Why Is Now the Best Time to Immigrate to Canada?

Canada will have two immigration levels plan in 2022. The plans will outline Canada’s targets for new permanent resident arrivals and what programs the new immigrants will arrive under. Under the current plan, Canada is looking to welcome 411,000 new immigrants in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023, however, these figures may be revised when the federal government reveals its new levels plans.

The first came out on February 14 when Minister Fraser was set to table Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024. This was the announcement that usually takes place each autumn, but was delayed due to the September 2021 Canadian election. The second announcement will be the normal one and will occur by November 1st.

There is the possibility of even higher levels due to various factors such as growing labor shortages in Canada, application backlogs, and the federal government’s commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghan refugees. Minister Fraser said the government is open to higher levels if Canadian employers and communities are receptive to the idea.

Express Entry

Last year was perhaps the most exceptional year for Express Entry since it was launched in 2015, the coming year is ready to see even more major Express Entry developments. Express Entry draws only invited Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in 2021. This is unusual since prior to the pandemic, Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates were the main source of Express Entry immigrants but they have been excluded altogether from Express Entry invitations over the last year. They currently comprise some 85 percent of candidates in the Express Entry pool.

IRCC’s reason has been that inviting more CEC candidates will better allow it to achieve its goal of landing 401,000 new immigrants in 2021 since CEC candidates are overwhelmingly based in Canada, and hence less likely to face COVID-related issues during the permanent residence process. Since FSWP candidates tend to be located abroad, IRCC has excluded them from invitations due to concerns they were less likely to land within 2021 which would undermine the immigration department’s ability to achieve its 401,000 newcomer target. IRCC’s rationale for continuing to invite PNP candidates has been to help provinces address their labor market goals through immigration.

Canada Resuming Express Entry FSWP Draws

No one can predict when IRCC will resume invitations to FSWP candidates as IRCC has not provided any indication on its Express Entry plans. The best guidance at this point is a September 2021 IRCC memo suggesting the department wants to cut its Express Entry backlogs by more than half to return to its service standard of processing Express Entry permanent residence applications within six months before considering inviting FSWP candidates again. If IRCC is able to continue its current pace of processing applications, Express Entry backlogs will likely be cut in half in early 2022.

Express Entry Reforms

The federal government has made several statements indicating they plan to introduce Express Entry reforms. In Budget 2021, they announced a proposal to give the minister more flexibility to invite Express Entry candidates that meet Canada’s labor market needs, but no details have been given. In Minister Fraser’s new mandate letter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asks him to expand permanent residence pathways for international students and temporary foreign workers via Express Entry.