On October 5, B.C. invited 108 tech employees to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invitations were sent out through the BC PNP Tech stream of the Provincial Nominee Program in British Columbia (BC PNP).

Candidates invited through B.C.’s Tech draws must meet the requirements of one of the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories maintained by the Skills and Immigration Registration System in British Columbia (SIRS).

Candidates in this draw had to have a minimum provincial score of 70 and be from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories. The score has decreased 10 points from the regular 80 for the first time in almost a year.

British Columbia has issued almost 9,000 invitations to file for provincial nomination so far in 2021.

Details about the BC PNP

Following a labor market assessment, the BC PNP Tech was introduced in May 2017 as a pilot program, with the largest issue confronting B.C.’s technology sector being access to talent. Following the project’s success, British Columbia decided to make it a permanent program. When suitable personnel is not available locally, the program is meant to help firms in British Columbia’s technology sector continue to attract and choose international talent.

The British Columbia PNP Computer, in particular, is a fast-track immigration route for high-demand tech workers and overseas students. To qualify for the stream, candidates must be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid 12-month employment offer in one of 29 approved occupations.

Job offers under the 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, unlike other BC PNP streams. It must also be full-time and from a province-approved employer.

The top-scoring individuals who meet the eligibility standards receive invitations via the PNP on a weekly basis.

Candidates who are requested to seek a provincial nomination must complete an application in its entirety. Most tech applications will be approved in two to three months after this is completed.

If approved, candidates will obtain a nomination confirmation letter from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which they can use to apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.

PNP candidates automatically receive 600 points for their Comprehensive Ranking System score, giving them a strong possibility of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency through Express Entry.