the CanadaVisa Team - 30 June, 2016
The government of British Columbia, a province situated on Canada's west coast, has issued a total of 319 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in a draw that took place on June 29, 2016. These ITAs were issued to a range of candidates who had previously expressed an interest in immigrating to the province.
BC's ITA-based immigration system operates under what is known as the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), which came into operation earlier this year. The SIRS is a dynamic intake management system that allows the province to prioritize candidates for provincial nomination. As it is a points-based system, candidates receive a score based on the information they provide upon registration. This score will determine whether a candidate receives an ITA.
Certain BC PNP categories that operate under the SIRS are aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system, while applications made to certain other categories are processed entirely outside the Express Entry system. These latter categories are collectively known as 'base' categories, as opposed to 'enhanced' categories that are aligned with Express Entry.
On June 29, the BC PNP issued ITAs across the following categories. Further details on these categories are available below the table.
| Stream/Category | Minimum Score | Number of Invitations | Aligned with Express Entry? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker | 135 | 46 | Yes |
| Express Entry BC – International Graduate | 105 | 73 | Yes |
| Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker | 135 | 20 | No |
| Skills Immigration – International Graduate | 105 | 170 | No |
| Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 95 | 10 | No |
The Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker category is for international skilled workers who have post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation. Candidates must be eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool. A successful application under this category results in the candidate receiving 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and a subsequent ITA at the federal level.
To learn more about the Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker category, click here.
International graduates who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within the past two years may be eligible to apply under the Express Entry BC – International Graduate category. Interestingly, this category is open to eligible graduates who graduated from a university or college in any location in Canada; it is not restricted to graduates from BC universities and colleges. This category is also aligned with the federal Express Entry system.
To learn more about the Express Entry BC – International Graduate category, click here.
This base category is open to workers with post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a skilled occupation. A job offer is required.
To learn more about the Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker category, click here.
This category is for international students who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within two years of applying to the BC PNP. While applicants do not necessarily need prior work experience, applicants are required to obtain a job offer from a B.C. employer.
To learn more about the Skills Immigration – International Graduate category, click here.
This category is open to candidates who may not be eligible for other Canadian immigration programs, as it allows certain non-skilled workers to apply for permanent residence. Candidates must work in an eligible occupation within the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or food processing industries, or in a NOC skill level C or D occupation in the Northeast Development Region of the province.
To learn more about the Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category, click here.
