On August 24, 2016, a total of 598 candidates for immigration to British Columbia, Canada were issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). These ITAs were issued to a range of candidates who had previously expressed an interest in immigrating to the province.
The vast majority of ITAs were issued to candidates in categories under the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), with the remaining ITAs issued to candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration stream pool.
BC PNP Invitations to Apply: August 24 Draw
On August, the BC PNP issued ITAs across the following categories. Further details on these categories are outlined below.
| Stream/Category | Minimum Score | Number of Invitations | Aligned with Express Entry? | Stream/Category under the SIRS? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker | 95 | 198 | Yes | Yes |
| Express Entry BC – International Graduate | 90 | 222 | Yes | Yes |
| Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker | 100 | 164 | No | Yes |
| Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 95 | 2 | No | Yes |
| Entrepreneur Immigration | 129 | 12 | No | No |
The minimum score required in order to receive an ITA has decreased in the case of most of the above categories, compared with the previous draw. The only exception is for the Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category, under which only two candidates received an ITA this time around. There were significant decreases in the minimum score required across most of the other categories.
Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)
Aside from the Entrepreneur Immigration stream, BC's ITA-based immigration system operates under what is known as the SIRS, which came into operation earlier in 2016. 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 ed 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 ed with Express Entry.
Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker
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.
Express Entry BC – International Graduate
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 ed with the federal Express Entry system.
To learn more about the Express Entry BC – International Graduate category, click here.
Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker
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.
Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
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.
Entrepreneur Immigration
This stream provides a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for experienced businesspeople who can establish themselves in B.C. and invest in and operate a commercially viable business that can provide significant benefits to the provincial economy. Successful applicants will obtain a work permit and, if the business operation in British Columbia fulfills the requirements of the stream on an ongoing basis, they will be able to apply for permanent residence in Canada through the BC PNP.
To learn more about the Entrepreneur Immigration stream, click here.