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BC Business Immigration Canada

5 Benefits of Moving to BC as an Entrepreneur

By Blog, Canada Study Visa No Comments

Canada is often considered as one of the best countries to move to operate a business. Its economy is continually expanding, and there is a great labor pool of skilled workers for business owners to choose from. If you are an entrepreneur, you should consider moving to British Columbia to pursue your business interests.

Here are five smart reasons why you should move to B.C. as an entrepreneur.

1. Great Economy

Most Canadian provinces have witnessed a fair amount of growth in the past decade. However, British Columbia’s economic growth between 2010 and 2019 stands out for being exceptionally great. According to this report there was a total of 532,500 businesses in British Columbia in 2019. Of these, 98 per cent (523,800) were small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Entrepreneurs who wish to conduct business activities in a province that will benefit from high growth should look into British Columbia.

BC Economic Growth

2. Numerous Industries

British Columbia is home to many thriving Canadian industries. This includes:

  • Construction
  • Agriculture
  • High technology
  • Mining
  • Manufacturing
  • Film & Television

Entrepreneurs seeking to break into any of the industries mentioned above will be able to make great strides by moving to B.C.

Know More: BC’s Fastest Growing Industries

BC entrepreneurship Program

3. Great Labor Pool

Entrepreneurs that move to a new country and start a business should be rightfully concerned about the labor pool available. You may have the funds to begin operating, but you may not have access to the right workforce to grow your business and take it to the next level.

The good news is that entrepreneurs in B.C. have access to a large pool of skilled workers. After all, many students come to B.C. from all over the world and study at its institutions. Such workers are highly educated and are eager to participate in its economy.

BC Labor Pool

4. Low Taxes

Entrepreneurs that wish to move to a province with low taxes will be making the right choice by choosing B.C. The province features competitive corporate tax rates and enjoys the lowest provincial income taxes in the country. These low tax rates can improve your profit margins and help your business grow relatively quickly.

5. Low Cost of Living

In addition to focusing on business costs, entrepreneurs should also be concerned with living costs in their chosen location. Many large cities in North America, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, are known for their high living costs. Such costs can make it difficult for entrepreneurs to get settled and pursue their business goals.

The good news is that the cities in British Columbia feature relatively low costs of living. The cost of living in B.C.’s largest city, Vancouver, is still lower than living in a megacity such as New York.

How to Move to BC as an Entrepreneur?

Prospective entrepreneurs interested in moving to British Columbia can use one of the numerous business immigration options available. These include:

Entrepreneur Immigration

The BC Entrepreneur Program is suited for entrepreneurs who can create a successful business in the province and improve its economy. This program selects candidates using a scoring system. Prospective entrepreneurs can look up their scores using our BC PNP points calculator.
To be eligible under the entrepreneur immigration program, entrepreneurs must meet the following requirements:

  • Possessing a net worth of $600,000 or greater.
  • Investing at least $200,000 in a qualifying new business or purchasing and improving an existing one in the province of B.C.
  • Creating one or more new full-time jobs for Canadian citizens and residents.
  • Possessing business management experience.
    Being eligible for temporary immigration to Canada.

Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot

The Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot program was launched in 2019 and is open until March 2024. This program is also suited for entrepreneurs that wish to start a business in Canada. However, unlike the main entrepreneur immigration program, the BC Regional Pilot Program is meant for entrepreneurs that wish to contribute to specific small communities in British Columbia.

To be eligible under the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot program, entrepreneurs must meet the following requirements:

  • Possessing a net worth of at least $300,000.
  • Offering business investments of at least $100,000.
  • Owning a minimum of 51% of the new business.
  • Achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark score of level 4 in English or French.
  • Creating one or more jobs for Canadian citizens and residents.
  • Performing an exploratory visit to the community, you will be conducting business activities within.

Strategic Projects

Prospective entrepreneurs interested in moving to British Columbia can use one of the numerous business immigration options available. These include:

  • Being well-established and remaining within good financial standing.
  • Demonstrating readiness to invest and expand in B.C.
  • Offering economic benefits for the province through a large investment.

