British Columbia’s PNP invites 72 in latest Tech Pilot Draw

On August 25, British Columbia invited 72 international students and foreign tech workers in a Provincial Nominee Program [PNP] draw held by the province.  As this was a BC PNP Tech Pilot Draw, Canada immigration candidates that had a valid job offer in any of the 29 key technology occupations were invited.

Under the BC PNP Tech Pilot, weekly invitations are issued to qualified registrants that have valid job offers in any of the tech occupations in demand in the province. If a candidate’s occupation is not in the list of the 29 eligible tech occupations for the BC PNP Tech Pilot Draw, they might still be eligible for applying through the regular draws that are held by the BC PNP.

Those invited can now apply to the BC PNP for a provincial nomination. Periodic invitations to apply are issued to the highest scoring registrants in each of the categories to apply to the BC PNP. Successful applicants get nominated by the province to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC] for Canadian permanent residence.

The previous BC PNP draw was held on August 18. The earlier Tech Pilot Draw, on the other hand, was on August 11.

BC PNP categories requiring invitations

Skills Immigration	Skilled Worker
	International Graduate
	Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
Express Entry BC	Skilled Worker
	International Graduate
Entrepreneur Immigration	Base Category
	Regional Pilot

Note. – Invitations to apply not required by International Post-Graduate applicants and Healthcare Professionals applying under the categories of Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC. Such immigration candidates can apply to the BC PNP directly.

Launched in 2017, the BC PNP Tech Pilot aims at providing tech employers in the province of British Columbia in Canada with the “ability to recruit and retain international talent when local skilled workers are unavailable”. The BC PNP Tech Pilot has been extended till June 2021.

For being considered eligible for the Tech Pilot, a candidate would have to be registered in any of the existing provincial immigration streams under the BC PNP. They would also be required to have a valid job offer of at least 1 year in any of the eligible occupations.

Do note that for the Tech Pilot, as per the BC PNP, the “job offer must be for at least one year [365 days], and the job offer must have at least 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP.

To apply for the BC PNP categories of Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC, Canada immigration candidates will have to begin by creating their profile through the online portal of the BC PNP by registering under its Skills Immigration Registration System [SIRS].

After registration with the SIRS, a score – based on factors such as the location of employment, education, proficiency in English, and work experience – is allotted to the candidate.

Overview of the August 25 BC PNP draw – Tech Pilot Draw – 72 invitations sent

Category	Minimum Score
EEBC – Skilled Worker	80
EEBC – International Graduate	80
SI – Skilled Worker	80
SI – International Graduate	80

With the present August 25 draw, the BC PNP had held a total of 4 draws in August 2020 so far, inviting 863 Canada immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The BC PNP draws in August have been held on the 7th, 11th, 18th, and 25th of the month. 

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