PEI, British Columbia and Alberta hold Provincial Nominee Program draws. PEI held its monthly scheduled draw, B.C. held two draws yet again and Alberta invited Express Entry candidates. A combined total of 856 invitations were issued, getting Canada one step closer to meeting its immigration target for 2021.
PEI holds new PNP draw and invites 150 candidates
Following its Invitation to Apply schedule published last year, PEI held a monthly PNP draw and invited 150 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
PEI held a new Provincial Nominee Program draw as scheduled on March 18 2021.
A total of 150 invitations were issued to immigration candidates through Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP).
The majority of the invitations (140) were issued to candidates in the Express Entry and Labour Impact categories with the final 10 going to Business Impact candidates with a minimum score of 70.
The required score was lower for this round compared to last month’s PEI PNP draw where the cut off score was 82 or higher.
This is the third PNP draw held by the province so far this year. A total of 482 immigration candidates have received invitations. PEI is so far keeping pace with the Invitation to Apply schedule it published late last year.
The schedule outlines the province’s intention to hold draws on a monthly basis. The next round of invitations will likely be held in the third or fourth week of April.
As the federal government works at reaching its immigration targets of 2021, they are aiming to admit close to 81,000 new immigrants through Provincial Nominee Program draws.
506 invitations issued in B.C. PNP draw
British Columbia holds its weekly PNP draw and issues invitations to 506 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
The province of British Columbia’s weekly Provincial Nomination Program draw was held on March 16 2021.
Candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams received invitations from British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
As they have been doing for the last few draws, B.C. held two separate draws.
One draw specifically targeted NOC 0621 (retail and wholesale trade managers) and NOC 0631 (restaurant and food service managers).
78 candidates with a minimum provincial score of 114, who are working in these occupations received invitations in this draw.
The other 428 invitations went to SI and EEBC stream candidates.
The score requirement were as follows:
- SI Skilled Worker – score of 96
- SI International Graduate – score of 94
- SI Entry Level and Semi-Skilled – score of 81
- EEBC Skilled Worker – score of 96
- EEBC International Graduate – score of 94
To date this year, 2,432 immigration candidates have received invitations to apply for a provincial nomination through British Columbia’s PNP.
The next PNP draw will be held the week of March 22 and will most likely be a Tech Pilot draw. Be sure to check out CICweekly.com for updates.
Alberta holds new PNP drop with CRS of 301
PNP draw in Alberta requires Express Entry candidates to have a minimum CRS score of 301.
On March 2 2021, Alberta held a new Provincial Nominee Program draw.
200 Express Entry candidates received invitations to apply for the Alberta Express Entry stream. Invited candidates can apply for their provincial nomination and if successful, receive their Canadian permanent residency.
In order to qualify for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 301 and were also required to have a valid profile in the Express Entry system.
Candidates who successfully receive the nomination will be awarded an additional 600 points on their CRS score bringing it up to over 900!
A score this high is a near guarantee that the applicant will be selected during Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s new round of invitations.
Due to the pandemic, Alberta is only considering candidates currently living and working in the province. The work experience needs to be in an eligible occupation approved by the province.
Alberta has put together a list of occupations that are considered ineligible for the stream. Any other occupation is fine and will be considered by the AINP.
Last year, Alberta issued 4,000 nominations to candidates (2,250 less than the initial allocation). The number of allocations for 2021 has not yet been released.
