the CanadaVisa Team - 05 August, 2016
The province of British Columbia (BC) has issued 602 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates for immigration to Canada through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The ITAs were issued across three categories: Express Entry BC - Skilled Worker, Express Entry BC - International Graduate, and Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled.
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. Individuals can use the exclusive SIRS Calculator to determine what their potential score under the system.
The minimum SIRS score required for candidates to receive an ITA under Express Entry BC - Skilled Worker category of the BC PNP in the latest draw was the lowest of any draw so far.
The two BC PNP categories that are aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system operate under the SIRS, 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.
A successful application under an 'enhanced' BC PNP category results in the candidate receiving 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an ITA at the federal level at a subsequent draw from the Express Entry pool.
On August 4, 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 | 110 | 195 | Yes |
| Express Entry BC – International Graduate | 105 | 91 | Yes |
| Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 70 | 306 | 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 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.
Candidates who achieve or exceed the following registration scores will receive an Invitation to Apply in the next draw for his or her chosen category.
