Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 334 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in an Express Entry draw targeting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The round is the second Express Entry draw this May, continuing a year-to-date emphasis on provincial nominations within the Express Entry system. To […]
Category: Express Entry
Express Entry Backlog at Record Low as IRCC Reports Broad Decline in Backlogs, Maple News
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) backlog continued its downward trajectory in the latest figures covering the period to March 31, 2026. An application is considered backlogged if it has not been processed within IRCC’s service standards. Key changes since the prior month show Express Entry […]
Nova Scotia launches ‘Critical Vacancies’ initiative to pair Express Entry candidates with urgent job offers
Maple News reports that Nova Scotia has launched a targeted program called Critical Vacancies to connect Express Entry candidates with employers facing urgent labor needs. The province has begun issuing Notices of Interest to eligible Express Entry profiles that align with current vacancies, serving as a bridge between skilled workers […]
Maple News Exclusive: CELPIP Launches Accelerate Prep and May Webinar to Boost Canadian Language Readiness
Maple News reports a new wave of CELPIP preparation resources designed to help newcomers feel ready for language testing as they advance their careers in Canada in 2026. A live webinar is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM EDT. Hosted by CanadaVisa, the session will feature CELPIP […]
May Update: Processing Times Rise for Express Entry and PNP as Backlogs Grow
Maple News reports that on May 12, Canada’s immigration department published updated processing times for permanent residence and citizenship applications. Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications each jumped by about one month in wait times, with the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) queue increasing by more than 6,000 applicants […]
Provincial Nominees Lead May’s First Express Entry Draw, 380 ITAs Issued
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 380 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the first Express Entry draw of May 2026, a round focused on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. Eligible applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 798 and had created an […]
Express Entry pool slows, but top-end competition intensifies, Maple News reports
Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry pool grew modestly between April 12 and April 26, adding 897 profiles—far below the prior period’s gain of 2,193—but competition at the top end continues to intensify. The 501–600 CRS band expanded by 250 profiles, marking the second consecutive period of growth after […]
French-language Express Entry pool tightens, reshaping ITA odds for all candidates in 2026
Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry system is dipping deeper into its French-language candidate pool to sustain draw volumes, signaling a thinning supply of francophone applicants. The pattern emerges as Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs hold steady, tie-break rules tighten, and draw sizes shrink, all pointing to a thinning […]
How Canada’s Express Entry overhaul could prioritize high-wage occupations
Maple News reports that Canada is considering reforms to the Express Entry system that would give greater weight to applicants in higher-wage occupations, via a new high-wage occupation factor in the CRS. Under the proposed framework, candidates whose jobs pay at least twice the national median wage, or 1.5x or […]
Maple News: 4,000 ITAs in French-Language Express Entry Draw Boost 2026 Momentum
Maple News reports that IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a French-language Express Entry draw held on April 29, 2026. To be eligible, candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 400 and must have created an Express Entry profile by 20:13 UTC on April 7, 2026. This draw […]
Maple News: 2,000 Canadian Experience Class ITAs Held in April Express Entry Draw
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw conducted through Express Entry. To be eligible, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 514 and a profile created before 2:18 p.m. UTC on […]
Maple News Reports: Provincial Nominees Secure 473 ITAs in Latest Express Entry Draw
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued another Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system, this round exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The draw awarded 473 ITAs, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 795, and applicants were required to […]
Express Entry reforms could fast-track high-wage workers to permanent residence earlier than planned, IRCC official says
Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry overhaul could prioritize higher-earning workers for permanent residence sooner than previously expected, according to a senior official from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). While the full set of reforms is expected to be implemented over the next 12 to 18 months, the […]
IRCC Backlog Dips to Near-Year-Low as Work Permits and Express Entry Processing Speeds Up
Maple News reports that newly released figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show the total application backlog continuing to ease. As of February 28, the backlog stood at 941,400 applications, a decline of 48,900 from the previous month. IRCC highlighted notable reductions across several streams: an 11% drop […]
Express Entry Pool Expands as Competition Heats Up
Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry pool expanded for the first time in months, increasing by 2,193 profiles between March 15 and April 12, even as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued nearly 14,000 Invitations to Apply during the same period. The growth was concentrated in the 451–480 CRS […]
French-Language Express Entry Invitations Drop Again in Second Consecutive 2026 Draw
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a French-language proficiency draw under the Express Entry system. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 419, and eligible candidates had to have created an Express Entry profile before 7:14 a.m. UTC […]