Company employees can be eligible for this program if they meet the following requirements:

  • They are senior employees who possess the right qualifications and experience needed to work in their role in B.C.
  • They have been appointed in senior managerial positions or executive positions or possess specialized knowledge needed to run the company’s B.C. branch.
BC Business Immigration Canada

We can help you get Entrepreneur visa for Canada

As you can see, entrepreneurs have plenty of great reasons to choose B.C. Prospective entrepreneurs interested in applying for business immigration through any of the programs listed above should get in touch with Elaar Immigration. We have assisted numerous

5 Ways to Get a Job Offer for BC Tech Pilot

By Blog No Comments

The B.C Tech Pilot program offers a speedy pathway for prospective immigrants with tech skills to settle in Canada. Program applicants should be registered in one of the province’s existing immigration streams and possess a job offer from a qualifying occupation to be eligible for this program. Securing a job offer for this program can be challenging for some applicants.

Here are some fantastic strategies to help you get a job offer for the B.C. tech pilot program.

1. Apply on job sites

The most straightforward approach to finding a job in British Columbia is through job sites. Websites such as Indeed and Monster are great for discovering new job postings in different industries. You can look up jobs in engineering or I.T., as these may fall under the list of approved occupations for the British Columbia Tech Pilot program.

Foreign nationals that apply for such jobs should have a good resume prepared beforehand. Such resumes are vital, as they will be competing against Canadian citizens and residents for these jobs. Such applicants may get a leg-up on others by possessing more experience in their field.

Is BC PNP Skills Immigration program right for you?

2. Use LinkedIn

Many British Columbia job listings are also posted on LinkedIn. You can use this platform to find new job listings that qualify under the approved B.C. Tech Pilot program occupations. However, another advantage of using LinkedIn is that it allows you to connect with people at different companies.

For example, you can look up senior employees at companies you are interested in working at and offer to connect with them. You can then discuss any potential job openings at the company and ask them to forward your resume to their H.R. department. This approach is useful as it allows you to discover job openings that may not be listed publicly.

3. Check your network

If you know individuals that are already living and working in B.C., you can ask them about job opportunities in the province. This approach is best for people that maintain a large network in the province.

B.C. residents can connect you with potential employers or business owners that may require employees with your specific skill set. This can help you acquire a job relatively easily and bypass the process of sending your resume through the company’s job portal.

4. Use an Employment Agency

Many countries have employment agencies that specialize in helping clients secure jobs abroad. If you can find one of these employment agencies, they may be able to help you find a qualifying job in B.C.

If you intend to use this approach, you should ensure the agency understands the requirements that allow you to qualify for the B.C. Tech Pilot program. This will help them narrow their search criteria and ensure that it is eligible under the program.

Ready to start your Tech Pilot application? Check the BC Tech Pilot Program section for more info.

5. Get a Work Permit

This method doesn’t land you a job offer directly, but it can certainly help you. The truth is that few B.C. employers are prepared to give job offers to individuals without work permits. If you are currently residing in British Columbia, getting a work permit can significantly improve your chances of securing a job in the province.

You should note that it can be challenging to apply for a work permit without first securing a job offer. However, there are many situations where you may be eligible for an open work permit without already possessing a job offer.

Additional Tips

Securing a job offer in British Columbia isn’t easy. However, this process can be made much easier with the right preparation. This includes:

Possessing a Relevant Degree or Diploma

You may have noticed that the vast majority of occupations that qualify under the B.C. Tech Pilot programs are for engineers and technicians. This means your chances of finding a job that qualifies under this program are much greater if you possess an engineering degree or technician diploma.

Your chances of being hired will also be much greater if you received this degree or diploma from a recognized Canadian university or college.

Possessing Work Experience

Technical positions and those in the engineering field are often given to candidates with extensive field experience. Program applicants have a better chance of securing a job offer if they possess many years of experience in their field. Having lots of experience can also make you a more attractive candidate than Canadian citizens and residents applying for the same position with less experience.

A Well-Tailored Resume

It may also help to apply for each job posting with the right resume. Many job seekers tailor their resumes for each new position they are applying for. Such resumes list skills that are most relevant to the job, thereby making them more attractive to prospective employers.

Need help with BC Tech Pilot Program?

Plenty of foreign nationals are able to secure jobs for the B.C. Tech Pilot program using the strategies mentioned above. If you are able to find a job that qualifies under this program, you will need to go through the application process it entails. This application process can be long and complicated.

The great news is that the experts at Elaar Immigration can help you with your B.C. Tech Pilot. We have helped numerous applicants immigrate using this program and can assist you through this process. Please get in touch with us today to get started.

