March 2021 witnessed Canada opening its wings to welcome a total of 22,425 permanent residents. As per IRCC reports, the first quarter of 2021 revealed the country welcoming about 70,000 fresh immigrants, which is higher than the normal average of about 30,000 – 40,000 ever since the beginning of the pandemic.

The IRCC functions according to the premium ambitious plan ever devised in Canadian history. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Immigration department Minister revealed the announcement of the 2021 – 2023 Immigration Levels plan somewhere towards the end of October 2020. Canada’s new aim to extend its arms to the welcoming and accommodation of 401,000 fresh immigrants will by far set a tie to the 1913 record. It also has a prime goal to increase this figure in the upcoming two years.

Comparative data presents the number of newcoming immigrants invited last year was only 184,000 while it was 341,000 in the year 2019. The reason for this high-priority immigration plan set in tandem with the current scenario is to provide a sort of relief to the post-pandemic economic recovery of the country. Owing to the travel restrictions imposed thanks to COVID-19, Canada is prioritizing this blatant shift in temporary residents by urging them towards Permanent Residency during the pandemic.

The primary method to accomplish this is the IRCC hosting Express Entry draws for specific targeting presently residing people in Canada, just the standard way the country welcomes economic class immigrants. This class comprises approximately 60% of the new immigrant population brought into the country every year.

This Express Entry draw majorly targets two distinct populations: those from the PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) and those from the CEC (Canadian Experience Class), wherein the latter witnessed a majority of the conversions in 2021.

The IRCC sent out almost 27,330 invites to CEC candidates on the 13th of February urging them to opt for a PR status, the figure exceeding six times the rate since the previous Express draw. Along with these measures, the IRCC also spearheaded the launch of six novel PR streams targeting around 90,000 international graduates and essential employees to opt for PR. Out of these, within 24 hours there was a striking increase in the English-speaking international graduate class claiming 40,000 candidates.

These aforementioned techniques will definitely leverage the purpose of IRCC and help support its target achievement of about 401,000 applicants by the year 2021’s third and fourth quarters. The candidates who seek Express Entry within the country and completed applications last year or within the first half of this current year shall be eligible to receive their PR status by the end of this year. Additionally, there is a goal by the IRCC to permit about 40,000 international graduates and essential employees by the end of 2021.

A seasonal impact showered upon Canadian immigration highlights the following: The warmer months of spring and summer witness a rise in PR landings. Regardless of the impending travel restrictions, those desiring to immigrate to the country will be doing so within the next few months while the weather presents in their favor.

With IRCC kickstarting its progress for this year and aiming to achieve the desired targets, it enables Canada to successfully achieve its target of welcoming 401,000 immigrants in 2021.