Restoring Express Entry is critical to Canada's economic recovery. However, an internal IRCC briefing note was made public last week, sparking conjecture and consternation over Canada's immigration authority handling Express Entry in 2022 and beyond.
The IRCC briefing, which was signed on November 24, 2021, provides background information on why Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not issued Express Entry invitations to Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates since December 2020 and to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates since September 2021.
Since the briefing was highly classified, it is impossible to draw clear conclusions from it. However, despite its ambiguity, the briefing implies that the halt is being implemented to allow IRCC to reduce application backlogs and eventually get closer to its declared service standard of processing Express Entry applicants within six months. Processing times are currently increasing as the department tries to catch up.
Get a Free Express Entry Assessment
According to the newer IRCC memo, Express Entry backlogs have grown due to factors such as previous travel restrictions and the department's focus on transitioning those already in Canada to permanent residence in order to meet the department's immigration levels goal of landing 401,000 permanent residents by 2021.
IRCC granted a significant number of ITAs to CEC applicants and established a specific Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR to PR) pathway to achieve their immigration levels target. However, the emphasis on in-Canada applications has come at the expense of candidates who have filed Express Entry applications from outside of Canada, resulting in much longer processing delays.
As per IRCC, Express Entry admissions are anticipated to "see a considerable decrease to suit other ministerial and departmental objectives" as it analyses alternatives for its Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024. Some preliminary scenarios proposed at the time of the memo envisaged reductions of more than half of the 110,500 allotted in the current 2021-2023 levels plan. According to the email, these cuts may be necessary to meet the TR to PR pathway and the Canadian government's aim of resettling 40,000 Afghan refugees. By February 14, 2022, the new level plan will be announced.
It is essential to understand that the "Invitations" and "admissions" to Express Entry are two distinct metrics. The message does not specify when drawings for FSWP, CEC, and FSTP applicants would resume. Instead, it claims that an anticipated 76,000 Express Entry applicants will be on the waiting list at the start of 2022, which is much more than what is necessary to satisfy admissions objectives, and so no fresh Express Entry intake is required until at least the first half of 2022. One point of contention in this debate is whether IRCC refers to "invitations" or "intake." Candidates have up to 60 days from the moment they get an invitation to apply to IRCC for permanent residency. When IRCC receives the completed application, the "intake" process begins.
Before contemplating expanding its Express Entry draws again, the government intends to reduce its Express Entry application backlog by more than half. This is because IRCC wants to guarantee that applications from individuals who have been invited are processed as quickly as possible. Based on its current capacity to complete over 16,000 Express Entry applications per month, IRCC may be able to reduce its Express Entry backlog by more than 50% by the early part of 2022. As a result, theoretically, IRCC can restart invites to FSWP, CEC, and FSTP in the coming months, knowing that another two months will pass before they get new intake.
The upcoming announcement of the levels plan in February will provide some further clarification. The levels plan is regularly amended in the run-up to its formal announcement, as IRCC examines a slew of operational and policy concerns right up until the last second. This raises the potential that the November 2021 document no longer represents the IRCC's Express Entry plan.
It is crucial to note that IRCC's projected reduction in Express Entry admissions in 2022 does not necessarily imply that it will cease inviting more Express Entry candidates this year, as admissions and invites are two separate measures.
Admission is the final step in the Express Entry procedure, which presently takes at least a year from start to finish owing to application backlogs. According to the document, the current processing time for CEC candidates is around eight months, while for FSWP candidates, it is roughly 20 months. This is despite the fact that the IRCC's website continues to say that the Express Entry processing standard is six months. An Express Entry applicant gets admitted after receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence, submitting their permanent residence application, and having it processed. When a person arrives in Canada from overseas and becomes a permanent resident, his or her admission is complete.
It is also possible for a temporary resident in Canada to change their legal status to permanent residency. Because of the lengthy nature of this procedure, IRCC is still issuing Express Entry invites in the meanwhile. When IRCC receives a completed permanent residency application, it has the option of processing it immediately, as it did before the pandemic. Alternatively, IRCC can begin processing the application later, as it is now doing in response to the unfolding pandemic situation as well as shifting policy priorities.
