No CEC Express Entry Draw Since 2021 Leaves Many In Limbo

Last Updated On 19 July 2023, 10:12 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

IRCC has not conducted any Canadian Experience Class (CEC) specific Express Entry draw since September 14, 2021 and this has rightfully frustrated many eligible permanent residency candidates.

International students and work permit holders who are candidates of CEC Express Entry category.

These CEC candidates with a promising Express Entry profile having Canadian education and work experience are currently being devoid of permanent residency (PR).

Just to give an idea, CEC only Express Entry draws in 2021 had CRS Cutoff score as low as 357. Even the highest Cutoff in last CEC draw was at 462 on September 14, 2021.

However, individuals having a valid Express Entry profile with CRS score in the range mentioned above are rightly frustrated without any CEC Express Entry draws.

Earlier, there used to be CEC Express Entry draws after regular intervals considering only the profiles of individuals having at least 1 year of experience inside Canada.

Understanding The Laying Stone Of Express Entry

The Express Entry system was originally created to focus on 3 categories of candidates;

• Canadian Experience Class – CEC (skilled workers having Canadian experience)
• Federal Skilled Workers (skilled workers with experience from around the Globe including Canada)
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST) (workers with experience in skilled trades such as carpenters, cooks, electricians from around the world including Canada)

Since the beginning of Express Entry system in 2015 Federal Skilled Trades profiles used to benefit from significantly lower CRS cutoff score as compared to other 2 categories, with way less profiles qualifying.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) also used to have lower CRS cutoff score in CEC specific Express Entry draws offering an advantage to profiles having at least 1 year of Canadian experience.

Federal Skilled Workers had to compete in all program draws or PNP focused draws along with CEC and FST profiles.

With above 3-draw structure, even ‘no program specified’ Express Entry draws had comparatively lower CRS cutoff score as compared to the all program draws happening now.

In principle, this was to benefit individuals having Canadian education and experience by providing a PR pathway while also offering PR pathway to skilled workers from around the world.

As a result, more and more international students chose Canada as their home based on how they can be benefitted from Canadian study and experience with a pathway to permanent residency.

However, new targeted Express Entry draws are just focusing on 82 occupations in 2023 which also include Trades occupations.

More than 20% of the highly intellectual immigrants from outside Canada leave because they couldn’t find any work opportunity in alignment with their skill and find it difficult to integrate in Canadian way of living.

On the other hand, international students and foreign workers who have already integrated themselves in Canada, paying taxes, are forced to compete with the same talent.

This seems to be unfair. So far Express Entry has been a good system for international students as well as foreign workers in Canada, but IRCC has stopped conducting the CEC draws.

No specific CEC Express Entry draw or special policy for Canadian experience holders is forcing them to either buy LMIAs or return back home or just study again to stay in. Canada.

When is the next CEC Express Entry Draw 2023?

Our readers have reached out to us asking the same question, “when is the next CEC draw 2023.”

Canadian government is either being disconnected with ground level or just closing their eyes on this.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser in an event did say that they are working on finding a way to benefit CEC candidates by awarding them even more CRS score for having Canadian experience.

However, it seems like either it is still in making or it was just to evade the uncomfortable question.

As of now, CEC candidates awaiting a specific Express Entry draw are working around their way to stay in Canada in hope of draw dedicated to Canadian talent.

Our Opinion

CEC draws must be conducted parallel to ‘all program draws’ and targeted Express Entry draws.

IRCC minister should also come up with a solution and long term plan for international student as well as foreign workers to get permanent residency (PR) of Canada.

One of our readers say, “You are targeting STEM, healthcare, and other occupations, but would you be able to survive without other professionals and workers? This will create imbalance.”

It is good that Express Entry system has now evolved into targeting sectors with more labour shortage, but on the other hand you are creating more competition in these 82 occupations that may even result in more unemployment rate in these jobs across Canada.

New targeted Express Entry draws have already pushed candidates waiting in the pool to run fake payrolls in one of the 82 priority occupations to benefit from targeted Express Entry draws after gaining 6 months of experience.

There is already a Black market of LMIAs which government is not paying any attention, rather it has flourished more with introduction of targeted Express Entry draws.

Individuals are now buying more LMIAs to increase their CRS score.

IRCC introduced PGWP extension to allow international students having a work permit to stay even longer in Canada because of waiting for CEC only draws.

However, it is a band-aid, not the permanent solution for CEC candidates. Canada needs to outline a permanent way of retaining international talent.

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