Rare FSTP-specific Express Entry draw held by Canada

Holding a rare Federal Skilled Trades Program [FSTP] draw, Canada has invited 250 FSTP candidates in Express Entry Draw #159 held on August 6, 2020. Selected candidates were required to have a Comprehensive Ranking System [CRS] score of 415 and above.

As per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC], a tie-breaking rule of “June 2, 2020 at 09:35:31 UTC” was applied.

This is the 2nd Express Entry draw to be held in 2 days. The previous Express Entry draw was held on August 5, 2020. Draw #158 was an all-program draw, inviting 3,900 candidates.

Canada immigration candidates that receive Invitations to Apply [ITAs] in the federal Express Entry draws can then apply for Canada permanent residence.

The latest FSTP-specific Express Entry draw is only the 7th FSTP draw since the Express Entry System was launched in 2015. The previous FSTP-only draw was held on October 16, 2019.

The FSTP offers a Canadian immigration pathway to foreign skilled workers intending to become Canadian permanent residents based on their being qualified in a skilled trade.

The FSTP is 1 of the 3 programs – the Federal Skilled Worker Program [FSWP], Canadian Experience Class [CEC], and the FSTP – that are managed through Canada’s Express Entry System.

In order to be eligible for the FSTP, a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience [or a corresponding amount of part-time work experience] will be required in a skilled trade in the previous 5 years before applying.

Skilled trades for the FSTP are organized under the following National Occupational Classification [NOC] groups –

Major Group 72	Industrial, electrical and construction trades
Major Group  73	Maintenance and equipment operation trades
Major Group 82	Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
Major Group 92	Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
Minor Group 632	Chefs and cooks
Minor Group 633	Butchers and bakers

The major NOC groups are further sub-divided into various occupations. All occupations come under Skill Type B.

For the FSTP, the work experience will count only after having qualified to independently practice the occupation.

While there is no education requirement for the FSTP, an Educational Credential Assessment [ECA] report for immigration purposes from any of the designated organizations can help in improving the candidate’s ranking in the Express Entry pool.

The FSTP has a minimum language requirement of a Canadian Language Benchmarks [CLB] level 5 in speaking and listening, and a CLB 4 in reading and writing.

As the FSTP is a targeted program, the fewest number of ITAs in a year are through the FSTP. In 2019, only 1,000 out of the total 85,300 ITAs went to FSTP candidates.

2020 is turning out to be a record year for Canada’s Express Entry. In the 26 draws held so far this year, a record 61,850 ITAs have been issued. This is the most number of ITAs issued by the same day as compared to previous years since launch of Express Entry in 2015. 

The target for 2020 – as per the 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan – stands at 85,800 ITAs.

Total 26 Express Entry draws held in 2020 so far.

Sl. No.	Draw No.	Date of Draw	Minimum CRS	ITAs issued
1	#134	January 8, 2020	473	3,400
2	#135	January 22, 2020	471	3,400
3	#136	February 5, 2020	472	3,500
4	#137	February 19, 2020	470	4,500
5	#138	March 4, 2020	471	3,900
6	#139 [PNP]	March 18, 2020	720	668
7	#140 [CEC]	March 23, 2020	467	3,232
8	#141 [PNP]	April 9, 2020	698	606
9	#142 [CEC]	April 9, 2020	464	3,294
10	#143 [PNP]	April 15, 2020	808	118
11	#144 [CEC]	April 16, 2020	455	3,782
12	#145 [PNP]	April 29, 2020	692	589
13	#146 [CEC]	May 1, 2020	452	3,311
14	#147 [PNP]	May 13, 2020	718	529
15	#148 [CEC]	May 15, 2020	447	3,371
16	#149 [PNP]	May 27, 2020	757	385
17	#150 [CEC]	May 28, 2020	440	3,515
18	#151 [PNP]	June 10, 2020	743	341
19	#152 [CEC]	June 11, 2020	437	3,559
20	#153 [PNP]	June 24, 2020	696	392
21	#154 [CEC]	June 25, 2020	431	3,508
22	#155	July 8, 2020	478	3,900
23	#156 [PNP]	July 22, 2020	687	557
24	#157 [CEC]	July 23, 2020	445	3,343
25	#158	August 5, 2020	476	3,900
26	#159 [FSTP]	August 6, 2020	415	250
Total ITAs issued in 2020 so far – 61,850.

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