In most cases, those who successfully immigrate to Canada through Express Entry do so through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, FSWP candidates accounted for nearly half of all Express Entry immigrants each year. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program accounted for the other half of Express Entry arrivals (FSTP).

However, until the end of 2021, Immigration, Migrants, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has only issued Express Entry invitations to CEC and PNP candidates. Its reasoning is that because the majority of these candidates are already in Canada, they are less likely to face pandemic-related disruptions (e.g., travel delays) that would impede their ability to complete the permanent residence process.

As a result, many FSWP candidates are currently awaiting Invitations to Apply (ITA) from IRCC in the Express Entry pool.

Prospective FSWP candidates may believe that it is better to wait for such invitations to resume before entering the pool, but this is a mistake.

A careful cost-benefit analysis reveals the benefits of going ahead and joining the pool now anyway.

The only real risk of entering the pool now is that your official language test will expire if you do not receive an ITA within two years of passing it. That is, if fortune does not favour you over the next two years, you may need to spend some extra time and money retaking the language test.

This cost is insignificant in comparison to the far greater benefit of obtaining Canadian permanent residence.

Simply put, if you are not in the Express Entry pool, your chances of receiving an ITA for permanent residence are nil. You, on the other hand, have a chance of receiving an ITA simply by participating in the pool.

First and foremost, no one knows when IRCC will resume issuing ITAs to FSWP candidates. Express Entry is designed to be unpredictable because it is meant to be competitive (giving the highest-scoring candidates an advantage) and responsive to the needs of Canadian provinces and employers. Because of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, it has become even more unpredictable since last year. The Express Entry draw on February 13, 2021 is a prime example of this. IRCC held a draw on a Saturday without notice (draws are usually held on Wednesdays and Thursdays), and IRCC issued 27,332 ITAs to CEC candidates. The previous high mark was 5,000 ITAs. The Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut-off for that draw was only 75–the lowest of any draw.

You don’t want to be caught off guard when IRCC starts inviting FSWP candidates again. Being in the pool gives you the opportunity to receive an invitation and potentially benefit from an unusual draw, such as the one we saw on February 13.

Second, being in the pool puts you in the running for a provincial nomination invitation. Accepting a provincial invitation earns you an extra 600 CRS points, which almost guarantees you an Express Entry ITA. The provinces of Canada invite Express Entry candidates to apply to their PNP on a regular basis. They do this to attract skilled workers who meet the labour market needs of their province. If you receive an invitation, you must apply for a provincial nomination certificate. You then notify IRCC that you have received the certificate, which earns you 600 CRS points and increases your chances of receiving an ITA for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

Third, being in the pool allows you to open a “Plus Account” in the Canadian government’s Job Bank. Having this access can assist you in matching with suitable employment opportunities, potentially increasing your chances of receiving a job offer. Eligible job offers may result in an increase of 50 or 200 CRS points. These points will not guarantee you an ITA, but they will increase your chances. If you are granted an ITA, you will be well-positioned to quickly integrate into the Canadian labour market through your pre-arranged employment.

It’s comprehensible that you’re on the fence about joining the Express Entry pool right now, but it’s in your best interest to do so. Remember that Canada values your skills and talents and wants you to come here. IRCC will eventually re-open its doors to FSWP candidates, and starting the Express Entry process now could put you one step closer to achieving your goal of immigrating to Canada.