On 10 March 2022, the BC PNP made important updates to its Skills Immigration program. This includes its publication of a new Skills Immigration Program Guide effective since 10 March 2022. At a meeting with the Canadian Bar Association’s Immigration Section on 5 April 2022, the BC PNP indicated that there will be additional updates to the Skills Immigration Program Guide over the coming weeks and months.
Key updates to the BC PNP’s Skills Immigration program include:
- a shift in the practice of issuing invitations to apply through the BC PNP Online registration system to accommodate targeted invitations including for select occupations in the care economy and for high demand occupations. This may result in fewer general invitations to apply;
- the replacement of the Healthcare Professional category with the Health Authority category which is open to all occupations employed by a health authority;
- the addition of Health Care Assistants and Dental Assistants to the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream;
- restriction of management occupations to the Skilled Worker stream;
- change in Skilled Worker stream work experience requirement from two years of directly related work experience to two years of skilled experience; and
- a change in the requirement for supporting employers to prove domestic recruitment efforts which removes the language where employers could be considered compliant with domestic recruitment efforts where the BC PNP applicant is already working with the supporting employer in position being offered to them. The current Skills Immigration Program Guide now explicitly states that supporting employers may have their recruitment efforts reviewed even if the applicant is already working for them.
If you have interest in the BC PNP or questions about its application to your situation, then please contact us to book a consultation.