British Columbia Held Both General and Targeted Draws for Provincial Immigration

Last Week, the Canadian province of British Columbia held a general and targeted PNP draw under the category British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). In total, the province issued 253 invitations to apply to general candidates, as well as 75 to targeted professionals.

Most of the provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) conduct their own PNPs. Through these PNP programs, interested candidates are offered invitations for provincial nomination. However, a provincial nomination is not similar to permanent residence, but it effectively increases the chances of PR status in Canada. The selected candidates also become eligible to be invited to apply for a PNP-specific round of invitations.

Commonly known as the Provincial Nominee Program, the PNP has become a major addition to Canada’s immigration programs. It will overtake the Express Entry managed programs by 2024 as the primary immigration pathway for foreign workers.

Provincial Immigration Last Week’s Results: November 28^th – Dec 2^nd

The BC PNP held its draw on 28^th November and issued over 300 ITAs, which required varying CRS cut-offs. The issued invitations were divided across the following immigration streams, mentioned below:

• Skilled Worker;
• Skilled Worker-EEBC Option;
• International Graduate;
• International Graduate-EEBC option; and
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker streams.

The Canadian province also conducted rounds of invitations for applicants working in the targeted occupations;

• Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202);
• Healthcare workers;
• Healthcare assistants (NOC 33102); and
• Other priority occupations, specifically Veterinarians (NOC 31103) and Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104).

Here is a full breakdown of streams for both general and targeted draws, including the minimum CRS score;

For General Draw

Date-28th-Nov-2022

Total Number of Invitations- 253

For Targeted Draw

The Impact of New NOC

Only one PNP draw was held over the past two weeks. The end of the year indeed tends to be a slower period for economic immigration to Canada, however, one significant policy change has had a major impact: updating the National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes.

On November 16, Canada transitioned to the new National Occupational Classification (NOC) system for immigration work permit programs. It concludes that all the applicants will be required to enter a different NOC code to classify their occupation.  Also, there were 16 new occupations added to the eligibility list. Applicants who applied before November 16 need not stress as their applications will be reviewed under the previous NOC 2016.

The NOC 2021 also includes more occupations to the in-demand job list and is opening doors for more candidates under these programs. According to a ministerial memorandum published in late February, Express Entry will include truck and bus drivers, orderlies, teaching assistants, and dental assistants. The NOCs have an impact on both the Express Entry-managed systems and the PNPs because they are the primary method of classifying employment for economic immigration (British Columbia for example recently updated their scoring system with the new NOCs).

Since this modification went into effect on November 16th, there have only been three draws (including the one mentioned above for November 28th). PNPs will probably resume running more frequently as provinces continue to adapt their programs to the new classifications and extra job titles.

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