Well said.
Manmeet S Rai (LegalFalcon):
What does today's draw mean for the immediate future of economic immigration and the pending applications?
Today's draw saw the lowest cut off ever since the express entry started in 2015. A cut-off of 75 was unimaginable and unheard of. However, this shows the desperation of the federal government to keep immigration going amidst the pandemic as Canada reached the lowest immigration levels since 1998.
The effects of the pandemic on Canada’s economy are visible. Millions unable to work, thousands of workplaces are forced to close their doors, and a ballooning debt due to indiscriminate government spending. The poor handling of the pandemic in early 2020 is what got Canada to this point.
In a desperate measure, since Canada cannot allow new immigrants to come due to strict border measures, the only alternative is to process anyone in Canada who meets the bare minimum criteria to become a permanent resident. A CRS score of 75 for CEC (Canadian Experience Class) means that if an applicant has a language proficiency test (with a CLB of 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or CLB 5 for NOC B jobs), 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada or equivalent in part-time, and does not intend to live in Quebec, and had a valid profile, received an ITA. Also, most of these applications will be approved since no matter how poorly the application is filed, or has missing documents, as long as it has documents that meet the bare minimum criteria, the application will be approved, since in no way can the CRS drop to as low as 75 for anyone who meets the minimum criteria. Eg. Age along give 100 CRS points to an applicant between the age of 20-29.
Canada’s ability to attract the most talented people to its shores has been one of this country’s hallmark. However, today's CRS cut off sidelined talent for sure and discriminates again many others across the globe who have been planning to make Canada their new home with much higher CRS scores.
On the bright side, the low cut-off also indicates that in the next few draws this trend could continue for CEC applicants, at least until the travel restrictions are relaxed. However, this may not spill into FSW and PNP programs as Canada can cherry-pick whom they want, based on the competitive CRS scores, and the bigger and stronger pool.
Today's draw also sends a clear message to applicants outside Canada, whose applications are being processed or pending a final decision, to not expect anything anytime soon. A lot of applicants who have expired COPRS, or have all the stages passed as per their GCMS notes, will continue to wait while CEC applications will be prioritized and receive COPRs.
The Liberal government's plans to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023, seems to be a distant dream with the new variants of COVID becoming dominant in communities and Canada having the lowest vaccination rate per capita amongst developed countries. In a desperate attempt, the federal government has moved its focus on international students and Canadian Experience Class immigration applicants, to use them a milking machines, until the pandemic can be controlled.
While the federal government can justify that international students and individuals already in Canada are essential for the Canadian economy, but the government cannot downplay the immense talent and funds that new immigrants bring into Canada every year.
Saving Canadians from COVID should be a priority, but the poor messaging and lack of answers for immigrants waiting outside Canada surely undermines Canada's commitment towards prospective immigrants. If there are no clear answers for applicants who are waiting, then at least advisories should be issued on a timely basis on the protocol of how expired COPRs would be renewed as and when they expire, the process for the same, and a genuine effort to assure them that they are not forgotten.
Alas, today's CRS draw does little to calm the nerves of thousands who are anxiously waiting after having put their lives on a hold. Instead it is a slap on the face of those waiting, and will probably continue to wait, as CEC applications are processed and COPR issued.
Many of these CEC applicants, as soon as their immigration application is approved, and they become permanent residents, their immediate family members will be exempt from travel restrictions, thereby creating a class within a class of foreign nationals who can and who cannot travel to Canada, despite both having a COPR.
Currently the new quarantine policy is so unclear and arbitrary, that it is more of joke than an effort to genuinely fight against COVID. While thousands of prospective applicants wait, and will probably continue to wait until the travel restrictions are eased, the mismanagement of COVID and the lack of transparency and answers poses serious questions on the credibility of Canada's immigration system. It surely is far from fair in its current form.