It is in Canada's best interests to quickly begin Express Entry invites to FSWP and CEC candidates. Express Entry, which debuted in 2015, aims to encourage the highest-scoring individuals to apply for permanent residency. Its dynamic design attempted to eliminate backlogs by requiring IRCC to process just the applications of those invited rather than every application received. Unfortunately, the IRCC has shifted its resources away from inviting the highest-scoring individuals, and backlogs have risen due to it prioritizing permanent residence applications submitted within Canada and the processing of Afghan refugee applications.
IRCC stated in 2015 that utilizing the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to score and rank applicants was the best approach to identify new immigrants most likely to integrate into Canadian society effectively. In addition, the CRS was guided by decades of Statistics Canada research and is thus intended to be a scientific method of selecting Canadians of the future. As a result, Canada's best interest is to employ the CRS as the primary determinant of Express Entry invites.
One could even argue that there is a stronger case to be made for continuing to use the CRS now, during an economically turbulent period, because Statistics Canada research shows that immigrants who arrive during a recession have poorer economic outcomes throughout their careers in Canada than those who arrive during a stronger economic period. Sticking to the CRS can also be justified on the basis of fairness. For example, between 2015 to the end of 2020, IRCC issued the majority of Express Entry invites based on CRS score but abruptly abandoned this practice in January 2021.
Many applicants entered the Express Entry pool after taking measures to optimize their CRS score or have taken actions to increase their CRS score after entering the pool. The increase in the Express Entry backlog was preventable since IRCC took the conscious decision to priorities CEC application processing while deferring the processing of FSWP and other applications. As a result, it was processing around 14,000 CEC applications per month and just 600 FSWP applications per month in the second half of 2021.
The backlog of FSWP and other skilled worker applications from outside is proving costly since it is resulting in a weakened population, labor force, and economic growth. Canada's population growth is the slowest since 1915/16, and the country is also dealing with the largest employment vacancy rate on record, with about 1 million open positions. Many critical areas in the Canadian Economy, including health care, transportation, and agri-food, are in desperate need of more people. It goes without saying that it is in Canada's economic interests for IRCC to get the application processing of skilled workers from other countries back on track so that they can come soon to help ease the labour shortages that are impeding the country's economic recovery.
Finally, the delay in CEC draws since September is troubling from both an economic and a justice standpoint. CEC applicants often work for Canadian firms and can stay with them continuously after obtaining permanent residence through Express Entry. Many CEC applicants face losing their legal status due to the lack of Express Entry invitations, which might compel them to leave the country. This would result in reduced economic activity in Canada and increased labor shortages and pressure on Canadian companies. In fairness, it would not be appropriate to suddenly change the goalposts on such folks and ask them to leave the nation after they have spent years contributing to Canada's Economy and society.
Tags: backlog, backlogs, cec, coronavirus, covid, express entry, express entry 2021, express entry 2022, fstp, fswp, immigration levels Canada, immigration levels plan, immigration levels plan 2022-2024, immigration minister, IRCC, sean fraser
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 02 Feb, 2021 | 03:26 AM] 215
By Eva Olsen [Published 11 Feb, 2021 | 07:00 AM] 1153
By Eva Olsen [Published 12 Feb, 2021 | 04:00 AM] 343
By Joseph Parker [Published 18 Feb, 2021 | 06:00 AM] 195
