Skills Immigration - International Graduate

If you are an international student who has graduated from a Canadian university or college in the past two years, you may be eligible for the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Although you do not need to demonstrate work experience, you do need a job offer from an employer for an indeterminate full-time position.

Eligibility Requirements

In addition to meeting general requirements, to qualify for the Skills Immigration - International Graduate category, you must have the following:

1. a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada:

You must submit your registration to the BC PNP within two years of the date shown on your official transcript indicating that you have completed all requirements of the degree or diploma program.

Degrees

Your undergraduate or graduate degree must be from a Canadian post-secondary institution authorized to grant degrees. Your education is not eligible if it is a distance education learning program either from abroad or from within Canada. If the location is in B.C:

• see the Education Planner for a list of degree programs offered in B.C.
• see the Ministry of Advanced Education website for a list of authorized degree programs offered by B.C. private post-secondary institutions

Note: Some graduate level degrees are eligible under the Skills Immigration - International Post Graduate category.

Diplomas and Certificates

If you have a diploma or certificate, it must be from a public post-secondary institution in Canada.

Diplomas and Certificates from private institutions are not eligible. Language training (an ESL program, for example) does not qualify. Your education is not eligible if it is a distance education learning program either from abroad or from within Canada.

Your program must have been at least 8 months (two semesters) of full-time equivalent study. You may be requested to provide a letter from your educational institution that confirms your program meets this requirement. Your program of study is not eligible if you spent more than one-quarter of the program time in a co-op work term or internship.

See the Ministry of Advanced Education for a list of public post-secondary institutions in B.C. BC PNP SKILLS IMMIGRATION AND EXPRESS ENTRY BC PROGRAM GUIDE

BC PNP Program Guide | Part 2: Program Requirements – Skills Immigration 20 The information in this guide is effective April 1, 2016. Please check our website to ensure you are using the correct version.

2. a job offer for a full-time, indeterminate position that typically requires a university or college education at a wage that meets industry standards

The position you have been offered must be classified as Skill Level 0, A or B in the National Occupational Classification Matrix.

If your current occupation is classified as Skill Level C or D and if your employer can satisfactorily demonstrate that there is a structured plan in place with the supporting employer for your career progression to an occupation classified as Skill Level 0, A or B, you can apply to the BC PNP. In this case, you will also need to submit the results of a valid language test results.

Note: If you have been offered a job in a regulated occupation that requires mandatory certification, licensing or registration, you must provide documentation showing that you meet these requirements. Your employer must provide you with a written offer of employment on official company letterhead.

The letter must be:

• signed and dated by a person authorized to hire employees
• signed and dated by you confirming that you accept the job offer

In addition, the offer of employment must include:

• your job title and duties
• your rate of pay
• your standard hours of work
• that the position is indeterminate and full-time (at least an average of 30 hours a week, year-round)
• any discretionary benefits in addition to those required by law (such as pension and medical plans, disability insurance, sick pay, accommodation and meal allowances, and extra paid vacations)
• if the position is covered by a collective agreement, a reference to the agreement

Your employer cannot make any deductions from your pay (or require you to pay any fees) for recruitment or retention, including fees related to immigration.

The wage stated on your offer of employment must be at market rate and comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in B.C. and consistent with the wage compensation structure of your employer. For examples of market wage rates by occupation, please visit Job Bank.

You must be establishing an employee/employer relationship with your employer. If you will be providing services as an independent contractor you are not eligible for the Skills Immigration stream of the BC PNP.

If you were originally hired based on a positive federal Labor Market Impact Assessment, the wage you are earning at the time of registration and/or application must be equal to or greater than the wage stated in the offer of employment and on the Labor Market Impact Assessment.

Your employer must also meet program requirements. BC PNP SKILLS IMMIGRATION AND EXPRESS ENTRY BC PROGRAM GUIDE

BC PNP Program Guide | Part 2: Program Requirements – Skills Immigration 21 The information in this guide is effective April 1, 2016. Please check our website to ensure you are using the correct version.

3. evidence that you meet minimum income requirements

You must demonstrate that you are able to support yourself (and your dependents) according to your:

• annual wage in B.C.
• location of residence in B.C.
• number of dependents

Information about how the BC PNP assesses your minimum income requirements can be found here in this guide.

4) language proficiency

If you are working in a Skill Level B, C or D occupation, you must submit valid language test results showing you have obtained a minimum score equal to or greater than a benchmark 4 under the Canadian Language Benchmark 2000 (CLB) in all four competencies: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

If you are registering and/or applying with a job offer in a National Occupational Classification Skill Level 0 or an occupation, you are not required to submit valid language test results. However, at its discretion, the BC PNP may require valid language test results to demonstrate that you have the language proficiency to perform the duties of the position.

Test results will be considered valid for the two years from the date of issuance. Test results must be valid at the time of registration AND application.

Information about how we assess your language requirements can be found here in this guide.

All requirements must be met at the time of registration and, if applicable, application.