2021 began with the several Provincials holding theire very first PNP draw under its Express Entry streams. A total of 1,087 qualified candidates were approved for a provincial nomination and received invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
B.C. Holds First PNP Draw of 2021 and Invites 168 Candidates
2021 began with the province of British Columbia. holding its very first PNP draw under its Express Entry and Skills Immigration streams. A total of 168 qualified candidates were approved for a provincial nomination and received invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
On January 5 2021, 168 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residency by B.C.
The Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams of British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
Draw results at a glance:
- Express Entry BC (EEBC):
- Skilled Worker – score: 99
- International Graduate – score 99
- Skills Immigration Streams:
- Skilled Worker – score: 95
- International Graduate – score: 95
- Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled – score 77
The pandemic continues to have significantly impact various businesses and markets in B.C. as such, some occupations were excluded from the draw.
Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC (EEBC) Streams:
These two BC PNP streams are designed for applicants who have the right skill-set and experience to fill the province’s labor gaps in high-demand occupations and who wish to settle in B.C. These streams are also one of the most efficient and fastest way of getting permanent residency in Canada.
Individuals interested in applying for one of these two streams will first need to create a profile using BC PNP’s online portal. They will then need to register under the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). The applicant’s profile is evaluated and given a score based on human capital factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency etc. During draws, the highest ranking candidates are issued provincial nominations.
Candidates who received a provincial nomination can then apply for their permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Applicants who have a profile in the Express Entry system and who receive a provincial nomination are automatically awarded 600 additional points on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score which is a near guarantee they will receive an ITA in future Express Entry draws.
Weekly draws are held by B.C. in numerous categories and streams with Express Entry draws held once every two weeks.
Saskatchewan Holds First PNP Draw of 2021 and Issues 385 Invitations
The province of Saskatchewan held its first PNP draw of the new year. 385 qualified candidates from the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand categories received invitations to apply. If approved by IRCC, applicants may start arriving in Canada by the summer or fall.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) held its first PNP draw on January 7 2021.
385 candidates from the International Skilled Worker category were invited to apply for a provincial nomination under two subcategories:
- Express Entry: The system used by the federal government to manage applications in Canada’s three main economic immigration programs – Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in this pool who submitted an Expression of Interest for SINP and who met the draw requirements may have received an ITA.
- 148 ITAs issued
- Minimum score required: 71
Occupations In-Demand: This sub-category is for applicants who don’t have a profile in the Express Entry pool. In order to qualify for this sub-category, candidates need work experience in an occupation the province is experiencing labor shortages in.
- 237 ITAs issued
- Minimum score required: 71
Requirements for the Draw:
Interested applicants had to have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the SINP and a minimum score of 71 or higher.
Qualified candidates had Educational Credential Assessments and had to demonstrate work experience in one of the province’s 79 occupations.
The EOI is the system Saskatchewan uses to evaluate and select the candidates who are most suited to the province’s labor needs and economic growth.
In addition to providing information such as education, age, language skills, candidates also need to demonstrate their intent and desire to settle in the province and build a life there.
These factors are evaluated and the International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid is used to give candidates a score out of 100.
During draws, the highest-ranking candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITAs) for a provincial nomination. Express Entry candidates are awarded an additional 600 points on their CRS score when they receive a provincial nomination.
Alberta Holds First Draw of 2021
The last time Alberta held a draw was June 2020 when 187 invitations were issued. Seven months later, the province held its first provincial nominee program draw of 2021 on January 8 and issued 50 invitations to candidates from the Express Entry pool.
Candidates with profiles in the Express Entry System were eligible for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) draw held by on January 8.
50 invitations were issued to qualified candidates who may be eligible through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. In order to be considered for the draw, candidates were required to have valid Express Entry profiles and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 406.
This is much higher than the CRS requirement of the June 17 2020 draw where candidates needed a score of 303.
Alberta Express Entry Stream:
Candidates interested in this stream need to demonstrate relevant work experience in a field and occupation that supports the economic development and labor shortages in the province.
The Alberta Express Entry Stream (AINP) has two steps to follow.
- Candidates must create an Express Entry profile and receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) letter from AINP. When received, candidates can contact AINP to advise them of their interest in this stream.
- AINP needs to send invitations to candidates to apply. Candidates cannot apply directly to AINP. If the applicant determines they meet the assessment criteria, they can submit an application and wait for next steps.
A nomination cannot be extended nor can a nomination under a different AINP stream be used to apply under the Alberta Express Entry Stream of the federal Express Entry system.
The last time Alberta held a draw was June 2020, reason being they had already issued their allocated certificates by that time. Alberta’s nomination certificates allocation for 2020 was 6,250. As the pandemic hit, the province decided to cap their nominations at 4,000 which they reached by June 2020.
Although we don’t have final confirmation yet on their allocation for this year, we can estimate it may be higher than 6,250 to make up for the loss in 2020 and to help Canada achieve its immigration targets outlined in their 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan.
Ontario Holds First Draw of 2021 – 448 NOIs Issued
During the first draw of the new year, Ontario issued 484 Notifications of Interest to Express Entry applicants in the French Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades stream. Selected candidates will have 45 days to submit their application for Canadian permanent residency.
Ontario held its first draw of 2021 on January 13 through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
484 Notifications of Interest (NOIs) were issued to candidates under two provincial immigration streams; French-Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades.
Because the two streams are linked to the federal government’s Express Entry system, the selected candidates were required to have a profile in the Express Entry pool that was created between January 13 2020 and January 13 2021.
French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW):
The FSSW stream is meant for those Express Entry candidates who speak both of Canada’s official languages, English and French and who meet the eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class.
NOIs under this stream were issued to 146 eligible applicants with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 456 to 460. On the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), candidates were also required to have at least a 7 in French and a 6 in English.
Skilled Trades Stream:
338 candidates were issued NOI’s under the Skilled Trades Stream. As part of the eligibility requirements, they must currently be living in Ontario and must demonstrate they have at least one year of full-time work experience or the equivalent in part time hours in one of the skilled trades listed under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC), specifically:
- Minor Group 633: Butchers and bakers
- Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades
- Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades
- Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
A CRS score of 434 to 460 was required.
A confirmed job offer from a Canadian employer was not required to apply for either of these streams. Candidates who received an NOI will be contacted by OINP and they will be given 45 days to submit their application for a provincial nomination.
The applicants who receive a provincial nomination under these two streams will be awarded an additional 600 points on their final CRS score, which is a near guarantee they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.
Once all the paperwork is successfully submitted and approved, these applicants can look forward to becoming permanent residents of Canada in the coming months.
In order to meet this year’s Immigration Level targets, more draws are likely to be held in the coming weeks.