By Eva Olsen [Published 19 Feb, 2021 | 07:00 AM] 230
By Eva Olsen [Published 24 Feb, 2021 | 05:00 AM] 359
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 09 Mar, 2021 | 04:14 AM] 332
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 18 Mar, 2021 | 06:55 AM] 278
By Eva Olsen [Published 01 Apr, 2021 | 04:24 AM] 210
By Joseph Parker [Published 13 Apr, 2021 | 04:55 AM] 214
By Eva Olsen [Published 14 Apr, 2021 | 04:58 AM] 254
By Joseph Parker [Published 15 Apr, 2021 | 05:10 AM] 345
By Eva Olsen [Published 19 Apr, 2021 | 04:10 AM] 205
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 21 Apr, 2021 | 05:25 AM] 271
By Eva Olsen [Published 21 Apr, 2021 | 05:25 AM] 443
By Joseph Parker [Published 20 Apr, 2021 | 04:54 AM] 424
By Eva Olsen [Published 23 Apr, 2021 | 04:21 AM] 260
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 03 May, 2021 | 04:53 AM] 335
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 05 May, 2021 | 05:04 AM] 330
By Eva Olsen [Published 05 May, 2021 | 05:30 AM] 484
By Joseph Parker [Published 06 May, 2021 | 04:34 AM] 478
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 14 May, 2021 | 04:14 AM] 286
By Eva Olsen [Published 14 May, 2021 | 04:34 AM] 338
By Joseph Parker [Published 21 May, 2021 | 04:50 AM] 395
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 22 May, 2021 | 04:02 AM] 317
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 27 May, 2021 | 04:36 AM] 421
By Eva Olsen [Published 03 Jun, 2021 | 04:42 AM] 351
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 08 Jun, 2021 | 05:29 AM] 282
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 09 Jun, 2021 | 05:41 AM] 211
By Joseph Parker [Published 10 Jun, 2021 | 05:39 AM] 270
By Eva Olsen [Published 11 Jun, 2021 | 03:55 AM] 502
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 19 Jun, 2021 | 04:54 AM] 293
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 22 Jun, 2021 | 04:08 AM] 239
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 26 Jun, 2021 | 05:40 AM] 220
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 06 Jul, 2021 | 04:41 AM] 404
By Eva Olsen [Published 19 Jul, 2021 | 05:28 AM] 207
By Joseph Parker [Published 20 Jul, 2021 | 04:16 AM] 334
By Eva Olsen [Published 21 Jul, 2021 | 04:37 AM] 246
By Joseph Parker [Published 28 Jul, 2021 | 04:39 AM] 286
By Joseph Parker [Published 02 Aug, 2021 | 04:29 AM] 409
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 11 Aug, 2021 | 05:23 AM] 243
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 16 Aug, 2021 | 05:13 AM] 607
By Joseph Parker [Published 17 Aug, 2021 | 05:45 AM] 318
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 23 Aug, 2021 | 04:26 AM] 372
By Eva Olsen [Published 08 Sep, 2021 | 04:25 AM] 403
By Eva Olsen [Published 10 Sep, 2021 | 04:23 AM] 241
By Joseph Parker [Published 14 Sep, 2021 | 05:40 AM] 293
By Joseph Parker [Published 21 Sep, 2021 | 05:35 AM] 380
By Eva Olsen [Published 23 Sep, 2021 | 04:28 AM] 293
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 24 Sep, 2021 | 04:40 AM] 365
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 02 Oct, 2021 | 04:24 PM] 499
By Eva Olsen [Published 05 Oct, 2021 | 04:32 AM] 470
By Joseph Parker [Published 06 Oct, 2021 | 04:48 AM] 494
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 06 Oct, 2021 | 05:45 AM] 538
By Joseph Parker [Published 12 Oct, 2021 | 04:26 AM] 381
By Eva Olsen [Published 14 Oct, 2021 | 05:45 AM] 465
By Joseph Parker [Published 18 Oct, 2021 | 04:45 AM] 263
By Joseph Parker [Published 19 Oct, 2021 | 05:55 AM] 279
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 20 Oct, 2021 | 04:45 AM] 805
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 21 Oct, 2021 | 04:47 AM] 345
By Eva Olsen [Published 21 Oct, 2021 | 05:03 AM] 1721
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 01 Nov, 2021 | 04:41 AM] 9309
By Joseph Parker [Published 10 Nov, 2021 | 05:42 AM] 279
By Eva Olsen [Published 23 Nov, 2021 | 05:08 AM] 314
By Joseph Parker [Published 26 Nov, 2021 | 04:35 AM] 961
By Joseph Parker [Published 30 Nov, 2021 | 04:55 AM] 394
By Eva Olsen [Published 01 Dec, 2021 | 05:02 AM] 353
By Joseph Parker [Published 02 Dec, 2021 | 04:55 AM] 542
By Eva Olsen [Published 03 Dec, 2021 | 05:17 AM] 856
