No more Guaranteed ITA Scores and a lot of B.C. Tech Pilot draws
Credit to Author: Mohanad Moetaz| Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 19:14:25 +0000
The month of February was a popular time for the B.C. Tech Pilot, and the province also nixed their Guaranteed ITA Scores.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued a total of 221 invitations through its Tech Pilot so far this month.
Immigration candidates who are applying for Canadian immigration through one of B.C.’s existing streams, and who have job offers in one of 29 eligible occupations may be considered for an invitation through the Tech Pilot program.
So far B.C. has sent out 806 invitations to Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC candidates this year.
“The BC Provincial Nominee Program Tech Pilot is a priority initiative that supports economic growth and helps the tech sector recruit top international talent,” a spokesperson from B.C.’s economic development ministry wrote to CIC News in an email. “We continue to support the tech sector’s continued growth through weekly draws.”
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The BC PNP said that the frequency of invitations is based on the annual nomination allocations from the federal government and the program’s processing capacity.
The Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 to provide the technology sector in B.C. the ability to attract and retain international talent. This was due to the fact that demand in the tech sector was continuously increasing. The initiative was extended to June 2020.
In order to qualify for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Tech Pilot, candidates must be enrolled in a BC PNP immigration category such as Skills Immigration, or Express Entry BC.
As of February 19, candidates who score over certain points thresholds on the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) are no longer eligible to be guaranteed an invitation for a provincial nomination.
Candidates in the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC immigration categories are ranked based on economic factors and human capital factors. Points are awarded based on the skill level of the job offer, wage, and the regional district of employment, as well as a candidate’s work experience, education, and language ability.
The Skills Immigration pathway is for skilled and semi-skilled workers that are in high-demand occupations within the province. Hopeful Express Entry BC candidates must qualify for one of three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
This story has been corrected. A previous version inaccurately stated that there were more candidates invited through the Tech Pilot program in February 2020 than in any previous month after March 2018. In addition, the wording has been modified to more accurately represent the changes to the Guaranteed ITA Scores.
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