British Columbia recruits immigrants through its express entry stream. This system lets IRCC (immigration, refugees, and Citizenship) organize how candidates with skilled work experience apply to immigrate to Canada.
Express Entry British Columbia is a process under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). This stream allows BC to take advantage of the “Federal Express Entry” system. This is a speedy track for capable skilled workers to obtain permanent residence in British Columbia.
The Express Entry BC process
First of all, you will get registered if you want to jump into this stream. When authorities register you they will be able to get access to your:
- Language proficiency
- Education
- Job offer
- Location in BC
- Salary
- Adaptability
These all requirements will be determined against BC labor market needs.
How this program works
Only candidates under the EEBC- skilled worker and EEBC- International graduate categories need to register with SIRS. EEBC- international Post Graduates and EEBC-HealthCare Professional can apply directly through BCPNP Online. Candidates of all other types will first register via BCPNP online.
You, will complete your Express Entry profile with Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system before your registration. There are three programs in Express Entry BC. You have to fulfill the needs of the chosen program:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canada Experience Program
In case you fulfill all the requirements for the program you have selected. You will obtain:
- Express Entry profile number
- A job seeker validation code
After receiving these two things, you will be able to register with British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program SIRS. This system is made to choose the top workers to fulfill the labor market needs in BC. SIRS is point-based registration and application arrangements. When you register it means you are showing interest to apply to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. It’s not an application for permanent residence though.
Registration Procedure
First of all, you will generate an online profile with British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program and then you will fulfill all the fields of the registration and submit your registration. You obtain a registration score based on different factors. You also go to the pool into the selection of your chosen category. You stay in the selection pool for 1 year, or until you get an invitation to apply (ITA).
Elements that affect your SIRS points
- The place of your job
- The annual salary you are offered. If your minimum salary meets the requirements of the labor market it will assist you to settle in BC
- The NOC national occupation classification skill level of your BC job offer. This convinces authorities to prioritize top-demand occupations.
- Your education
- Your level of language (English)
- Directly related job experience
Invitation to Apply (ITA)
The candidate who is eligible and successfully registered under the EEBC-Skilled Worker and EEBC- International Graduate category will obtain an ITA under the Express Entry BC system. Actually, the registration is not only the factor to obtain an invitation to apply, the invitation will be issued on the basis of the BC PNP’s:
- Annual nomination allocation
- Processing volume
How the ranking system performs
In this system, you have to compete with other candidates in the same category. Your points are based on your:
- Job/work
- Place/location in BC
- Offered salary
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Work experience
The draw is made from time to time to invite the top scorer registrant to apply through ITA.
How many ITS’s are issued?
It actually depends on the number of annual nomination places set by IRCC. The number of invitations also depends on authorities’ ability to ensure timely processing of requests.
Further step (results)
You will submit your complete application to BCPNP online after obtaining an invitation to apply. You will submit your application within 30 calendar days as you receive ITA. In case you do not receive an ITA from BC PNP, it means you did not get a high score from the selection pool and you can not participate, but you can improve your skills to participate again.
Your application
After obtaining ITA you will submit your application online via BC PNP. EEBC skilled workers can submit online after obtaining ITA.
People who do not need an ITA to submit online
EEBC- global post Graduates and EEBC and Health Care professionals are exempt from ITA. They can submit their application directly through BC PNP online.
Application submission and processing fee
You will submit your complete application by BCPNP online after obtaining an invitation to apply. You will submit your application within 30 calendar days as you receive ITA. You will pay CAN$1150 processing fee. Your skills are determined under the PNP’s Act and Provincial Immigration Program Regulation and the criteria specific to your Express Entry BC category. If your application gets approved, you will get a nomination that you will use to apply for permanent residence. Your application may be refused if your application information differs from your registration data.
BC PNP Nomination
When your application approves you will receive a nomination with this you can apply for permanent residence. You will apply to IRCC Express Entry System. You will accept the nomination through the IRCC Express Entry Portal to get a federal ITA for permanent residence as a provincial nominee from IRCC. After this, you will obtain an ITA from permanent residence from IRCC. When your application for permanent residence approves successfully, you will give a Canadian permanent visa.
Authorization to work in BC during the procedure
Working in British Columbia during all this process you will require authorization to work. Otherwise, a nomination by BC PNP does not allow an applicant to work while IRCC is processing your request. The applicant should apply for a work permit if during PR application pending only when:
- He does not have a work permit
- His work permit is expired or near to expire
The important thing about your work permit is that the BC PNP will not apply for a work permit on your behalf. But they can give a work permit support letter for your application to IRCC. For getting a post-nomination request and work permit support letter you will go on post-nomination support by My dashboard on BC PNP online. The applicant will email PNP PostNom@gov.bc.ca if there is a change in his family setup or if he was nominated with a paper-based application. Work permit support letter will be given to the applicant if:
- He is nominated by the BC PNP
- He has submitted his request to IRCC before his nomination certificate expired
- His existing work permit expires within 120 days.
- He will fulfill the conditions of the nomination