British Columbia conducts new Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC draw

British Columbia invited 157 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence in a provincial draw held April 23. 

Invitations issued in this draw went to candidates registered in the Skilled Workers and International Graduates categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)'s Skills Immigration and Express Entry B.C. streams. An unspecified number of candidates in the Skills Immigration: Entry level and Semi-skilled Workers category were also invited.

The BC PNP Express Entry BC categories are open to candidates with a profile in the federal Express Entry system. The federal system manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada's main economic immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry BC candidates who are approved for a provincial nomination will receive an additional 600 points toward their overall Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The additional points place them among the top-scoring in the federal pool of immigration candidates and effectively guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent federal draw. 

BC PNP Skills Immigration applicants who are approved for a provincial nomination will have their Canadian permanent residence applications processed with the Government of Canada outside the federal Express Entry system.

The BC PNP issued invitations to apply for a provincial nomination based on a point score awarded through the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). 

SIRS is the BC PNP's unique system to evaluate immigration candidates based on factors like education, work experience and proficiency in English or French.

All Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC immigration candidates invited in this draw must have a permanent, full-time job offer with an employer in the province. 

 The CanadaVisa Skills Immigration Registration System Calculator can help you find out your potential SIRS score.