According to Welcome BC, the BC PNP tech pilot has been extended indefinitely and named BC PNP tech (Welcome BC, 2021). This means that the program is now permanent to recruit and retain foreign international skilled workers into the province of British Columbia.
The program was launched in May 2017, the program was successfully helped a lot of IT professionals to settle in British Columbia, the program has 29 listed occupations mainly in the tech industry. These occupations have been prioritized among other streams in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). In comparison with other streams, you need to get at least 94 points to get nominated through the BC PNP - International graduate stream, where in the BC Tech program - the cut-off score has always been 80 pts.
Here are the highlights of this program that make it easier for the skilled worker to get the provincial nomination.
- The draw is weekly as compared with the normal BC PNP stream it's biweekly.
- If your employee applies with a valid job offer under one of the 29 eligible occupations, their job offer must be for at least one year (365 days), and the job offer must have at least 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP.
- Processing times for 80% of BC PNP applications is 2-3 months from receipt. BC PNP Tech applications are typically processed in shorter timeframes. After this, you will get the nomination which will help you increase your points to process your main PR application.
- Pathways that don’t require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
According to the province, "The pilot has been extended three times. When the current extension expires on June 30, 2021, the pilot will continue and be known as BC PNP Tech." (Welcome BC, 2021).
This is a great opportunity not only for skilled workers but as well as international students after completing the program. If you want to be strategic, you may explore some programs with the career outcome listed in the 29 occupations. If you are interested to study in Canada, specifically in British Columbia, looking for schools - contact us here.
Here is one recent video about Northern Lights College, located in British Columbia that you may be interested in:
References:
https://www.welcomebc.ca/Immigrate-to-B-C/B-C-Provincial-Nominee-Program/BC-PNP-Tech-Pilot
