Tech talent in high demand in British Columbia

Considered to be one of the last areas in North America to be explored and settled, British Columbia is the westernmost of the 10 provinces in Canada. Prominent cities in British Columbia include Victoria, the capital of the province; and Vancouver, one of the largest ports in Canada.

 

British Columbia is one of the 9 provinces and 2 territories participating in the Provincial Nominee Program [PNP].

 

How can I migrate to Canada through BC PNP?

 

There are many streams in BC PNP that you can explore if you wish to become a permanent resident in Canada with an intention of settling down in British Columbia. These targets:

• International graduates,
• Skilled workers, and
• Other professionals
   

that possess the experience, skills, and qualifications in demand in the province of British Columbia. These streams belong to 3 separate categories under BC PNP.

 

The exact category that you can apply to would be determined by various factors, such as – your National Occupational Classification [NOC] skill level, occupation, or status an as international student.

 

The BC PNP categories are:

Skills Immigration [SI]

Express Entry BC [EEBC]

Entrepreneur Immigration [EI]

 

What are the BC PNP streams?

The specific streams under BC PNP include:

 

Sl. No.	Stream Name	Aligned with Express Entry	Job Offer required	Current Status
1	SI – Skilled Worker	No	Yes	Open
2	SI – Healthcare Professional	No	Yes	Open
3	SI – International Graduate	No	Yes	Open
4	SI – International Post-Graduate	No	No	Open
5	SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled	No	Yes	Open
6	EEBC – Skilled Worker	Yes	Yes	Open
7	EEBC – Healthcare Professional	Yes	Yes	Open
8	EEBC – International Graduate	Yes	Yes	Open
9	EEBC – International Post-Graduate	Yes	No	Open
10	EI – Base Category	No	No	Open
11	EI – Regional Pilot	No	No	Open
12	EI – Strategic Projects [for corporates]	No	NA	Open

 

What is BC PNP Tech Pilot?

 

BC PNP Tech Pilot has been extended to June 2020, providing tech employers in BC the continued ability for recruiting and retaining international talent.

 

Currently, tech employment in BC is at the highest level ever recorded. There is an immense demand for talent in the tech sector of the province.

 

Do note that the BC PNP Tech pilot is neither a separate category nor a separate stream under the BC PNP. For applying to the BC Tech Pilot, the applicant must apply under any of the existing categories. The applicant must also make sure that they meet all requirements, generally that of the BC PNP and specifically of the category applying under.

 

Weekly Invitations to Apply [ITAs] are issued to skilled tech workers with the requisite qualifications.

 

Applications submitted through the BC PNP Tech Draw enjoy prioritized processing.

 

29 tech occupations covered under the BC PNP Tech Pilot are:

 

National Occupational Classification [NOC] Code	Job Title
0131	Telecommunication carriers managers
0213	Computer and information systems managers
0512	Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
2131	Civil engineers
2132	Mechanical engineers
2133	Electrical and electronics engineers
2134	Chemical engineers
2147	Computer engineers [except software engineers and designers]
2171	Information systems analysts and consultants
2172	Database analysts and data administrators
2173	Software engineers and designers
2174	Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175	Web designers and developers
2221	Biological technologists and technicians
2241	Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2242	Electronic service technicians [household and business equipment]
2243	Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
2281	Computer network technicians
2282	User support technicians
2283	Information systems testing technicians
5121	Authors and writers
5122	Editors
5125	Translators, terminologists and interpreters
5224	Broadcast technicians
5225	Audio and video recording technicians
5226	Other coordinating and technical occupations in the performing arts, motion pictures, and broadcasting
5227	Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts
5241	Graphic designers and illustrators
6221	Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade

 

IMPORTANT:

 

Those applying under any of the above-mentioned 29 eligible occupations under the Skills Immigration [SI] category must have:

• Job offer of a minimum of 365 days in length, AND
• At least 120 days must be remaining of that job offer at the time of applying to the BC PNP.
•  

The general processing time for 80% of the BC PNP applications is from 2 months to 3 months from the date of the receipt of the application. Tech Pilot applications, on the other hand, are processed quicker and typically have a shorter timeframe for processing.

 

All applications under the same category are ranked against each other based on their individual registration score. An applicant’s profile is given a score on successfully registering with British Columbia’s Skill Immigration Registration System [SIRS]. Factors assessed include key economic factors such as NOC skill level of job offered, annual wage and location of employment; and other factors – the level of education, proficiency in the English language, and directly related work experience – that influence an applicant’s ability to settle down in BC.

 

In the recently held Tech Draw on March 3, 2020, the minimum score was 90.

 

According to a February 2020 Report “Good Jobs for Today and Tomorrow” based on BC’s Labor Market Outlook: 2019 Edition “Over the next decade in British Columbia, there will be over 860,000 job openings throughout the province. Some of these openings will replace retiring workers in current industries, while nearly a third will be new jobs created through strong economic growth.”

 

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

 

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