BC PNP Tech Draw: 72 immigration candidates invited

B.C. invited 72 immigration candidates who work in the IT sector to apply for a provincial nomination on June 15.

The new invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech, which is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Those invited through B.C's Tech draws must meet the requirements of one of British Columbia's Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Candidates who received invitations in yesterday's draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

Invited candidates have 30 calendar days to apply for the nomination.

The province has now invited 5,321 immigration candidates in 2021.

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B.C's Tech Pilot now a permanent program

The BC PNP Tech was launched in May 2017 as a pilot project following a labour market study that found the biggest issue facing B.C.'s technology sector was access to talent.

The pilot project has been very successful and has led to more than 6,000 potential immigrants becoming nominated for permanent residence. Based on its success, the tech pilot project has been extended on an annual basis for the past 4 years.

This year, instead of extending the project again, and following requests from employers and various stakeholders in the IT sector, the province announced that the program is becoming permanent.

The program, now called the BC PNP Tech, remains a fast-track immigration pathway for in-demand tech workers and international students. Candidates need to be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of 29 eligible occupations to be eligible.

Unlike the other BC PNP streams, job offers under 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. The job offer must also be full-time and from an eligible employer in the province.

Invitations through the province’s tech program are sent out weekly to the top-scoring candidates who meet the eligibility requirements.

Candidates who are invited to apply for a provincial nomination have 30 days to submit a complete application. Once this is done, most tech applications will be processed within two to three months.

If they are approved, candidates will receive a nomination confirmation that can be used to apply for permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.

Find out if you’re eligible for Canadian immigration