British Columbia offers an economic immigration program operated by the provincial government in collaboration with the Government of Canada’s department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It has recently expanded its programs to include an Express Entry stream which operates through an online system.
As of January 2015 BC had created on online application management system allowing BCPNP applicants to use the Express Entry system to meet the province’s specific labour needs. This is a two-step process whereby applicants must create a BCPNP profile and an express entry profile.
Registration:
You must create a BCPNP online profile whereby you will receive a registration score and entered a selection pool for the category in which you have registered.
Invitation:
Based on your ranking, you will be ranked against other applicants in the pool. BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring applicants to apply within their category.
Application:
Once you have been invited to apply, you will have 30 days to submit your application.
Nomination:
If your express entry application is approved, the BCPNP will nominate you through the federal EE portal. You must then accept the nomination through the EE portal before you can receive your ITA to apply for Permanent Residency.
In order to obtain priority processing of your permanent residency application, candidates must satisfy the criteria set out for one of the following categories:
Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker
BC Requirements:
- you are a skilled worker, with post-secondary education or training
- you have a minimum of two years of directly related employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trade, or other skilled occupation
- you wish to receive priority processing of your permanent residence application through Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system
Mandatory Requirements:
You must have obtained an IRCC Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code that indicates you meet the criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to IRCC’s Express Entry system (CEC, FSW, FSTP).
- have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a B.C. employer in a skilled occupation as outlined in the National Occupational Classification Matrix (NOC skill level 0, A or B)
- be qualified to perform the duties of the job offered to you including all regulatory, registration, and licensing requirements to perform the duties of the occupation in B.C.
- have a minimum of two (2) years of directly related work experience in the job offered to you
- demonstrate that you can support yourself (and your dependants)
- meet minimum language requirements (CLB 5, CLB 7)
- have been offered a wage that is comparable to B.C. wage rates for the occupation (meet LICO)
- a joint application submitted with your employer who must also meet eligibility criteria respectively
Express Entry – Health Care Professional
Mandatory Requirements:
You must have obtained an IRCC Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code that indicates you meet the criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to IRCC’s Express Entry system (CEC, FSW, FSTP).
- be qualified to perform the duties of the job offered to you including all regulatory, registration, and licensing requirements to perform the duties of the occupation in B.C.
- have a minimum of two (2) years of directly related work experience in the job offered to you
- demonstrate that you can support yourself (and your dependants)
- meet minimum language requirements (CLB 5, CLB 7)
- have been offered a wage that is comparable to B.C. wage rates for the occupation (meet LICO)
- a joint application submitted with your employer who must also meet eligibility criteria respectively
In addition, you must have support or a permanent full-time job offer from a public health authority as a:
- physician
- specialist
- registered nurse
- registered psychiatric nurse
- nurse practitioner
- an allied health professional such as a:
- diagnostic medical sonographer
- clinical pharmacist
- medical laboratory technologist
- medical radiation technologist
- occupational therapist
- physiotherapist
- midwives, have a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in B.C.
Express Entry – International Graduate & Post-Graduate
International Graduate
If you have graduated from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution, with an eligible degree, diploma or certificate within the past two years, you may be eligible under the EEBC category.
Mandatory Requirements:
You must have obtained an IRCC Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code that indicates you meet the criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to IRCC’s Express Entry system (CEC, FSW, FSTP).
- have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a B.C. employer in a skilled occupation as outlined in the National Occupational Classification Matrix (NOC skill level 0, A or B)
- be qualified to perform the duties of the job offered to you
- have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada
- demonstrate that you can support yourself (and your dependants)
- meet minimum language requirements (CLB 5, CLB 7)
- have been offered a wage that is comparable to B.C. wage rates for the occupation (meet LICO)
- a joint application submitted with your employer who must also meet eligibility criteria respectively
International Post-Graduate
You may be eligible for this job offer-exempt category if you have graduated from an eligible B.C. post-secondary institution with an eligible masters or doctorate (PhD) degree within the past two years. Masters degrees and doctorates are eligible if your program of study was in the natural, applied, or health sciences:
- agriculture
- biological and biomedical sciences
- computer and information sciences and support services
- engineering
- engineering technology
- health professions and related clinical sciences
- mathematics and statistics
- natural resources conservation and research
- physical sciences
Mandatory Requirements:
You must have obtained an IRCC Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code that indicates you meet the criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to IRCC’s Express Entry system (CEC, FSW, FSTP).
- have or be eligible for legal immigration status in Canada
- your program of study and post-secondary institution must meet eligibility criteria
- in the absence of a job offer, you must demonstrate your intent to reside in and economically establish in B.C.
