The province of British Columbia has invited a total of 477 candidates to apply for immigration to Canada through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in the latest draw for that program, which took place on September 15, 2016. More than half of the Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to international graduates, with the remaining ITAs issued to skilled, semi-skilled and entry level workers.
Each candidate who received an ITA in this BC PNP draw had previously registered an account under the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (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.
BC PNP Invitations to Apply: September 15 Draw
On September 15, the BC PNP issued ITAs across the following categories. There was no increase in the minimum points requirement for any category, compared with the previous (August 24) draw, and the minimum score required decreased for three of the five categories. Further details on these categories are available below the table.
| Stream/Category | Minimum Score | Points difference from previous draw | Number of Invitations | Aligned with Express Entry? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker | 95 | Same | 106 | Yes |
| Express Entry BC – International Graduate | 90 | Same | 129 | Yes |
| Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker | 95 | -5 | 72 | No |
| Skills Immigration – International Graduate | 100 | -5* | 143 | No |
| Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 80 | -15 | 27 | No |
(*The August 24 draw did not issue ITAs under the Skills Immigration – International Graduate category. Therefore, the points difference noted for this category is from the June 29 draw, which was the last time ITAs were issued for this category.)
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 – International Graduate
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.
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.
Guaranteed Invitations
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.