Canada Conducts 2nd Round of STEM Category-Based Express Entry Draws

After much anticipation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a second round of invitations for the category-based Express Entry programme. As per reports, the second round targeted those candidates found eligible for the category-based applications in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) occupations.

The second round of the category-based Express Entry applications saw a total of 500 invitations that were given to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486. The IRCC has also announced another round of invitations for the current week, where they are planning to invite around 1,500 healthcare workers to apply for permanent residency. In the Express Entry session conducted on June 28, around 500 healthcare workers had been invited, reportedly with the lowest CRS score of 476 in any of the Express Entry draws in 2023.

Also Read: Canada Invites STEM Experience Candidates for Express Entry

With the launch of the STEM category-based Express Entry draws, here is a list of the eligible occupations that can apply under this category:

• Web designers, developers and programmers

• Software developers, programmers, engineers and designers

• Cybersecurity specialists

• Computer engineers, Computer and information systems managers, Computer systems developers and programmers

• Information systems specialists

• Data scientists, Database analysts and data administrators

• Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries

• Consultants, researchers, and program officers of Natural and applied science policy

• Urban and land use planners

• Civil Engineers

• Architects, Architecture and science managers

• Landscape Architects

• Land surveyors

• Business systems specialists

• Engineering managers

• Electrical and electronics engineers

• Industrial and manufacturing engineers

• Metallurgical and materials engineers

Also Read: Canada Announces New Work Permit for USA H-1B Visa Holders

On May 31, 2023, the Immigration Minister of Canada, Sean Fraser, announced the finalisation of the new category-based selection criteria for the Express Entry draws. On assessing the labour market projections along with the discussions with IRCC partners and stakeholders & provincial and territorial government, the IRCC concluded with the current categories.

However, reports also highlighted a surprise draw on July 4 wherein the IRCC invited 700 candidates to an all-programme draw, provided they have a CRS score of 511. The all-programme draw includes Express Entry candidates classed under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Programme.

Source: Livemint