Quebec and British Columbia issue invitations for provincial immigration

Quebec and British Columbia have issued invitations to apply to candidates through provincial immigration programs this week.

Most Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec and Nunavut, operate their own Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs). Provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a permanent residence but it can act as a starting point toward permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Quebec’s economic immigration programs are administered by the province and are seperate from Canada’s other immigration programs.

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The PNP began in 1998 and accounts for over 80,000 PR admissions per year. Since it began there has been a steady increase in the number of PNP admissions in Canada each year. The federal and provincial governments consider it useful for economic development of the country outside locations with already high immigrant populations.

Provincial immigration results October 8-October 14

Quebec

Quebec invited 1,195 skilled workers to apply for permanent selection on September 29.

There were no specific NOC’s or locations targeted in this draw. Candidates had to have profiles in the Arrima Expression of Interest system with scores of at least 597 points. This is a lower score than the last general draw that took place on September 15, when the score was 620.

This is the twelfth draw Quebec has held in 2022 and the third draw in the month of September. This is unusual as Quebec typically only holds draws once a month. Quebec does not release draw results until one to two weeks after draws occur.

The invitations were issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to immigration candidates applying under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Quebec seeks to process complete applications within a service standard of six months, starting on the date the complete application has been received.

British Columbia

British Columbia invited more than 364 candidates to apply for provincial nomination on October 12.

The province invited 320 candidates in a general draw to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories and included Express Entry candidates.

To be invited in the general draw , candidates needed a minimum SIRS scores of 78 for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates.

The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates working in the following occupations.

25 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 60 points; and
19 Healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (includes EEBC option) with scores of at least 60 points
Healthcare assistants from the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category with minimum scores of 60 and;
Other priority occupations with minimum scores of 60

This will be the final draw for the BC PNP for a month as British Columbia recently announced that it will be pausing draws between October 12 and November 16 due to the transition from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021, an updated method of assessing a candidate’s skill level in economic immigration programs.

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