BC Provincial Nominee Program

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BC Provincial Nominee Program
A Presentation to Simon Fraser
University October 29, 2007
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What is the BC PNP?

• A partnership between the Province of BC and the
  Government of Canada
• Canada/BC Agreement on Immigration, 1998 (renewed
  in 2004 for five years)
• BC PNP is part of Ministry of Economic
  Development
• A tool that BC uses to select immigrants that
  meet its economic and labour market needs

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Who does what?

• BC PNPs Role
• Assess applications
• Nominate applicants who meet criteria
• Facilitate work permit issuance
• Citizenship Immigration Canadas Role
• Conduct medical background checks
• Issue work permits and permanent resident visas

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BC PNP Streams

• Strategic Occupations
• Address critical skills shortages
• Create economic benefit
• Business Immigrants
• Attract entrepreneurs who wish to establish
  businesses invest in BC

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Where do students fit in?

• Strategic Occupations
• Skilled Workers
• Designated Health Care Professionals
• International Graduates

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Whats the Process?
Nominee submits PR application to Visa Office
CIC Visa Office Conducts Checks issues PR Visa
BC PNP Assesses Application (4-6 weeks)
BC PNP issues Letter of Support
for Work Permit (if necessary)
(6 10 months)
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Eligible institutions

• Recognized institutions in BC
• Public post-secondary institutions
• Private institutions offering a degree program as
  part of the BC Transfer System

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Areas of Study

• Eligible undergraduate/graduate degrees
• Natural, applied, or engineering sciences
• Health sciences
• Computer science, information systems or digital
  media
• Business or commerce
• At its discretion, the BC PNP may accept
• degrees in other fields of study.

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Areas of Study

• Eligible two-year diplomas
• Applied sciences or technologies, or engineering
• Health sciences or technologies
• Computer science, information systems or digital
  media
• Business or commerce
• At its discretion, the BC PNP may accept
• degrees in other fields of study.

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BC Study Requirements

• Graduate Degree
• Minimum 1 year study in BC
• Undergraduate Degree
• Minimum 2 years study in BC
• Two-Year Diploma
• Entire program must be completed in BC
• Academic Achievement
• Minimum 70 (or equivalent GPA)

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Application Requirements

• Eligible occupation as per Skilled Worker
  category (NOC 0,A,B)
• Accepted offer of permanent, full-time employment
• Wage meets industry standard
• Apply within one year of completion date shown on
  official transcript
• Include official transcript of grades from BC
  institution

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Occupations

• Occupation
• NOC O, A, B
• Examples of ineligible occupations include
  retail staff, school teachers, clergy,
  hairstylists, bookkeepers, secretaries, operators
  in manufacturing/processing without
  post-secondary qualifications

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Employer Requirements

• Employer
• Incorporated, extra-provincially registered,
  registered or LLP
• Permanent establishment in BC
• In operation for at least one year
• At least 5 full-time employees (or equivalent
  part-time employees)
• Sound financial history, good business practices

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Advantages of BC PNP

• Expedited processing (less than one year to PR
  status in some cases)
• Not assessed on points
• BC PNP support during visa processing
• Work while you wait!
• BC PNP will issue Letter of Support for work
  permit between nomination and permanent resident
  visa

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How to apply

• Maintain legal status in Canada
• Find suitable job
• Employer supports your PNP application
• Complete forms www.pnp.gov.bc.ca
• Apply to the BC PNP within one year
• Pay 550 fee
• If nominated, apply to CIC for Permanent Resident
  visa (and work permit if needed)

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Who has been nominated?

• Top Sectors - IT, Financial Services, Education,
  Retail, Engineering, Health, Natural Resources,
  Entertainment
• Employers High Tech companies, universities,
  professional business service firms, health
  authorities, aerospace, construction industry,
  etc
• 2261 Provincial Nominees including 154
• students

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Points to remember

• You must have accepted a permanent job offer from
  a BC employer
• You are not assessed for points
• Nominees get expedited processing
• Nominees still need to pass medical, criminality
  and security checks
• Nominees can get a temporary work permit while
  they await PR visa
• BC PNP supports nominees, but
  does not replace CIC

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More Information

• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email pnpinfo_at_gov.bc.ca
• Web www.pnp.gov.bc.ca