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How Indian Workers Can Apply for Canadian Work Permits

By Immigration, Blog, India No Comments

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has been offering people from across the world the chance to work in Canada since the 1970s. This program issues work permits to workers from a number of countries. Such programs are especially popular with Indian nationals that wish to work in Canada and further their careers. However, there are plenty of other programs that also offer work permits for Indian workers.

Let’s examine the various options for getting a Canada work visa for Indians.

International Mobility Program

The majority of Canadian work permits issued to foreign nationals are provided under the International Mobility Program (IMP). This program has grown to become incredibly popular over the years as it does not require applicants to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment, a requirement that can be difficult for many to complete.

The IMP itself was initially created to stimulate Canada’s economy with the help of foreign workers that wished to contribute to the labour pool in various industries. This program issues both closed and open work permits. Typical processing times for a work permit under this program is approximately two weeks.

Post-Graduate Work Permits

One of the work permits issued under the IMP is a post-graduate work permit. As the name implies, this is a work permit issued to students after completing their studies. Thousands of Indian students come to Canada for studies every year. These students can then apply for a post-graduate work permit (PGWP) once they complete their studies.

This PGWP is an open work permit that allows students to work in Canada temporarily after graduating. They can then use the work experience they have gained during that period towards obtaining permanent residency.

Indian nationals who wish to apply for a post-graduate work permit will first need to enrol in an eligible program minimum of 8 months in length. This program should be offered by a designated learning institution in the country.

Intra-Company Transfers

Indian workers that are currently working for companies with parent companies, subsidiaries, or branches in Canada be eligible for a work permit via the Intra-Company Transfer Program. If you want to apply for a work permit under these programs, you should look up companies in India that fit these requirements.

Indian workers are eligible to apply under this program if they belong to any of the following three categories:

Workers

This category is for workers with “specialized knowledge” of their company’s products or services. This also includes advanced expertise in their company’s procedures.

Senior Managers

This category is for employees who manage some or all company work and supervise other managers or lower-level employees.

Executives

This category is specifically for workers in managerial roles with their company. These employees should receive supervision only from high-level executives above them.

Significant Benefit Work Permit

The aforementioned programs have strict requirements that applicants must abide by if they wish to be eligible for a work permit. The Significant Benefit Work Permit work stands out because it relies on immigration officers’ discretion regarding your ability to contribute to Canada’s economy and culture.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Many Indian nationals apply for work permits through the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP). This category was created to help Canadian companies fill labour pool shortages in their industry. Applicants who wish to apply for a work permit under this program must possess a valid job offer and complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment. This Labour Market Impact Assessment document has to be provided by the applicant’s Canadian employer.

The processing times applications under this program can vary greatly. Some applications are processed within two weeks, while others may take months. This program consists of two separate streams. One for low and high skilled workers, and one for agricultural workers.

Stream for Low and High Skilled Workers

Many small and medium-sized businesses in Canada struggle to find workers to hire for their positions. This is due to shortages in the labour pool that can’t be fixed in the short run without the aid of foreign labour.

Employers can employ workers from India via this TFWP stream for low and high skilled workers. However, this is valid only for positions that they are having difficulty filling with Canadian workers. Therefore, they must demonstrate that no Canadian residents could fill this role by conducting an LMIA.

This LMIA may offer a pathway towards the permanent residence, as a successful LMIA can award workers between 50 and 600 CRS points. This point bonus gives Express Entry applicants an advantage when applying for permanent residency.

Stream for Agricultural Workers

Indian nationals who wish to pursue work in the agriculture industry in Canada and settle in the country can apply through the TFWP’s Agricultural Worker Stream. Alternatively, they can apply through the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot.

These programs require one year of work experience in Canada’s agriculture industry as well as a full-time job offer from their employer. However, workers will need to apply for a work permit first to work in Canada and receive the required experience. This again requires a valid job offer as well as the completion of a labour market impact assessment.

Why Choose Elaar Immigration Consulting?

At Elaar Immigration Consulting, we have helped numerous Indian workers apply for Canadian work permits. Our Canada work visa consultants work under the guidance of our founder Keshav Sharma. He is a licensed immigration consultant as well as a temporary foreign worker recruiter and can assist prospective Indian workers with finding work opportunities in Canada.

