Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B.C. businesses has been observed to affect the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) draw held on April 16, 2020 issuing 271 invitations. The following occupations were excluded from the draw:
0621 – Retail and wholesale trade managers ǀ 0631 – Restaurant and food service managers ǀ 0632 – Accommodation service managers ǀ 0651 – Managers in customer and personal services ǀ 1123 – Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations ǀ 1221 – Administrative officers ǀ 1241 – Administrative assistants ǀ 6211 – Retail sales supervisors ǀ 6313 – Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors ǀ 6322 – Cooks ǀ 6421 – Retail salespersons ǀ 6512 – Bartenders ǀ 6521 – Travel counsellors ǀ 6523 – Airline ticket and service agents ǀ 6525 – Hotel front desk clerks ǀ 6532 – Outdoor sport and recreational guides ǀ 6562 – Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations ǀ 6611 – Cashiers ǀ 6711 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations ǀ 6722 – Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport ǀ 3236 – Massage therapists ǀ 6311 – Food service supervisors ǀ 6321 – Chefs ǀ 6341 – Hairstylists and barbers ǀ 6511 – Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses ǀ 6513 – Food and beverage servers ǀ 6522 – Pursers and flight attendants ǀ 6524 – Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks ǀ 6531 – Tour and travel guides ǀ 6531 – Tour & Travel Guides ǀ 6533 – Casino occupations ǀ 6564 – Other personal service occupations ǀ 6621 – Service station attendants ǀ 6721 – Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services ǀ 6731 – Light duty cleaners
Impact of COVID-19 on BC PNP Clients and Operations:
Office & in-person inquiries are closed but BCPNP will continue to respond to emails and telephone inquiries within 5 business days. Applicants can submit their registration if they meet the eligibility requirements for the category they are applying to. BCPNP will receive and process applications for both Entrepreneur Immigration and Skills Immigration categories.
Due to COVID-19, if your employer has reduced their business hours or they do not currently have the minimum number of employees on payroll:
- If you have not yet registered, and your employer no longer meets the employer eligibility criteria to support your BC PNP application, you should delay your registration until your supporting employer can meet the employer criteria for the BC PNP.
If you have already applied, and your employer no longer meets the eligibility criteria to support your BC PNP application:
- Please email BCPNP with any updates to your employment situation. They will take this into consideration when assessing your application.
- You may withdraw your application by sending BCPNP an email. If processing of your application has not started, you may be eligible for a refund.
Due to COVID-19, your employer had to temporarily close their business and if you have now been laid off:
- If you have not registered yet, and your current employment does not meet the eligibility criteria of the category you would like to register and apply to, you should ensure you first meet the criteria for that category. You should do this before submitting a registration.
- If you have registered, but you have not been invited to apply, and your current employment no longer meets the category’s eligibility criteria, you have the option of withdrawing your registration. You can resubmit a registration once you meet the eligibility criteria.
- If you have received an invitation to apply and your current employment does not meet the category’s eligibility criteria, you have the option of declining the invitation to apply. When the business re-opens and you are working again, you can re-register with updated information and wait for the next draw.
- If you have already applied, and your employment no longer meets the category’s eligibility criteria, please email BCPNP with any updates to your employment situation. BCPNP will take this into consideration when assessing your application.
- You may withdraw your application by sending BCPNP an email. If processing of your application has not started, you may be eligible for a refund.
If you are not able to get required documents (transcripts, language test, personal net worth verification report, etc.) before the deadlines:
- Before you register for Skills Immigration, BCPNP expect that you already have gathered or have easy access to all required documentation. If this is not the case, .
- wait to register as you will have 30 days to apply should you be invited.
- If you have already applied, and BC PNP staff have requested information or documents that you are not able to get, please email BCPNP will take this into consideration when assessing your application.
- If you are experiencing a delay in applying to the Entrepreneur Immigration stream, please email BCPNP describing your specific circumstances. BCPNP will take this into consideration when assessing your application.
Please visit BCPNP’s COVID-19 Operational Updates page for up-to-date information.
Contact us for consultation and assessment.
