Planning to work in British Columbia? Consider the BC PNP Tech pilot Project

British Columbia’s Tech pilot project is an initiative under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), that supports the tech sector in recruiting international talent.

The pilot offers a pathway to permanent residence for foreign tech workers who have job offers in one of 29 eligible occupations in British Columbia. The offer must be for a minimum of 1 year, and there must be at least 120 days remaining at the time of application.

Know more about the BC PNP Tech Pilot Project:

• What the Pilot program offers.
• How long will the Pilot be offered?
• What are the requirements and what is the process?
• How to apply.

<<Read this article in Spanish>>

What does the pilot program offer?

• Timeliness: Weekly invitations to apply (ITA) to qualified candidates working in one of 29 eligible tech occupations.
• Service: Dedicated concierge service for tech employers.
• Prioritization: Priority processing for tech applications.

Tech Pilot applications are typically processed faster than other BC PNP programs, which can take 2-3 months from receipt, the government webpage says.

Also, they stated that “continuous support is provided to tech sector employers through proactive engagement activities and participation at key industry events”.

How long will the BC PNP Tech Pilot be offered?

On May 28, 2021, the province announced that the pilot has been extended indefinitely. In the past, the project had extensions of one year. The indefinite extension is a good indicator of the province’s commitment to helping grow the technology sector and recruit international talent.

<<Read more: Immigration under the PNP in different provinces>>

Requirements and process for the British Columbia PNP Tech Pilot

• The job offer must be for a single job in one of the 29 occupations.
• The job offer must be at least one year in duration (365 days), and there must be at least 120 calendar days remaining on the job offer at the time of application.
• Longer duration job offers, including indeterminate (permanent, or with no set end date) job offers, are also eligible.
• If you are invited to apply, you have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a completed online application. Please visit the Fees page for a breakdown of BC PNP fees.
• If approved, you will receive a nomination certificate (confirmation of nomination) that you can use to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada under the Provincial Nominee Class.

How do I apply to the BC PNP Tech?

In order to apply through the Pilot, candidates must first register online with the BC PNP and they will receive a registration score. Registration is free!

The BC PNP will then (weekly) hold the draws and announce minimum score requirements for candidates to be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

In the month of June alone, the pilot program has issued 513 invitations for the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC. Check the number of invitations issued here.

Image: welcomebc.ca

“Despite the impact of COVID-19, use of the Tech Pilot has continued to steadily increase, with 1,855 tech workers nominated in 2020—an increase of 23 per cent over the 1,509 nominated the previous year and a 63 per cent increase over the 1,135 nominated in 2018. Since inception, the Tech Pilot has supported more than 6,000 tech workers to be nominated for permanent residency in B.C.,” according to a release.

<<For more information about Immigration to British Columbia, click here>>

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