The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) unexpectedly conducted Express Entry draw 244 on Thursday, 23rd March 2023.
Express Entry Draw 244
Draw type: All program
ITAs issued: 7000
CRS score cut-off: 484
Draw date: 23.03.2023
Draw day: Thursday
Time of Draw: 12:27:59
UTC In a surprising turn of events, IRCC issued 7000 ITAs or Invitations to Apply to Express Entry profiles with a CRS cut-off score of 484 or higher points. While the number of ITAs remained the same as the 243rd Express Entry draw, the CRS cut-off dropped by 6 points.
Express Entry all program draws of 2023
An all-program Express Entry draw is the one that issues ITAs to applicants belonging to:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Below is the list of all program Express Entry rounds of invitations in the year 2023.
| Draw Number | Draw Date | CRS cut-off | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 244 | 23.03.2023 | 484 | 7000 |
| 243 | 15.03.2023 | 490 | 7000 |
| 238 | 18.01.2023 | 490 | 5500 |
| 237 | 11.01.2023 | 507 | 5500 |
As we can see from the table above, the Express Entry draw 244 has the lowest CRS cut-off among all program draws of 2023. It has dropped by 23 points since the first all program round of invitations conducted on 11th January. Naturally, it also happens to be one of the largest draws inviting a record-breaking 7000 eligible profiles to apply for Canada PR within 60 days.
The trend of unexpected draws
Express Entry draw 244 is not the first unexpected draw of 2023. The very first draw of the year was conducted after an unforeseen pause of almost a month. This was followed by the 238th draw which was unexpectedly held on the very next day instead of the usual alternative Wednesdays. The year 2023 also witnessed targeted draws for the first time after COVID induced restrictions. All the unscheduled draws in 2023 are listed below:
| Draw Number | Draw Date | ITAs Issued | ITAs Issued | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 244 | 23.03.2023 | 7000 | 484 | Unexpected draw conducted a week earlier than usual |
| 242 | 01.03.2023 | 667 | 748 | Targeted draw for PNP |
| 241 | 15.02.2023 | 699 | 791 | Targeted draw for PNP |
| 240 | 02.02.2023 | 3300 | 489 | Surprise draw conducted the very next day. A targeted draw for FSWP. |
| 239 | 01.02.2023 | 893 | 733 | Unexpected targeted draw exclusively for PNP |
| 238 | 18.01.2023 | 5500 | 490 | Draw was conducted within a week instead of the usual 15 days |
| 237 | 11.01.2023 | 5500 | 507 | Draw was conducted after a gap of a month |
The 243rd Express Entry draw was the only draw that was as per the schedule and was applicable to all eligible applicants in the pool with a CRS score equal or greater than the cut-off.
What to expect next?
With positive developments such as BIll-C19 expected to be implemented in the Express Entry system, the future of Canada immigration looks extremely promising. Settling in Canada is bound to become easier. You just need to be careful about creating a profile that gets you the highest Comprehensive Ranking System score as possible. Hiring an authorized immigration consultant not only guarantees you your best CRS score, it also makes your application process faster.
Create your profile and get in the federal pool now!
Read All Express Entry Draws Here : Latest Express Entry Draws
