Invitations will be issued at pre-pandemic rate
When Canadian Government resumes the all-program Express Entry draws in July, the number of invitations will be similar to pre-pandemic draws. It shows that the draw sizes are likely to become consistent with the average number of invitations issued before the outbreak of the pandemic and travel as well as public health restrictions that followed. Before March 2020, invitations in Express Entry draws held in that year ranged between 3400 and 4500. In 2019, all programs draws between 3200 and 3900.
Express Entry draws during pandemic
Although the invitations issued in each round was redacted, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) memo said the draw size would be consistent with the average number of invitations issued pre-pandemic.
This draws for FSW have been paused since December, 2020, while draws for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) have been paused since September, 2021. Canadian immigration officials stated that these draws would remain paused until Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) handled to work through at least half of its backlogged inventory of high-skilled individuals which was at 111,900 in September, 2021.
Canada reduced the Express Entry backlog by 50,000 between September and February.
With this progress in application processing, IRCC will restart this draws for FSW and CEC candidates in early July.
As per the Immigration Levels Plan of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)for 2022-24, the country will be inviting 432000 new immigrants in 2022. Though the target for this immigration is comparatively less this year, the country will be inviting as many as 111500 immigrants in 2024.