Considered to be one of the last areas in North America to be explored and settled, British Columbia is the westernmost of the 10 provinces in Canada. Prominent cities in British Columbia include Victoria, the capital of the province; and Vancouver, one of the largest ports in Canada.
British Columbia is one of the 9 provinces and 2 territories participating in the Provincial Nominee Program [PNP].
How can I migrate to Canada through BC PNP?
There are many streams in BC PNP that you can explore if you wish to become a permanent resident in Canada with an intention of settling down in British Columbia. These targets:
- International graduates,
- Skilled workers, and
- Other professionals
that possess the experience, skills, and qualifications in demand in the province of British Columbia. These streams belong to 3 separate categories under BC PNP.
The exact category that you can apply to would be determined by various factors, such as – your National Occupational Classification [NOC] skill level, occupation, or status an as international student.
The BC PNP categories are:
Skills Immigration [SI] |
Express Entry BC [EEBC] |
Entrepreneur Immigration [EI] |
What are the BC PNP streams?
The specific streams under BC PNP include:
Sl. No. |
Stream Name |
Aligned with Express Entry |
Job Offer required |
Current Status |
1 |
SI – Skilled Worker |
No |
Yes |
Open |
2 |
SI – Healthcare Professional |
No |
Yes |
Open |
3 |
SI – International Graduate |
No |
Yes |
Open |
4 |
SI – International Post-Graduate |
No |
No |
Open |
5 |
SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled |
No |
Yes |
Open |
6 |
EEBC – Skilled Worker | Yes | Yes | Open |
7 |
EEBC – Healthcare Professional | Yes | Yes |
Open |
8 |
EEBC – International Graduate | Yes | Yes |
Open |
9 |
EEBC – International Post-Graduate | Yes | No |
Open |
10 |
EI – Base Category | No | No |
Open |
11 |
EI – Regional Pilot | No | No |
Open |
12 | EI – Strategic Projects [for corporates] | No | NA |
Open |
What is BC PNP Tech Pilot?
BC PNP Tech Pilot has been extended to June 2020, providing tech employers in BC the continued ability for recruiting and retaining international talent.
Currently, tech employment in BC is at the highest level ever recorded. There is an immense demand for talent in the tech sector of the province.
Do note that the BC PNP Tech pilot is neither a separate category nor a separate stream under the BC PNP. For applying to the BC Tech Pilot, the applicant must apply under any of the existing categories. The applicant must also make sure that they meet all requirements, generally that of the BC PNP and specifically of the category applying under.
Weekly Invitations to Apply [ITAs] are issued to skilled tech workers with the requisite qualifications.
Applications submitted through the BC PNP Tech Draw enjoy prioritized processing.
29 tech occupations covered under the BC PNP Tech Pilot are:
National Occupational Classification [NOC] Code |
Job Title |
0131 |
Telecommunication carriers managers |
0213 |
Computer and information systems managers |
0512 |
Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts |
2131 |
Civil engineers |
2132 |
Mechanical engineers |
2133 |
Electrical and electronics engineers |
2134 |
Chemical engineers |
2147 |
Computer engineers [except software engineers and designers] |
2171 |
Information systems analysts and consultants |
2172 |
Database analysts and data administrators |
2173 |
Software engineers and designers |
2174 |
Computer programmers and interactive media developers |
2175 |
Web designers and developers |
2221 |
Biological technologists and technicians |
2241 |
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
2242 |
Electronic service technicians [household and business equipment] |
2243 |
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
2281 |
Computer network technicians |
2282 |
User support technicians |
2283 |
Information systems testing technicians |
5121 |
Authors and writers |
5122 |
Editors |
5125 |
Translators, terminologists and interpreters |
5224 |
Broadcast technicians |
5225 |
Audio and video recording technicians |
5226 |
Other coordinating and technical occupations in the performing arts, motion pictures, and broadcasting |
5227 |
Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts |
5241 |
Graphic designers and illustrators |
6221 |
Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade |
IMPORTANT:
Those applying under any of the above-mentioned 29 eligible occupations under the Skills Immigration [SI] category must have:
- Job offer of a minimum of 365 days in length, AND
- At least 120 days must be remaining of that job offer at the time of applying to the BC PNP.
The general processing time for 80% of the BC PNP applications is from 2 months to 3 months from the date of the receipt of the application. Tech Pilot applications, on the other hand, are processed quicker and typically have a shorter timeframe for processing.
All applications under the same category are ranked against each other based on their individual registration score. An applicant’s profile is given a score on successfully registering with British Columbia’s Skill Immigration Registration System [SIRS]. Factors assessed include key economic factors such as NOC skill level of job offered, annual wage and location of employment; and other factors – the level of education, proficiency in the English language, and directly related work experience – that influence an applicant’s ability to settle down in BC.
In the recently held Tech Draw on March 3, 2020, the minimum score was 90.
According to a February 2020 Report “Good Jobs for Today and Tomorrow” based on BC’s Labor Market Outlook: 2019 Edition “Over the next decade in British Columbia, there will be over 860,000 job openings throughout the province. Some of these openings will replace retiring workers in current industries, while nearly a third will be new jobs created through strong economic growth.”
If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.
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Posted on March 13, 2020