How to Immigrate to British Columbia
The province of British Columbia is known for many wonderful things with its extraordinary nature, diverse and vibrant city, and friendly people. What most people don’t know is that British Columbia is one of the nicest provinces in Canada. Residents said they find life much easier and have access to a wide range of employment opportunities.
Since Canada has over 100 immigration programs, it’s important to know how to immigrate to British Columbia in 2021 with the program that best suits your needs. There is no better time than now, as Canada will invite over 1.2 million immigrants as permanent residents over the next three years.
Read on to find out which program will allow you to live that high standard of living that Canada is so well known for.
Express Entry
Express Entry is an online immigration system that administers three federal immigration programs that allow skilled immigrant workers to become permanent residents of Canada. The three Express Entry programs are:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
If you want to be in British Columbia as early as possible, then Express Entry is a great option due to the quick processing time of just six months.Advertisements
Express Entry is open to almost everyone, making it one of the largest entry points to Canada. Express Entry is issuing 105,500 invitations to apply (ITA) in 2021.
How does the Express Entry system work?
Once you determine that you meet the Express Entry requirements, you will need to create an online profile. The profile must be completed and submitted within 90 days of initiation. You will need the following for your online profile:
- Your passport or travel document;
- Education credential assessment report;
- Language test results;
- Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if you have one);
- Proof of work experience (if you have one);
- Provincial Nomination (if you have one)
Once the above is complete, you will be placed in a lottery pool with other eligible applicants and you will receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score which will determine your ranking. Your CRS score will determine whether you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This means that you will have the opportunity to apply to become a Canadian permanent resident. Each draw group has its own unique CRS score to qualify for.
However, if you fail in a particular contest, you will be able to stay in the pool for a year, increasing your chances of qualifying for another upcoming draw.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System is a points-based system used to assess and score Express Entry candidates. The higher your score, the higher your rank in the raffle pool, which ultimately means a higher chance of receiving an ITA. The maximum score you can get is 1200 points.
There are many ways to improve your CRS score, once you have submitted your profile, such as:
- Redo language test to improve your score
- Having a sibling in Canada
- Receive a job offer in Canada
- Earn another qualification
- Gain more work experience within your field
- Apply with your spouse
- Ensure a Provincial Nominee
How Much Does Express Entry Cost?
| Express Entry Cost | |
|---|---|
| Fees | Amount in CAD |
| Processing fee is $825 and right of permanent residence fee is $500 | $1,325 |
| Your application without the right of permanent residence fee | $825 |
| Your spouse or partner processing fee is $825 and right of permanent residence fee is $500 | $1,325 |
| Your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee | $825 |
| Include a dependent child | $225 per child |
Another great Canadian immigration program is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), let’s see how to immigrate to British Columbia in 2021 through the PNP.
Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an arrangement that has been established for local provinces to nominate eligible economic immigrants who wish to work and stay in a particular province. In this case for those who want to live and work in British Columbia.
How to Immigrate to British Columbia Via PNP
Better to choose a province where your skills are in high demand, the more skills are in demand, the higher your success rate when receiving a nomination. The following table shows some jobs in demand in British Columbia.
| Occupations In-demand List | |
|---|---|
| NOC Code | Eligible Occupations |
| 1434 | Banking, insurance and other financial clerks |
| 1513 | Couriers, messengers and door-to-door |
| 3413 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 3411 | Dental assistants |
| 4411 | Home child care providers |
| 4413 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
| 6411 | Sales and account representatives – wholesale trade (non-technical) |
| 6562 | Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations |
| 5224 | Broadcast technicians |
| 2171 | Information systems analysts and consultants |
Your first step is provincial approval of the application, which takes a short period of four to nine weeks. Its second step would consist of medical, police and security checks. Typically, this can take six to eight months or more depending on the applicant.
Once you are nominated by the province of British Columbia, you will need to obtain a work visa before moving to Canada. The province will help you with this process.
How do I apply for a PNP?
Direct Application Process
This application form is sent directly to the province of British Columbia. You will need to submit a paper application by mail or courier. You can wait for the results of your application between 15 and 19 months.
Express Entry Application Process
If you decide to apply via Express Entry, you’ll have two options.
- Expression of Interest – this is where you can express interest in the province of British Columbia through your Express Entry profile. The province will nominate you if you have the right skills and experience.
- Apply through a Provincial Nominee Express Entry Stream
This option has the advantage of being faster, taking only six to eight months. You will also be more likely to receive an ITA.
PNPs and Express Entry
When you apply through Express Entry, after receiving a provincial nomination, you will earn up to 600 CRS points. Please note that the maximum score you can receive is 1200 points and most PNP streams have a lower CRS cut score than standard Express Entry draws. This would mean that by having a nomination you will almost certainly receive an ITA.
Why Immigrate To British Columbia?
There are many job opportunities in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and many more. On top of that, the people of British Columbia also earn competitive wages and enjoy a high standard of living. Employers benefit from employee benefit plans which may include comprehensive medical and dental coverage.
British Columbia is home to many different cultures from around the world and has one of the lowest crime rates, making it a safe place to live and work. Now that you know how to immigrate to British Columbia in 2021, you could also take advantage of the many benefits the province has to offer.
