BC PNP Tech draws: 89 immigration invitations issued

British Columbia has sent out approximately 11,000 invitations to apply for provincial nomination so far in 2021. On November 30, British Columbia invited 89 IT employees to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invitations were sent out through the BC PNP Tech stream of the Provincial Nominee Program in British Columbia (BC PNP).

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic British Columbia immigration route utilized by the government of British Columbia to attract experienced, in-demand foreign professionals. The programme provides a path to permanent residence for persons who choose to live and work in British Columbia.

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration programme run by the Immigration Programs Branch of the British Columbia government.

The programme allows the province to choose and nominate foreign workers, international students, and entrepreneurs to assist satisfy B.C.'s labour market demands, government priorities, and economic growth.

If you are nominated, you and your family can apply to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) to become permanent residents of Canada.

Candidates invited through B.C.'s Tech draws must meet the requirements of one of the province's Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are handled by the provincial government.

Candidates in this draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories, and they needed a provincial score of 78 to be invited.

Candidates who have been invited to apply for the nomination now have 30 days to do so. British Columbia has sent out approximately 11,000 invitations to apply for provincial nomination so far in 2021.

The PNP Tech programme in British Columbia

Following a labour market assessment, the BC PNP Tech was introduced in May 2017 as a pilot programme, with the largest issue confronting B.C.'s technology sector being access to talent.

Because of the project's success, British Columbia decided to make it a permanent programme. When qualified personnel are not available locally, it is meant to allow firms in British Columbia's technology sector to continue to attract and choose international talent.

The BC PNP Tech, in particular, is a fast-track British Columbia immigration route for high-demand tech workers and overseas students. To qualify, 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 29 approved occupations.

Job offers under the BC PNP Tech must be for a minimum of one year, with at least 120 days remaining 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 programme sends invitations to the top-scoring candidates who meet the eligibility standards on a weekly basis.

Candidates who are invited 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, candidates will obtain a nomination confirmation letter from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), which they can use to apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.

PNP candidates 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.

Under the Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a joint immigration programme overseen by the province and Canada (CBCIA).

B.C. nominates individuals who help meet the province's particular labour market needs and contribute to economic development through the BC PNP.

Each year, B.C. is given a certain number of nominees. Strategic priorities and activities help to ensure that the BC PNP is run in the most efficient way possible, in accordance with the Stronger BC Economic Plan, while ensuring programme integrity and assisting qualified applicants in achieving their goals.

The province will continue to monitor and assess the BC PNP to ensure that it is in line with recovery efforts to help communities become stronger and more resilient.

PNP Tech in British Columbia

When local skilled workers are unavailable, BC PNP Tech allows B.C. tech firms to continue to attract and retain international talent in tech occupations. This project provides a road to permanent residence for high-demand foreign employees and international students, allowing them to contribute to the growth of the economy and make a fulfilling life in British Columbia.

Since its inception in May 2017, BC PNP IT has assisted over 6,000 tech employees in being nominated for permanent residence. BC PNP Tech ensures that B.C. can continue to attract and retain the talent required to sustain and grow the province's technology economy.

The primary aspects of BC PNP Tech are service, timeliness, prioritizing, and engagement in response to business demands. This provides a concierge service for employers who want to support a BC PNP Tech applicant.

They hold targeted tech-only drawings to ensure that qualified tech candidates get first preference in the programme. Assign files to a dedicated team to expedite the processing of technical applications.

They continue to engage technology employers and industry stakeholders proactively through targeted outreach and other efforts to stay current on challenges affecting the tech sector in B.C.

Benefits to applicants: 

• British Columbia immigration pathway does not require a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
•  Work permit support letters for nominees so they can apply for a new work permit or renew their current work permit  
•  To work throughout the federal permanent residence process
• Client support services through email and phone until permanent residence

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