By Joseph Parker [Published 06 Dec, 2021 | 05:22 AM] 395
By Eva Olsen [Published 13 Dec, 2021 | 04:32 AM] 519
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 15 Dec, 2021 | 04:38 AM] 4609
By Eva Olsen [Published 15 Dec, 2021 | 05:47 AM] 404
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 16 Dec, 2021 | 05:42 AM] 483
By Eva Olsen [Published 17 Dec, 2021 | 04:32 AM] 313
By Joseph Parker [Published 22 Dec, 2021 | 05:11 AM] 461
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 27 Dec, 2021 | 04:52 AM] 415
By Eva Olsen [Published 27 Dec, 2021 | 05:38 AM] 434
By Eva Olsen [Published 29 Dec, 2021 | 05:43 AM] 1397
By Joseph Parker [Published 29 Dec, 2021 | 04:28 AM] 347
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 30 Dec, 2021 | 03:58 AM] 654
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 03 Jan, 2022 | 05:26 AM] 358
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 05 Jan, 2022 | 03:05 AM] 871
By Eva Olsen [Published 05 Jan, 2022 | 06:22 AM] 393
By Eva Olsen [Published 07 Jan, 2022 | 04:53 AM] 604
By Joseph Parker [Published 07 Jan, 2022 | 05:36 AM] 3883
By Joseph Parker [Published 10 Jan, 2022 | 05:32 AM] 670
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 17 Jan, 2022 | 05:11 AM] 737
By Eva Olsen [Published 19 Jan, 2022 | 04:03 AM] 1832
By Eva Olsen [Published 24 Jan, 2022 | 04:43 AM] 691
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 25 Jan, 2022 | 05:17 AM] 807
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 26 Jan, 2022 | 05:21 AM] 1145
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 27 Jan, 2022 | 05:07 AM] 1573
By Eva Olsen [Published 31 Jan, 2022 | 04:41 AM] 772
By Joseph Parker [Published 01 Feb, 2022 | 04:32 AM] 1125
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 02 Feb, 2022 | 04:42 AM] 827
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 04 Feb, 2022 | 05:15 AM] 850
By Eva Olsen [Published 05 Feb, 2022 | 04:23 AM] 4443
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 07 Feb, 2022 | 04:51 AM] 547
By Eva Olsen [Published 07 Feb, 2022 | 05:11 AM] 516
By Joseph Parker [Published 08 Feb, 2022 | 05:46 AM] 600
By Eva Olsen [Published 11 Feb, 2022 | 05:24 AM] 864
By Joseph Parker [Published 14 Feb, 2022 | 04:55 AM] 637
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 16 Feb, 2022 | 04:50 AM] 730
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 17 Feb, 2022 | 05:12 AM] 1437
By Joseph Parker [Published 19 Feb, 2022 | 05:33 AM] 1117
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 25 Feb, 2022 | 05:39 AM] 768
By Joseph Parker [Published 01 Mar, 2022 | 04:53 AM] 697
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 02 Mar, 2022 | 04:23 AM] 811
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 04 Mar, 2022 | 05:03 AM] 823
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 05 Mar, 2022 | 05:41 AM] 976
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 11 Mar, 2022 | 05:45 AM] 750
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 14 Mar, 2022 | 04:17 AM] 930
By Joseph Parker [Published 15 Mar, 2022 | 04:14 AM] 1210
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 16 Mar, 2022 | 04:10 AM] 828
By Eva Olsen [Published 22 Mar, 2022 | 10:25 AM] 530
By Eva Olsen [Published 22 Mar, 2022 | 06:32 AM] 574
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 28 Mar, 2022 | 05:21 AM] 569
By Eva Olsen [Published 04 Apr, 2022 | 05:10 AM] 1136
By Eva Olsen [Published 05 Apr, 2022 | 05:44 AM] 587
By Joseph Parker [Published 06 Apr, 2022 | 05:57 AM] 594
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 07 Apr, 2022 | 05:07 AM] 524
By Eva Olsen [Published 08 Apr, 2022 | 05:33 AM] 534
By Eva Olsen [Published 13 Apr, 2022 | 03:34 PM] 606
By Joseph Parker [Published 18 Apr, 2022 | 05:28 AM] 336
By Eva Olsen [Published 21 Apr, 2022 | 05:43 AM] 369
By Eva Olsen [Published 23 Apr, 2022 | 11:53 AM] 936
By Scarlett Wilson [Published 30 Apr, 2022 | 05:12 AM] 234
By Joseph Parker [Published 02 May, 2022 | 05:10 AM] 447
By Joseph Parker [Published 06 May, 2022 | 05:32 AM] 330
By Joseph Parker [Published 20 May, 2022 | 05:00 AM] 380
Stay up to date with the latest news
Comments
We welcome your feedback
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *