On June 23, 2020, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued 87 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the technology sector to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

BC PNP Tech Pilot draw issued ITAs to candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories as explained in the table below:

Selected candidates who were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot offers an expedited immigration pathway for people with tech skills applying to be permanent Canadian residents who will contribute to B.C.’s shared prosperity.

The pilot project was launched in 2017 and has been extended several times, most recently until June 2021. The pilot helps ensure the technology sector can attract and retain the talent it needs to sustain and grow the sector further.

In order to be considered eligible for this program, candidates need to be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and the job offers under the BC PNP Tech Pilot must meet the following criteria:

• • The job offer must be for a single job in one of the 29 occupations eligible under the BC PNP Tech Pilot;
  • The job offer must be at least one year in duration (365 days); and
  • There must be at least 120 calendar days remaining on the job offer at the time of application;
  • Longer duration job offers, including indeterminate (permanent, or with no set end date) job offers, are also eligible.

The complete list of the 29 in-demand tech occupations can be found here https://www.welcomebc.ca/

To apply for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories candidates must first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Registration is free.

Applicants are evaluated and issued a score based on factors such as level of education, work experience, proficiency in English and location of employment.

Express Entry candidates who receive a nomination from British Columbia will be given an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an ITA in a future federal Express Entry draw.

If you are invited to apply, you have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete online application. The application requires a $700 processing fee at the time of online submission.

Donoso & Partners, a leading immigration law firm based in Washington, D.C., will continue to report on developments regarding the immigration law and policy through our news section of donosolaw.com.