Maple News reports that the province of British Columbia has invited 374 immigration candidates through two rounds of draws conducted on March 30 under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). These draws targeted applicants in both the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams.
A total of 330 candidates were invited in the general draw. This included Skilled Workers, International Graduates, and individuals from the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories. The minimum point thresholds in this primary round ranged from 81 to 96, depending on the specific category.
In addition to the general invitation round, the province held a targeted draw for specific occupations. A total of 44 candidates working as retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) and restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631) received invitations. These candidates needed a minimum score of 113 to qualify.
With these two latest draws, British Columbia has now held a total of 18 invitation rounds in 2021, bringing the number of invitations issued this year to 2,909.
The BC PNP is designed to attract skilled and in-demand foreign workers, offering them a pathway to Canadian permanent residency. The program operates under two primary streams—Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC—each with several sub-categories targeting various qualifications and work experience levels.
Applicants must first register an online profile through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), where they are awarded points based on factors like education, work experience, and language proficiency. Regular draws are held, and top-scoring candidates are invited to apply for a provincial nomination.
Those who are invited have 30 days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application via the BC PNP online portal. Successful candidates who receive a nomination can then apply for permanent residence through the federal immigration process.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on upcoming provincial draws, helping applicants stay informed about new opportunities across Canada.