On September 7, British Columbia invited 34 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
The invites were sent out through the BC PNP Tech stream of the Provincial Nominee Program in British Columbia (BC PNP).
Candidates invited through B.C.’s Tech draws must fulfill the requirements of one of the Express Entry BC or Skills immigration categories governed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Candidates in this draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and had to have a provincial score of at least 80.
Candidates who have been invited to apply for the nomination now have 30 days to do so.
British Columbia has issued approximately 8,100 invitations to file for provincial nomination so far in 2021.
B.C’s Tech Pilot to become a permanent program
The BC PNP Tech Pilot was introduced in May 2017, following a labor market study that found the major issue confronting B.C.’s tech sector was access to talent.
Since its introduction, the tech program has been very successful and has led to more than 6,000 potential immigrants becoming nominated for Canadian permanent residence.
Based on its success, the tech pilot program has been extended on an annual basis for the past four years.
The most recent extension was due to expire at the end of June.
Instead of extending the project again, and following requests from various stakeholders, including employers in the IT sector, the province recently announced that the tech pilot program would become permanent.
The program, which will be known as the BC PNP Tech will remain a fast-track Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for international students and in-demand tech workers.
Candidates will need to be registered in one of British Columbia’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid job offer of at least twelve months in one of the twenty-nine eligible occupations.
Unlike the other BC PNP programs, job offers under BC PNP Tech must be for at least one year, with a minimum of 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP.
The job offer must also be full-time and from an eligible employer in British Columbia.
Invitations through the province’s tech program are issued weekly to the top-scoring candidates who meet the requirements.
Candidates who are invited to apply for a provincial nomination have thirty days to submit a complete application.
Once this is done, most tech applications will be processed within 2 to 3 months.
If they are approved, candidates will get a nomination confirmation that can be used to apply for Canadian permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.
About the BC PNP Tech program
Following a labor market study, the BC PNP Tech was introduced in May 2017 as a pilot initiative, with the main challenge confronting B.C.’s technology industry being access to talent.
Following the project’s success, the province decided to make it a permanent program.
When suitable employees are not available locally, the program is meant to help companies in British Columbia’s technology industry continue to recruit and choose foreign talent.
The BC PNP IT, in particular, is a fast-track immigration pathway for high-demand tech employees and foreign students.
To qualify for the stream, candidates must be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid 12-month work offer in one of the twenty-nine qualifying occupations.
Find out if you're eligible to immigrate to CanadaJob offers under the BC PNP Tech must be for a minimum of one year, with at least 120 days left at the time of application to the BC PNP, unlike other BC PNP streams.
It must also be full-time and from a province-approved employer.
The province’s tech program sends invitations to the top-scoring individuals who fulfill the eligibility conditions on a weekly basis.
Candidates who are requested to seek a provincial nomination must complete an application in its entirety.
Most tech applications will be approved in two to three months after this is completed.
If approved, applicants will get a nomination confirmation letter from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which they can use to apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.
PNP applicants automatically receive 600 points for their Comprehensive Ranking System score, giving them a strong possibility of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency through Express Entry.