The temporary foreign worker program issues thousands of work permits each year.

Allow an experienced work permit Canada consultant to help you fast-track your career in Canada. Get in touch with Elaar Immigration Consulting today.

You can get additional CRS points for having Canadian work experience.

A Comprehensive Guide on Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System

By Blog, Immigration, India No Comments

Thousands of prospective immigrants apply for Canadian permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry System each year. This system assesses applicants in a variety of ways and summarizes their qualifications and eligibility using a special points calculator called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Let’s examine this calculator in more detail and how you can maximize your points in each area.

What is the Comprehensive Ranking System?

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assigns a score for each applicant applying through the Express Entry System. Canadian immigration services use this score to filter out the most desirable applications that fit with the country’s current immigration needs before offering them a chance to receive Canadian permanent residence.

What Does the Comprehensive Ranking System Assess?

The Comprehensive Ranking System gives applicants points in several areas. This includes:

  • Age
  • Level of Education
  • Language Proficiency
  • Work Experience

You should note that calculating your CRS points and getting a good score does not automatically make you eligible for permanent residence through the Express Entry System. Prospective applicants can get their eligibility in each Express Entry stream here.

Points by Age

The CRS offers up to 100 points for applicants with a spouse or common-law partner, and up to 110 points for applicants without a spouse or common-law partner. The points assigned for each age in either category are displayed in the following table.

Age

Applicants that have a spouse or a common-law partner

Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner

17 years of age or younger

0

0

18 years

90

99

19 years

95

105

20 to 29 years

100

110

30 years

95

105

31 years

90

99

32 years

85

94

33 years

80

88

34 years

75

83

35 years

70

77

36 years

65

72

37 years

60

66

38 years

55

61

39 years

50

55

40 years

45

50

41 years

35

39

42 years

25

28

43 years

15

17

44 years

5

6

45 years or older

0

0

Points for Education

Applicants can also receive points depending on their education level. These points are outlined below:

Education Level

Applicants that have a spouse or a common-law partner

Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner

High School or Less than secondary school

0

0

High school graduation

28

30

A one-year degree, or a diploma or certificate obtained from a university, college, technical or trade school, or any other similar institute

84

90

A two-year program studied at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute

91

98

A Bachelor’s degree OR a three or longer program at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute

112

120

Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length.

119

128

A Master’s degree, or a professional degree required to practice in a licensed occupation such as medicine or law.

126

135

A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D.

140

150

Points for Language

Applications receive points for their language proficiency in their first and second official language.

First Official Language

You can receive up to 32 points in this category with a spouse or a common-law partner and 34 points without either.

The points breakdown is as follows:

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level score for each ability

Applicants that have a spouse or a common-law partner

Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner

Less than CLB 4

0

0

CLB 4 or 5

6

6

CLB 6

8

9

CLB 7

16

17

CLB 8

22

23

CLB 9

29

31

CLB 10 or more

32

34

Second Official Language

Applicants can also receive points for their proficiency in a second official language. The point breakdown is this category is as follows:

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level score for each ability

Applicants with a spouse or a common-law partner

Applicants without a spouse or a common-law partner

CLB 4 or less

0

0

CLB 5 or 6

1

1

CLB 7 or 8

3

3

CLB 9 or more

6

6

Points for Canadian Work Experience

Applicants can also receive points for Canadian work experience in an occupation recognized under the right National Occupation Classification (NOC). You can learn more about NOC here.

The points breakdown for Canadian work experience is as follows:

Canadian work experience

With a spouse or common-law partner

(Maximum 70 points)

Without a spouse or common-law partner

(Maximum 80 points)

None or less than a year

0

0

1 year

35

40

2 years

46

53

3 years

56

64

4 years

63

72

5 years or more

70

80

Points for Spouse’s Education

Applicants with a spouse can gain additional points in different categories. The points breakdown for a spouse or common-law partner’s education is as follows:

Level of education for a spouse or a common-law partner.

Points

High School or Less than secondary school

0

High school graduation

2

A one-year degree, or a diploma or certificate obtained from a university, college, technical or trade school, or any other similar institute

6

A two-year program studied at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute

7

A Bachelor’s degree OR a three or longer program at a university, college, technical or trade school, or another similar institute

8

Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length.

9

A Master’s degree, or a professional degree required to practice in a licensed occupation such as medicine or law.

