British Columbia PNP Tech 2023 ❤️ Conditions

British Columbia PNP Tech (BC PNP Tech)

The BC PNP Tech program is included within the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BC PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) run by the province of British Columbia.

The BC PNP Tech (previously the BC PNP Tech Pilot) has been extended indefinitely to enable BC tech employers with the continued ability to recruit and retain international talent when local skilled workers are unavailable.

BC PNP Tech provides a prioritized pathway to permanent residency for candidates in 29 tech occupations. British Columbia is developing the highest quality local talent by introducing students to tech earlier, boosting tech training and education in post-secondary institutions, and creating work experience opportunities.

In addition to leveraging the skills and talent of BC workers, companies must be able to attract skilled individuals from all over the world. Technology entrepreneurs and skilled workers from other nations can contribute to the expansion of BC’s technology sector, leading to more jobs for British Columbians.

The BC PNP Tech Program was launched in May 2017 to assist the technology sector in recruiting the skilled tech workers it requires to fill vacancies in in-demand occupations and grow the sector further across the province. BC PNP Tech assists companies in meeting their talent needs by providing a fast-tracked, permanent immigration pathway for in-demand foreign workers and international students.

BC PNP Tech Features

BC PNP Tech is not an immigration program. Candidates who fulfill the qualifications for the BC Tech program and have registered a profile for one of the BC PNP Skills Immigration programs may be eligible for quicker application processing and other benefits.

BC PNP Tech’s key features are based on the following factors in response to the needs of the industry:

• Dedicated BC PNP concierge service: Tech employers have access to tailored information and navigation assistance for immigration programs and processes.
• Weekly invitations for tech registrants to apply: Tech employers have immediate access to qualified skilled tech professionals in the 29 eligible tech occupations. It minimizes the wait times for both employers and their prospective employees.
• Prioritization processing: Tech applications are prioritized during processing to keep up with the fast-paced demands of the tech industry.
• Focused outreach and engagement: Employers in the tech sector and industry stakeholders receive proactive support through engagement activities and participation at key industry events.

Eligible BC PNP Tech occupations

To be eligible for the BC PNP Tech program, the candidates must be registered in one of the BC Skills Immigration programs. Candidates must also be employed in one of the BC PNP’s 29 in-demand tech occupations.

Technology companies that are hiring for occupations that are not eligible for BC PNP Tech can still reach out to the concierge service for assistance.

List of 29 Eligible Occupations for BC PNP Tech

BC PNP Tech job offers

The job offers under the BC PNP tech must:

• be valid for one of the 29 eligible in-demand occupations under the BC PNP Tech;
• last for at least one year (365 days);
• have at least 120 calendar days remaining at the time of application.

Eligibility Requirements

 The BC PNP Tech program is aligned with the Skills Immigration (SI) stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) or BC’s Express Entry categories which are managed under the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Only applicants under the Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and International Graduate categories need to register with SIRS. Healthcare Professional and International Post-Graduate applicants can apply directly through BCPNP Online. Applicants to all other Skills Immigration categories must first register through BCPNP Online.

To apply for the BC PNP Tech program, a foreign national should verify that they meet the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code requirements for one of the 29 in-demand occupations. If this requirement is met, the applicant can begin the application process by creating a profile on BC PNP Online.

BC PNP Tech Application Process

Step 1: Registration

The first step is registration with Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). SIRS is a points-based registration and application system that assists British Columbia in selecting the best workers to meet labor market demands. The applicant’s job, location in BC, education, language ability, and wage will be assessed. This will be reviewed against the needs of the BC labor market.

Registration is free for all registrants. You must meet the program and category minimum requirements. By registering, the applicants express interest in applying to the BC PNP, not applying for permanent residence.

Registration does not guarantee that the applicants will be invited to apply.

After registration, you will receive a registration score based on various factors. The key factors include:

• the National Occupation Classification skill level of your BC job offer;
• your offered annual wage;
• the location of your employment;
• work experience;
• level of education;
• English language proficiency

The applicants are also placed in a selection pool for their chosen category. They stay in the selection pool for up to 12 months, or until they are invited to apply.

The BC PNP reserves the right to make changes to SIRS at any time and without prior notice.

Step 2: Invitation

Every week, subject to processing capacity, the BC PNP issues invitations to eligible registrants under the Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and International Graduate categories who have valid job offers in the 29 key technology occupations.

To be invited to apply, both the employer and the employee must meet all program requirements at the time of registration. Invitations are issued based on the annual nomination allocation and processing capacity of the BC PNP. A registration, however, does not guarantee that the applicant will be invited to apply.

The registration score will be compared to the scores of other registrants in the same category. A draw is held regularly to invite the highest-scoring registrants to apply.

The number and frequency of invitations are determined by IRCC annual nomination allocations.

If you are invited to apply, you have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application via BCPNP Online. An invitation to apply does not guarantee that your nomination will be accepted.

If you do not receive an invitation, you can take steps to improve your score.

Step 3: Application

Submit your Skills Immigration application through BCPNP Online.

After getting an invitation to apply, Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and International Graduate candidates can apply online. Healthcare Professionals and International Post-Graduate applicants do not require an invitation and can apply directly through BCPNP Online.

You have 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to apply through BCPNP Online. A $1,150 processing fee is required for your application.

Once the employee submits a complete application, their file will be assigned to a dedicated processing team within one business day. The majority of BC PNP applications take between 2 and 3 months to process after they are received. Applications for BC PNP Tech are often processed in a shorter time.

Your application will be evaluated according to the Provincial Immigration Programs Act and Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation, as well as the criteria specific to your Skills Immigration category. If approved, you will receive a nomination that you can use to apply for permanent residency. If your application details differ from your registration information, your application will be rejected.

Step 4: Nomination

Obtain a provincial nomination and apply for permanent residency to IRCC.

If your application is granted, you or your authorized representative will be sent:

• confirmation of nomination
• a nomination package advising you of the next steps to submit your federal application for permanent residence as a provincial nominee to IRCC

Please submit a complete application for permanent residence to the assigned IRCC visa office after receiving your BC PNP confirmation of the nomination. You must submit your application before the expiry date on your nomination certificate.

A nomination by the BC PNP does not allow you to work while the IRCC is processing your application. If you wish to work in British Columbia during this period, you must ensure you have permission to work in Canada. If you do not have a work permit, or your work permit has expired (or is about to expire), you must apply to IRCC for a work permit. The BC PNP cannot apply for a work permit on your behalf. However, it may be able to provide a work permit support letter for your application to IRCC.