British Columbia (BC), situated in the westernmost part of Canada, is
a province renowned for its cosmopolitan population and great natural
beauty. Almost half of its 4.5 million residents live in and around the
metropolitan areas of Vancouver and the capital city of Victoria.
However, the province is also experiencing growth in the countryside as
workers flock to fill positions in the booming natural resources
industry.
The province’s long history as a center for immigration can be
evidenced today in its diverse population. In fact, British Columbia is
considered the most demographically diverse province in Canada. There
are particularly vibrant immigrant communities hailing from China and
other East and South Asian countries, giving the province a unique
cultural flavor.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) is the
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for this province. Like all PNPs, it
encompasses a number of different categories of immigration through
which eligible applicants may apply for Canadian Permanent Residency
(PR). Qualified applicants may receive a provincial nomination
certificate, which takes approximately 16-18 weeks to process. The
certificate is then sent with the rest of their application to the
Federal government for health and security screening. Using this system,
British Columbia is able to select the immigrants that will best
contribute to the province.
Categories of BCPNP Immigration
The BCPNP program organizes its immigration streams into two general
categories: Strategic Occupations and Business Immigrants. There are
several sub-categories of these two groups, each with its own unique
qualification requirements.
Strategic Occupations:
The Strategic Occupations group is broken down into five
sub-categories. These aim to target skilled and semi-skilled workers who
will help to build British Columbia’s economy. Nominees in these
categories must either have a job offer of indeterminate length from a
BC employer, or have completed a masters or doctorate degree at a BC
post-secondary institution in the natural, health, or applied sciences.
Skilled Worker – This stream is designed for applicants who
have permanent, full-time job offers from a BC employer in a skilled
occupation. The employer must be considered eligible to request
provincial nomination, and the job offer must meet federal and
provincial labour standards. The employee will also have to prove that
they are qualified to fill the position by merit of their education and
work experience.
International Graduates – Applicants in this category must
submit a BCPNP application within two years of graduating from a
recognized post-secondary education institution in Canada. They must
have received a permanent, full-time job offer from a BC-based employer.
Applicants can be hired as `skilled` or `semi-skilled` labourers,
provided that in the case of a semi-skilled job offer the employer can
demonstrate a structured plan for the job to progress to a skilled
level.
International Post-Graduate Pilot Project – This Pilot
Project has been implemented for a 3 year period, and will remain open
to receive applications until 28 May 2013. Graduates from an eligible
Masters or Doctorate program in British Columbia, with a degree in a
targeted field within the natural, applied, or health sciences, may
apply through this immigration stream.
An application must be submitted within two years of graduation, and
it is expected that if more than 6 months have elapsed since graduation
the candidate will have applied for and received a valid temporary work
permit. However, a job offer is not required to apply to this stream.
Designated Health Professionals – Three health professions
have been targeted by the province for immigration through this stream.
They are registered nurses/registered psychiatric nurses, physicians,
and midwives. Slightly different application rules apply to each
profession, but all must be able to legally practice in British
Columbia. All must also have been recruited for work by regional health
authorities. Health professionals who do not fall into this stream may
be eligible to apply through the Skilled Worker stream.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled – This stream is for workers
currently in Canada who are working in semi-sklled positions (classified
as C or D level according to the National Occupation Classification) in
the tourism, food processing, or long-haul trucking industries. Nominee
applicants must have worked for their nominating employer full-time for
at least nine consecutive months before they can apply to the BCPNP. In
addition, applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 years of
education, and hold valid licensing if applying as a long-haul truck
driver. Beginning in 2012, language testing in English will be required
of all applicants.
Northeast Pilot Project – In an effort to further develop
its Northeastern sector, the BCPNP has created the Northeast Pilot
Project. This two-year pilot will be accepting applications until 4
April 2014. For this region only, semi-skilled applicants in any C or D
position may be eligible to apply to the BCPNP. Applicants must still
fulfill all other requirements. High skilled workers in this region may
apply to the regular Skilled Worker stream.
In all cases where a job offer is required, the employer and the
employee (the nominee applicant) submit joint applications to the BCPNP.
Generally speaking the nominee applicant will have to prove the
following:
• That they intend to settle in BC
• That they can become economically established in BC
• That they do not have an active refugee claim
• If inside Canada, they maintain legal immigration status
• If outside Canada, they are residing legally in their current country of residence
Business Immigration:
The Business Immigration category offers accelerated immigration to
individuals prepared to invest in a British Columbia business and settle
in the province. It is organized into three categories: business
skills, regional businesses, and strategic targets. Generally speaking,
businesses must fulfill the following three requirements to be eligible
for any immigration stream:
• The primary purpose of the business must be to earn profits from active income;
• The business` sustained commercial viability must be likely; and
• The business must economically benefit British Columbia
Business Skills – Applicants in this category must be
prepared to invest a minimum of $400,000 in a BC-based business. They
will have to own at least one-third of the business, and participate in
its daily management. The business must create at least three jobs, and
one key staff member may be brought from abroad. Applicants will have to
provide additional information that attests to their personal net worth
and ability to practically establish a business in British Columbia.
Fast Track Option – A fast track option is available for individuals who make a conditionally refundable deposit of $125,000 with the province.
Business Succession Plan Buy Out – Another option under this
stream is to buy an existing BC-based business instead of creating a
new one. The purchased business must be outside of the Vancouver
metropolitan area, be operated by the same owner for at least five
years, and have non-family employees.
Regional Business – Regional business applicants must invest
a minimum of $200,000 in a business venture outside of the Vancouver
and Abbotsford metropolitan areas. The business must create at least one
job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and they must own at
least one-third of the business. Applicants will have to provide
additional information that attests to their personal net worth and
ability to practically establish a business in British Columbia.
Similar Fast-Track and Business Succession Plan Buy-Out options are available through this stream.
Strategic Projects – This stream helps foreign companies
establish their business in British Columbia. Up to 5 key staff may come
to the province to assist in the enterprise. A minimum of $500,000 must
be invested, and at least 3 jobs must be created and filled by Canadian
citizens or permanent residents. No fast-track option is available for
this stream, but a Business Succession Plan Buy-Out may be pursued in
some circumstances.
Arrival in British Columbia
Once they have arrived in British Columbia, newcomers can access a
wide range of government services dedicated to helping them become
settled in their new home. Settlement agencies can be found in most
cities and large towns. These agencies assist new arrivals with
language, community connections, employment, and practical settlement
issues.
Free English classes of various levels are offered to immigrants and
temporary residents. Through the Host Volunteer program, newcomers can
get connected with local Canadian volunteers, who will assist them in
integrating into their new communities. The Skills Connect for
Immigrants Program has been created by BC to help skilled immigrants
connect with employers in the province who are in need of their
knowledge and experience. Finally, Settlement Information and Support
Services helps new arrivals with day-to-day issues of integrating into
their new home. By accessing this system, immigrants can get help with
things such as securing health insurance and enrolling their children in
school.
The BCPNP program is rapidly growing to help support British
Columbia’s labour market needs. However, the province has dedicated
itself to not only growing economically, but also to supporting the new
immigrants that will help it do so.
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