Canada’s PNP program sees a good run in May 2020

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) issued a significant number of invitations to immigration candidates in the month of May. Over the years Canada’s PNP has assumed significance for immigration candidates.

Canada has increasingly come to rely on the PNP program to cope with the country's labor shortage. With more than 400,000 jobs vacant, the Canadian government has steadily increased its PNP-program targets. It has set a target of 67,800 for 2020. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, Canada continues to invite immigration candidates under the PNP program.

The provinces in Canada have issued more than 2000 invitations for a provincial nomination for permanent residence in the month of May.

Many of these invitations were issued through three main economic immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry candidates who received a provincial nomination are eligible for an additional 600 points added to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score when applying for a PR visa. This increases their possibility of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Canadian PR Visa in the subsequent invitation rounds for the PR visa.

Here are more details about every province that held a PNP draw in the month of May:

Alberta

The province’s Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 191 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on May 13. The required CRS score was 300 to receive the Notification of Interest (NOI) from the province.

British Columbia

British Columbia issued 237 invitations for provincial nomination. The draw held on May 7 invited Express Entry candidates, skilled and semi-skilled workers, and international student graduates.

The Express Entry invitation invited candidates under two subcategories:

• Skilled Worker- required provincial score 108
• International Graduate-required provincial score 106

In the draw held on May 19, candidates were invited from the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC categories. The score requirements for each program was different.

The score requirements for the two Express Entry BC subcategories were:

• Skilled Worker: 110
• International Graduate: 110

In the Tech pilot draw held on May 26, British Columbia invited 133 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. The invitations were issued to Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates under the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration categories. The minimum required score in both the categories was 80.

The B.C tech pilot program invites tech workers with a valid job offer in one of 29 in-demand technology occupations to apply for permanent residence.

Manitoba

The province of Manitoba invited 123 candidates for provincial nomination on May 7.

The invited candidates had their profiles included in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool and belonged to three of Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) streams.  14 of these candidates had a valid Express Entry profile.

The Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) issued in this draw were distributed as under:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 94
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 14
• International Education Stream: 15

In the second draw for May, the province issued 99 ITAs to immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence on May 21.

The invitations were issued under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) to candidates in the following streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba-72
• Skilled Workers Overseas -15
•  International Education stream-12

Nova Scotia

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia held a new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on May 22, where nurses were invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence under the Labor Market Priorities Stream.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) while releasing details on eligibility criteria for the draw, did not mention the number of invitations that were issued.

Ontario

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued a total of 703 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination in the month of May.

Invitations were issued to candidates who had work experience in six tech sector occupations under its Express Entry-aligned immigration pathway on May 13. The CRS score requirement for this draw was between 421 and 451.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island held its PNP draw on May 15 where it invited 15 candidates working in essential service industries.

Its two previous draws were held on March 23 and April 27.

Only candidates from the Express Entry and Labor Impact categories who were working in an essential service such as healthcare or trucking were given invitations in these three draws.

Saskatchewan

The province of Saskatchewan held its PNP draw on May 28 where it issued invitations for 252 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates from two categories-the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.

The numerous PNP draws held in the month of May is a testimony to the fact that Canada is keen to have more immigrants settle in its provinces and contribute to its development.