BC PNP Tech Draw

BC conducts Tech draw, invites 74 immigration candidates

 The PNP in British Columbia (BC) issued 7,601 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination since the beginning of 2021. The province invited 74 immigration candidates who work in key technology occupations to apply for a provincial nomination on August 24. The new invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech, which is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Candidates invited through B.C’s Tech draws must now 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). The candidates receiving the invitations in this 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.

BC PNP Tech program

Launched in May 2017 as a pilot project, the BC PNP Tech was introduced following a labor market study that found the biggest issue facing B.C.’s technology sector was access to talent. As the project became successful, B.C recently made it a permanent program. The province extended the BC PNP Tech pilot program indefinitely and renamed it BC PNP Tech to allow BC technology employers to continue to attract and select international talent when qualified skilled workers are not available locally. The BC PNP Tech is a fast-track immigration program for in-demand tech workers and international students. To apply for the program, 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 qualify for the stream.

Unlike other BC PNP streams, 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. The job must 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 will need to submit a complete application. Most tech applications will be processed within two to three months after the submission of the application. After approval, 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.

To find out more about the BCPNP Tech draw and other immigration updates, connect with us at Vashist Immigration, our RCIC licensed immigration consultants will assist you with your queries.