Contact: Henry Chang; Blaney McMurty (Ontario, Canada)
As previously discussed, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) implemented its Express Entry system on January 1, 2015. Since that date, CIC has issued two rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”), which invite selected Express Entry applicants to submit applications for permanent residence under one of the following categories:
1. The Federal Skilled Worker (“FSW”) Class;
2. The Canadian Experience Class (“CEC”);
3. The Federal Skilled Trades (“FST”) Class; or
4. Members of the Provincial Nominee Class who fall within the Express Entry Stream of a Provincial Nominee Program (“PNP”).
On January 31, 2015, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander (the “Immigration Minister”) issued Ministerial Instructions (“MIs”) regarding the first round of ITAs. The MIs stated that the total number of ITAs issued during the period between January 31, 2015 and February 1, 2015 would be 779. They also stated that only Express Entry applicants who had been assigned at least 886 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (“CRS”) would receive an ITA during the first round.
On February 7, 2015, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander issued additional MIs regarding its second round of ITAs. These MIs stated that the total number of ITAs issued during the period between February 7, 2015 and February 8, 2015 would again be 779. They also stated that only Express Entry applicants who had been assigned at least 818 points would receive an ITA during the second round.
