The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program

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.