Changes to the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category

B.C. has made changes to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category. These changes are effective from January 29, 2020.

New language requirement: The PNP has introduced a minimum language requirement for Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) – Base Category candidates. This change supports the successful business establishment of immigrant entrepreneurs and helps their integration into B.C. communities, as well as meeting our agreement with the federal government. Entrepreneur candidates are now required to submit proof of language proficiency by nomination to demonstrate that their language ability meets a Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4. Research shows that proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages has a significant impact on the economic and social integration of immigrants into their new country. The timing of language requirement by nomination allows strong entrepreneur candidates an opportunity to improve their language ability once they arrive in B.C. to establish their business.

Elimination of Key Staff option: Applications to the EI – Base Category will no longer be able to include key staff. This option of the EI stream has continued to diminish since 2015. This change will allow the principal applicant to be more involved in the day-to-day operations of the business, increasing the interaction with suppliers and customers, which will help in improving language proficiency. Key staff will continue to be eligible under the Strategic Projects category. These changes are in effect for new applications and do not impact those who have already registered/applied to the BC PNP EI – Base category.

The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who want to actively manage a business in B.C. It is a points-based invitation system. Applicants must have the required personal and investment funds. The Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot is for entrepreneurs who want to start a new business in participating regional communities across B.C.

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BC PNP invited Skills Immigration and Express Entry candidates

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) issued 284 invitations to apply (ITA) for a provincial nomination to skills immigration and express entry candidates on January 28, 2020. A provincial nomination issued under the BC-PNP Express Entry BC category results in an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. The additional points will move Express Entry candidates to the front line for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent federal draw. Candidates nominated under BC-PNP Skills Immigration Stream can apply for Canadian permanent residency through paper-based application.

Candidates interested in applying for immigration to Canada through BC-PNP must first create an online profile using the BC-PNP’s online registration system (skills immigration registration system) and submit a completed form. Candidate profiles are assessed and assigned a score based on various factors (e.g. education, work experience, offered wage, regional district of employment, English proficiency etc.)

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

British Columbia (BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia is leading the country in economic growth and continues to rely on economic immigration to meet labour market demand. The BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the province’s only direct economic immigration program for bringing in new British Columbians. It provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly-skilled, in-demand workers and experienced entrepreneurs, so they can settle in BC and raise a family. The BC Provincial Nominee Program offers three ways to become a permanent resident in BC. Each pathway has different categories and eligibility criteria. These criteria are based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, income, work experience, skills or international student status

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LATEST EE DRAW INVITES 3,400 CANDIDATES TO APPLY FOR CANADIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCE

A total of 3,400 candidates invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the Express Entry draw which took place on January 22, 2020. The cut-off CRS score in this draw was 471, a reduction of 2 points over the minimum score in the previous Express Entry draw held January 08, 2020. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has now issued a total of 6,800 Invitations to Apply (ITA’s) in 2020 through the Express Entry system.

Express Entry is the application process for skilled workers in Canada or Overseas who want to settle in Canada permanently. Interested Candidates are required to submit an online application to express their interest by creating Express Entry (EE) profile and, providing information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education and some other details. After submitting the profile, candidates get a score to determine their place in the pool using the point-based system called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS system considers skills, work experience, language ability, education and other factors (e.g. having a sibling in Canada, Canadian education or a valid job offer in Canada, etc.) to award points. Highest ranking candidates from Express Entry pool are regularly invited to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence. Express Entry manages applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs:

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Canada extends Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Canadian Government announced extension of its Atlantic Immigration Pilot to December 2021 in a bid to maintain the program’s momentum. Initially launched as a three-year pilot, the AIP will be extended by two years to December 2021. This will give IRCC and the Atlantic provinces more time to assess the innovative aspects of this pilot: its employer-driven focus, mandatory settlement plan, and new model of partnership with the Atlantic provinces and ACOA.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) is an innovative partnership aimed at attracting and retaining skilled immigrants and international graduates to meet the unique workforce needs of the Atlantic region (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island). The goal is to ensure the long-term retention and integration of newcomers in Atlantic Canada to help drive economic growth. The Government of Canada and the Atlantic provinces have made great strides in implementing the AIP since its launch in March 2017. As of February 25, 2019, there were 1,896 AIP designated employers in the Atlantic region. AIP designated employers made over 3,729 job offers to skilled foreign nationals or international graduates. As a result, there are already over 2,535 approved permanent residents destined for or already in the Atlantic Canada.

  • International graduates will now have 24 months post-graduation to apply for the AIP. This change will increase the number of eligible international graduates that can participate in AIP and give them the time they need to complete the PR application process.
  • Employers in the healthcare sector will be able to hire internationally trained nurses to work as continuing care and home care support workers in order to fill job vacancies.
  • The Atlantic provinces will have new authorities to focus their AIP spaces on in-demand labour market needs. This change will lead to better oversight of the pilot and give provinces greater ability to manage designated employers.
  • Beginning May 1, 2019, IRCC will require that applicants meet the language, education and work experience requirements of the AIP prior to being approved for a work permit.

Designated employers do not have to go through the process of obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment for jobs endorsed under the pilot program.

In order to be eligible, foreign workers must have a full-time job offer from a designated employer and possess at least 1 year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) paid work experience in an occupation designated Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or Skill Level B under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).

 

New Entry/Exit Program Instructions from IRCC

The Entry/Exit Program allows for the collection and sharing of entry and exit information of travellers entering and departing from Canada. Access to entry and exit information in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) will be based on an employee’s security clearance and organizational requirements to carry out day-to-day work activities. IRCC will obtain accurate and objective entry and exit information from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to support the administration of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Citizenship Act and the Canadian Passport Order.

IRCC will be able to query the CBSA’s Entry/Exit Information System directly to

  • verify residency requirements to process an ongoing application to objectively verify the information provided by the client, such as applications for grants of citizenship (CIT) or permanent resident cards (PR cards)
  • verify if a temporary residence applicant may have previously overstayed their allowable period of admission in Canada
  • assist in an investigation into an individual’s entitlement to a Canadian travel document

In addition, IRCC will be able to use entry and exit information to

  • verify that sponsors are residing in Canada where required by law
  • verify relationships and compliance with conditions for spouses and partners applying or admitted under the family class
  • verify if a refugee claimant entered Canada using their travel documents
  • support investigations into possible fraud in relation to immigration, citizenship, and passport (PPT) and travel document programs
  • verify residency requirements to validate if a medical examination is required