British Columbia invites 67 immigration candidates in Tech Pilot draw

Alexandra Miekus
Published: September 9, 2020

British Columbia invited 67 Express Entry and Skills Immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence through its Tech Pilot on September 8.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is a fast-track immigration pathway for in-demand tech workers and international students.

All Tech Pilot candidates invited by the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) are required to have a job offer that is at least one year (365 days) in duration in one of the pilot’s 29 in-demand occupations.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

The September 8 draw saw invitations issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

Selected candidates in all the subcategories needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

Candidates registered under the Express Entry BC categories will be awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) if their provincial nomination application is approved. These points effectively guarantee an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence at a later federal Express Entry draw.

The rest of the candidates invited under the Skills Immigration categories will have applications for Canadian permanent residence processed directly by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) once a provincial nomination is issued by British Columbia.

To apply for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories candidates must first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Applicants are evaluated and issued a score based on factors such as level of education, work experience, proficiency in English and location of employment.

Key features of the BC PNP Tech Pilot

BC PNP draws aimed specifically at technology workers started in May 2017. The province has a thriving technology industry with some big names of the tech world basing themselves in Canada’s westernmost province.

In addition to promoting access to the skills and talent of the province's workers, the goal of the Tech Pilot is to enable companies to attract skilled workers from around the world.

The Province of British Columbia is working to ensure that the presence of technology entrepreneurs and skilled workers from other countries can contribute to the growth of the technology sector and that this will result in a greater number of jobs for British Columbians.

BC PNP Tech Pilot Job Offers must be:

  • for one of the 29 targeted occupations;
  • at least one-year duration; and
  • at least 120 days at time of application.

Eligible Tech Pilot occupations include:

  • Telecommunication carriers managers;
  • Civil engineers;
  • Database analysts and data administrators;
  • Translators, terminologists and interpreters;
  • Graphic designers and illustrators;
  • Information systems testing technicians;
  • Audio and video recording technicians;
  • Chemical engineers.

For a complete list of occupations, click here.

British Columbia issues weekly invitations to the highest-scoring technology sector registrants.

According to the BC PNP website, the processing time for most BC PNP applications is 2-3 months from the time they are received. As with the Tech pilot, applications are generally processed in a shorter amount of time.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

© 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
British Columbia and Alberta issue invitations in new PNP draws
Sunset above the city of Calgary.
December 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people on the sky bridge located in Jasper, Alberta.
IRCC invites Express Entry candidates in first French-language draw of December
A picture of Montreal's Old Port on a sunny autumn day.
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and PEI select candidates
A picture of the British Columbia coast on a fall day
Top Stories
British Columbia and Alberta issue invitations in new PNP draws
Are you eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian immigration?
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Work
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
Diverse employees celebrate by throwing money in the air.
Five things newcomers can do to succeed in the Canadian job market, according to a new report
Four people sit on chairs while waiting to be interviewed
Can I get Ontario health coverage on a work permit?
A doctor examines a patient who likely is on his work permit in Ontario.
These industries have the highest retention rates for work permit holders who become permanent residents
A hand holding a briefcase
Link copied to clipboard