Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
102 Tech Workers Invited in First BCPNP Draw of 2022
British Columbia issued 102 invitations to potential nominees in their latest Expression of Interest (EOI) draw. B.C.’s most recent draw targeted candidates under BCPNP Tech, a program managed by the British Columbia Nominee Program (BCPNP).
The BCPNP hosts a collection of immigration pathways that allow foreign skilled workers to become Canadian permanent residents in the province of British Columbia. British Columbia’s nominee programs are designed to attract immigrants with experience in areas that will benefit the province.
Candidates invited in B.C.’s latest draw must meet the requirements of the province’s Skills Immigration or Express Entry streams, and hold a job offer in one of 29 eligible tech occupations.
January 4 BCPNP Tech draw results: 102 invitations
The minimum SIRS score targeted in this draw was 80; this was a commonly targeted score for many BCPNP Tech draws in 2021.
Express Entry BC categories (EEBC) minimum SIRS score:
- Skilled Worker: 80
- International Graduate: 80
BC Skills Immigration categories minimum SIRS score:
- Skilled Worker: 80
- International Graduate: 80
How does BCPNP work?
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) divides its skilled worker immigration programs into two main streams: Express Entry and Skills Immigration. Each stream has additional immigration pathways. The programs for Skills Immigration and Express Entry are essentially the same; however, the Express Entry pathway offers an accelerated option for candidates who are eligible to submit an Express Entry profile.
Candidates that meet the requirements for BC’s Skilled Worker, International Graduate, or Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker pathways can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province. Once a candidate creates an EOI profile, they are ranked by the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) and given a “SIRS” score. The highest-ranking candidates will then receive an invitation from BC to apply for nomination. After receiving an invitation, candidates have 30 days to prepare and submit their online application to the province. Successful nominees will be invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
What is the benefit of BCPNP Tech?
In an effort to recruit more tech workers to the province, BCPNP holds weekly draws with consistently lower points requirements than non-tech draws. Those with a qualifying tech job offer benefit from faster application processing times and are overall in a stronger position to receive a nomination that is processed more quickly than non-tech candidates.
Do I need an LMIA for BCPNP Tech program?
British Columbia has a provincial-federal agreement that allows the province to issue work permit support letters to successful nominees to bypass the lengthy LMIA process. These letters allow applicants to apply for a work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
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