Maple News reports that British Columbia began 2021 by inviting 168 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The draw, held on January 5, issued invitations through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.
The invitations were extended to candidates across multiple sub-categories, including Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled occupations. To be considered, candidates had to meet specific minimum points thresholds in the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). The cut-off scores were as follows:
– Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker: 95
– Skills Immigration – International Graduate: 95
– Skills Immigration – Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled: 77
– Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker: 99
– Express Entry BC – International Graduate: 99
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, British Columbia continues to exercise caution by excluding certain occupations from participation in recent draws, particularly those industries adversely affected by public health restrictions.
The BC PNP is designed to attract skilled workers and international graduates who have the qualifications and experience to meet BC’s labour market needs. The program operates through two key pathways: Skills Immigration for individuals with job offers in high-demand roles, and Express Entry BC, which aligns with the federal Express Entry system.
Candidates interested in these streams must first register an online profile through the BC PNP portal and submit detailed information regarding their job offer in British Columbia, educational background, work experience, English proficiency, and salary. Using this information, candidates receive a SIRS score that determines their eligibility for invitation rounds.
Receiving a nomination from BC under the Express Entry stream provides a significant advantage — a boost of 600 additional points toward a candidate’s federal Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This can fast-track their path to permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
British Columbia remains one of the most active provinces in Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program landscape, regularly issuing invitations to applicants with the skills needed to support the province’s economic growth.