B.C. holds weekly Tech Pilot draw

British Columbia invited 75 Skills Immigration and Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence through its Tech Pilot on April 29.

The Tech Pilot issues invitations to eligible foreign tech workers with a valid job offer in one of 29 in-demand technology occupations in the province.

Invitations went to Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates in both the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams. The minimum required score for candidates in both Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories was 85.

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EEBC candidates must be registered under both the federal Express Entry system and B.C.'s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Skills Immigration candidates only need to be registered with the SIRS.

Candidates are awarded a score based on factors such as education, work experience and language proficiency as part of the registration process and the highest-scoring candidates are invited to apply in weekly Tech Pilot draws.

Created in 2017, the Tech Pilot addresses labour demands in British Columbia's tech sector that cannot be met locally. Its goal is to ensure B.C.'s tech sector has access to the talent it needs to continue growing. (BC PNP)

Tech Pilot candidates are exempt from the permanent, full-time job offer requirement that applies to most immigration categories under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Tech Pilot candidates, however, must demonstrate a job offer that is at least one year in duration and has at least 120 calendar days remaining at the time they apply for a provincial nomination.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs