Maple News reports that the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) conducted a targeted immigration draw on January 26, 2021, extending invitations to 81 tech workers for provincial nomination—a key step toward permanent residency in Canada.
The invitations were issued through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI) streams, specifically under the BC PNP Tech Pilot. This initiative is designed to attract highly skilled technology professionals to meet the growing demand for tech talent in the province.
Eligible candidates for this draw were selected from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories. All invitees had to hold valid job offers in one of the province’s eligible tech occupations. The minimum score required across all categories in this draw was 80 points.
The EEBC stream aligns with Canada’s federal Express Entry system, the primary immigration pathway for skilled workers aiming for permanent residence. Meanwhile, the SI stream is tailored for skilled and semi-skilled individuals in high-demand professions across British Columbia.
To be considered under either stream, candidates must first register via the BC PNP’s online portal and create a profile through its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Registrants are assessed and scored based on key factors such as education level, professional experience, language proficiency, and job location.
A provincial nomination significantly boosts an applicant’s chances of permanent residence by adding 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry pool. This near-guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in future federal Express Entry draws.
British Columbia continues to hold weekly draws under various categories to attract and retain skilled international talent, particularly in key sectors such as technology.
This latest tech-focused draw underlines the province’s ongoing commitment to supporting its growing innovation economy through strategic immigration.