10

A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D.

10

Points for Spouse’s First Language

Applicants can also receive points for their spouse’s CLB score in their first official language. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level score per ability

Points

CLB 4 or less

0

CLB 5 or 6

1

CLB 7 or 8

3

CLB 9 or more

5

Points for Spouse’s Work Experience

Applicants can also receive points for their spouse’s Canadian work experience. The points breakdown in this category is as follows:

Canadian work experience for spouse or common-law partner

Points

None or less than a year

0

1 year

5

2 years

7

3 years

8

4 years

9

5 years or more

10

Points for Language Skills Transferability

Applicants can receive additional points if they possess a language proficiency of CLB 7 or higher and along with additional education. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:

Education level

Points for applicants with CLB 7 or higher but below CLB 9

Points for applicants with CLB 9 or higher on the four main abilities

High School or less than secondary school

0

0

A post-secondary program credential for a program that is one year or longer

13

25

Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length.

25

50

Possessing a credential at the university master’s level or at a level that allows you to practice an occupation listed NOC Skill Level A that requires a provincial license.

25

50

A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D.

25

50

Points for Work Skills Transferability

Applicants can also get additional points if they possess more than 1 year or more than 2 years of Canadian work experience in addition to education. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:

Education level

Points for applicants with 1 to 2 years of Canadian work experience

Points for applicants with 2 years or greater Canadian work experience

High School or less than secondary school

0

0

A post-secondary program credential for a program that is one year or longer

13

25

Possessing two or more degrees, diplomas, or certificates. One of these must be awarded for a program that is three years or longer in length.

25

50

Possessing a credential at the university master’s level or at a level that allows you to practice an occupation listed NOC Skill Level A that requires a provincial license.

25

50

A doctoral level university degree or Ph.D.

25

50

Points For Applicants With Foreign Work Experience Plus Good Language Proficiency

Applicants can receive additional points if they possess foreign work experience along with official language proficiency of CLB 7 or higher. The points breakdown in this category is as follows:

Years of Foreign Work Experience

Points for applicants with CLB 7 or higher but below CLB 9

Points for applicants with CLB 9 or higher on the four main abilities

0 years

0

0

1 to 2 years

13

25

3 years or more

25

50

Points For Foreign Work Experience Plus Canadian Work Experience

Applicants can receive additional points if they possess foreign work experience along with Canadian work experience. The points breakdown for this category is as follows:

Years of Foreign Work Experience

Points if Applicant Possesses Foreign Work Experience and 1 Year Canadian Work Experience

Points if Applicants Possesses Foreign Work Experience and 2 or more years Canadian Work Experience

0 years

0

0

1 to 2 years

13

25

3 years or more

25

50

Points for Certificate of Qualification Plus First Official Language Proficiency

Applicants who possess a certificate of qualification in a trade occupation and possess a language proficiency of CLB 5 or higher can receive additional points. The points breakdown in this category is as follows:

Applicant Possesses Certificate for Trade Occupation

Points for Certificate Plus CLB 5 to under CLB 7 for First Official Language

Points for Certificate Plus CLB 7 or Higher for First Official Language

Certificate for Trade Occupation

25

50

Points in Additional Areas

Applicants can receive points in a variety of additional areas. This includes:

  • 15 points if the applicant has a sibling that is a citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada.
  • 25 points if they scored NCLC 7 or greater on each of the four French skills while scoring CLB 4 or less on their English. Also applicable if they did not take an English test.
  • 50 points if they scored NCLC 7 or greater on each of the four French skills while scoring CLB 5 or higher in English.
  • 15 points for completing a one or two year post-secondary education credential in Canada.
  • 30 points for completing a three year or longer post-secondary education credential in Canada.
  • 200 points for having employment in NOC 00 arranged.
  • 50 points for having employment in NOC 0, A, or B arranged.
  • 600 points for getting a nomination from a province or a territory.

Calculate Your CRS Score

After reading the list above, it should be evident that the CRS relies on many different factors. You can calculate your CRS score easily by using our Express Entry Calculator tool.

A good CRS score increases your chances of receiving an invitation to apply.

Why Choose Elaar Immigration?

If you require assistance or guidance with your Express Entry application please get in touch with Elaar Immigration Consulting. We have assisted numerous prospective immigrants with their applications and can help you on your immigration journey.

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