% of candidates did not meet criteria for additional points, a decrease from previous years.

Invitations to Apply (ITAs)

In 2022, IRCC held 24 Express Entry draws and issued 46,539 invitations to apply (ITAs), which was a 59% decrease from 2021. This reduction was due to a pause in ITAs for Federal High Skilled immigration programs but continued PNP-specific rounds from September 2021 to July 2022.

The majority of ITAs in 2022 were issued under PNPs (19,258) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) (18,895), with none issued under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

ITAs by Gender, Age, and Education

Men received the majority of ITAs in 2022 (58%), similar to their proportion of profile submissions.
ITAs for men and women in the CEC and PNP were roughly equal.
The largest age group receiving ITAs was 20-29 (50%), followed by those aged 30-34 (29%).
The level of education also played a role, with more ITAs going to candidates with higher education levels. Only 1% went to those with a high school diploma or less, while 46% went to those with a master’s degree or professional degree.
PhD holders received 4% of all ITAs in 2022.

The Express Entry system in Canada underwent changes and challenges in 2022, impacting the number of profiles submitted, ITAs issued, and the demographics of successful applicants.

Language Proficiency and Work Experience in ITAs

In 2022, Express Entry Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were influenced by language proficiency and work experience:

Language Proficiency: More ITAs were given to candidates with higher language proficiency, with CLB/NCLC 9 (15,587 ITAs) and CLB/NCLC 10 (9,881 ITAs) scores leading the way.

Canadian Work Experience: 41% of ITA recipients had one year of Canadian work experience, while 35% had no Canadian work experience. Candidates with 2 years of Canadian employment received 16% of ITAs

ITAs issued by years of international/foreign work experience in 2022

Foreign Work Experience: 35% of ITAs went to candidates with 5 or more years of foreign work experience. Surprisingly, 27% of ITAs were given to those with one year or less of foreign work experience.

Additional Points and Primary Occupations

Additional points played a crucial role in ITAs in 2022:

Additional Points: Education in Canada (19,587 ITAs) and Arranged Employment (8,756 ITAs) were the most common additional point types. Women led in meeting criteria for French language proficiency points (53%).
Primary Occupations: Technology-related occupations dominated, including software engineers, information systems specialists, and computer systems developers. Food service supervisors and cooks were also prevalent.

Changes in ITA Trends

ITA Trends: There was a shift from TEER 2 occupations to TEER 1 occupations (those requiring a university degree). Technological fields saw the most significant rise in ITAs.
Arranged Employment Points: Software engineers and designers replaced food service supervisors as the most common occupation for candidates assigned Arranged Employment points in 2022.

In 2022, Express Entry ITAs were influenced by high language proficiency, diverse work experiences, additional points, and a significant shift toward technology-related occupations. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective applicants in the Express Entry system.

Global Origins of ITA Recipients

In 2022, most Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were granted to candidates residing in Canada (31,486), India (3,787), and Nigeria (1,730). This mirrors the trend from 2021, indicating a consistent pattern in recipient nationalities.

The complete list of the top 10 countries of residence among 2022 ITA recipients is as follows (the number of ITAs issued to residents of each country is in parentheses).

Canada (31,486)
India (3,787)
Nigeria (1,730)
Cameroon (1,063)
United States of America (842)
Morocco (793)
United Arab Emirates (683)
Lebanon (559)
Algeria (550)
France (381)

Similar to the above data, below is the complete list of the top 10 countries of citizenship among ITA recipients in 2022. Listed next to each country, in parentheses, is the number of ITAs their citizens were issued this past year.

India (20,769)
Algeria (2,909)
People’s Republic of China (2,456)
Cameroon (1,218)
Iran (1,210)
France (1,069)
Morocco (978)
United States of America (939)
Philippines (934)
Pakistan (923)

Among ITA recipients, Indians (20,769), Algerians (2,909), and Chinese citizens (2,456) received the most ITAs. India has consistently held the top spot for the last three years.

Preferred Canadian Provinces

Ontario remained the most popular province for Express Entry applicants, with 48% settling there, a decrease from 61% in 2021. British Columbia (20%) and Alberta (12%) were the next favored destinations.

Note: Quebec-bound Express Entry applicants are not accounted for in this data, as the province operates its own distinct immigration programs

Application Processing Times

Application processing times increased significantly in 2022, with the total processing time rising to 21 months from 8 months in 2021. Notably, the processing time for Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) applications increased dramatically from 23 months (in 2021) to 63 months in 2022.

Conclusion:

Despite a 59% decrease in ITAs from the previous year, Express Entry remained a vital immigration pathway for Canada. The system adapted in 2022, focusing on specific employment needs through category-based draws, targeting areas with significant gaps such as healthcare, STEM, transport, trades, and agriculture. With 11,900 ITAs issued in 2023 through these categories, Canada continued to attract skilled professionals globally. The future holds further enhancements to the Express Entry system, ensuring that Canada continues to benefit from a talented global workforce while offering immigrants one of the world’s best destinations.

Our expert immigration consultants are here to guide you through the Express Entry process and ensure a seamless and successful journey to permanent residency in Canada! You can speak with one of our consultants by clicking the button below.

Express Entry: Canada holds a category-based draw on September 28

Sep 28, 2023 | Blog, Express Entry, Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency, Why you need an immigration specialist

Recent Canada Express Entry draw

In the most recent draw held on September 28, the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) issued 600 invitations to apply to eligible candidates.

This targeted category-based Express Entry draw focused for the first time on agriculture and agri-food occupations, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 354.

Understanding Express Entry

Express Entry is an innovative application management system that oversees the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are assessed based on various factors like work experience, language ability, education, and age. They are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score, and those with the highest scores are most likely to receive an ITA.