B.C. invited historic number of tech workers to apply for provincial nomination in February
Credit to Author: Mohanad Moetaz| Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 19:14:25 +0000
British Columbia sent out a surge of invitations for tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination in February.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued a total of 221 invitations through its Tech Pilot this month. This is the most since at least March 2018 when the BC PNP started releasing tech-only draw numbers separately from the regular draw results.
Immigration candidates who are applying for Canadian immigration through one of B.C.’s existing streams, and who have job offers in one of 29 eligible occupations may be considered for an invitation through the Tech Pilot program.
The February total is an increase from January when B.C. sent out 128 invitations through the Tech Pilot. So far B.C. has sent out 349 invitations to tech workers this year.
“The BC Provincial Nominee Program Tech Pilot is a priority initiative that supports economic growth and helps the tech sector recruit top international talent,” a spokesperson from B.C.’s economic development ministry wrote to CIC News in an email. “We continue to support the tech sector’s continued growth through weekly draws.”
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
Though the BC PNP did not specify why there were so many more invitations issued to tech workers this February than the same time last year, they did say that the frequency of invitations is based on the annual nomination allocations from the federal government and the program’s processing capacity.
In February 2019, B.C. invited 96 candidates through the tech pilot and 309 in one draw through its regular streams.
The Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 to provide the technology sector in BC the ability to attract and retain international talent. This was due to the fact that demand in the tech sector was continuously increasing. The initiative was extended to June 2020.
In order to qualify for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Tech Pilot, candidates must be enrolled in a BC PNP immigration category such as Skills Immigration, or Express Entry BC.
The BC PNP will no longer issue ITAs for immigration candidates with high provincial ranking system scores.
As of February 19, candidates who score highly on the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) are no longer eligible to automatically be invited for a provincial nomination.
Candidates in the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC immigration categories are ranked based on economic factors and human capital factors. Points are awarded based on the skill level of the job offer, wage, and the regional district of employment, as well as a candidate’s work experience, education, and language ability.
The Skills Immigration pathway is for skilled and semi-skilled workers that are in high-demand occupations within the province. Hopeful Express Entry BC candidates must qualify for one of three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
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