As British Columbia’s Tech pilot project was set to run until June, the province announced that it will be extended indefinitely.
The Program was introduced in May 2017, and last year it was extended for 1 year. Its extension will expire on June 30, 2021. The Program will then be renamed BC PNP Tech, and it is set to be continued as a permanent, fast-track immigration pathway for international workers and students.
Until now, B.C. has held 23 draws through PNP, and a total of 3,441 invitations are issued in 2021. 452 candidates were invited in four PNP draws held by British Columbia on April 13, 2021.
Invitations issued were from the following streams:
In the largest draw, 420 immigration candidates were invited, wherein minimum scores ranged between 79 and 95 points. A separate draw was conducted in 2021 for NOC 0621and NOC 0631, where 21 ITAs were issued to aspiring immigrants having at least 113 scores. B.C also issued 11 invitations through the Entrepreneur Immigration stream.
About the BC PNP
The BC PNP is separated into two immigration streams which are further divided into sub-categories:
Skills Immigration
Aspiring migrators must register an account under B.C.’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). After registering, candidates are given a score based on factors such as educational qualifications, professional experience, and language abilities. Candidates with maximum scores are then invited for PNP through B.C.’s regular draws.
After receiving the ITA, 30 days are given to submit a complete application through the online system, after which, within two to three months, a decision from the province is received. A successful nomination allows candidates to apply for P.R. through IRCC under Provincial Nominee Class, and this nomination is valid for six months.
Express Entry (B.C.)
The EEBC stream is linked to the federal Express Entry system. Candidates are assessed on various factors like education, work experience, language ability, age, etc. Express Entry is an online application system that allows aspiring skilled migrators to submit their profiles under three federal immigration programs;
When receiving a nomination from one of the Provinces, aspiring migrators who have submitted their Express Entry Pool profiles are awarded 600 additional points. A nomination that adds 600 points under PNP ensures that the nominated candidate will be receiving Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in the succeeding express entry draw.
PNPs are all operative throughout the COVID pandemic. The Canadian government is focused on inviting 80,000 candidates through the PNPs. With the right guidance, aspiring migrators can achieve their goal of settling in Canada in one of their favorite provinces.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program invites applicants who have successfully created and filed for immigration to Canada via the Express Entry pathway program. On April 6, 2021, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held a Tech Pilot draw wherein 80 invitations were issued by British Columbia for permanent residency for the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.
Fast Track Immigration Pathway
Applicants selected are from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and need a provincial score of at least 80. This particular draw is a fast-track immigration pathway for tech workers and international students who are in demand in the province. Initiated in 2017 the project has been extended many times and most lately until June 2021.
Eligibility Criteria
· Applicant need to be registered in one of British Columbia’s provincial immigration streams
· Should have a lawful job offer of a minimum of 12 months in one of the Tech Pilot’s 29 entitled professions
How to Apply
Applicants looking forward to applying for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories need to develop a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and must register under SIRS (Skills Immigration Registration System)
Evaluation Process
Candidates’ profiles are evaluated and given a score based on the following key factors:
1. Qualification
2. Total direct work experience
3. Job offer in B.C.
Express Entry
Express Entry applicants having received a nomination from British Columbia will receive an additional 600 points to their existing Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Such applicants have an extremely high probability of securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the upcoming Federal Express Entry draw. These draws are usually held twice a month and have previously sent invitations to around 5,000 potential immigrants. Ask a Options Abroad for FREE how you can Successfully Fast Track your Immigration Journey to Canada.