BC Employer-Sponsored Migration: Requirements Aren’t Low — So Why Do People Still Apply?

Author: Simon WU, Head of Newstars’ Beijing branch, a licensed Australian migration agent writing under the pen name “The Ordinary Road”. With over 10 years’ experience living and working in Australia, he specialises in offshore skilled and investor migration. Having once been a skilled migrant himself, he now leads many offshore migrants along their own “extraordinary road”.

Applicant Requirements

Let’s first look at what BC’s employer-sponsored programme requires of applicants:

1. Meet the BC EOI points requirement;

2. Hold a full-time job offer in an occupation classified under NOC skill type O, A or B;

3. Have at least 2 years of relevant work experience;

4. Be able to support yourself and your children financially;

5. A minimum recommended language level of CLB 5;

6. Pass a medical examination and have no criminal record.

About British Columbia

Next, let’s take a look at British Columbia (BC) itself:

British Columbia is a province in western Canada, one of the country’s four largest provinces. Its southern border adjoins the US states of Washington, Idaho and Montana, and it serves as Canada’s gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.

BC is one of Canada’s first-level administrative divisions and sits at the country’s westernmost point. The province borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, with a coastline stretching 8,850 kilometres and a total area of 944,735 square kilometres. It is divided into 29 regional districts; its capital, Victoria, is on Vancouver Island, while its largest city is Vancouver.

Vancouver sits on the Pacific coast in the south-west of BC and is one of Canada’s major port cities and a key economic hub, as well as the political, cultural, tourism and transport centre of western Canada. The city has been ranked among the world’s most liveable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit for many consecutive years.

Vancouver occupies the core of British Columbia and is a truly international metropolis — as well as the province’s largest city by area. By population, Vancouver is Canada’s third-largest city; in 2016, the city’s urban population reached 632,000.

Vancouver has a highly developed film production industry and is North America’s third-largest production centre after Los Angeles and New York, earning it the nickname “Hollywood North”. Vancouver also co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics together with Whistler, 125 kilometres away.

Vancouver enjoys a mild climate year-round, with a temperate oceanic climate. Summer temperatures generally sit around 20℃, while winter temperatures stay above 0℃. The average high in January is 6℃, and 22℃ in July. Snow is rare in winter, but rainfall remains plentiful, earning Vancouver the nickname “Canada’s Rain City”. In November, temperatures typically range between 3℃ and 9℃ — mild and comfortable.

Spring: In this coastal city, the signs of spring arrive early. By February or March, crocuses and daffodils are already blooming everywhere.

Summer: Vancouver’s summers are warm and pleasant, with daytime temperatures from June to August generally around 20℃.

Autumn: The coastal region enjoys mild autumns, with summer-like weather often lasting into October. By November, mornings turn cooler and the leaves begin to fall.

Winter: Vancouver’s winters are damp, but the climate remains mild. Snow-covered scenery is uncommon, except at the mountain ski resorts. From November to February, average temperatures range from 0℃ to 5℃.

Vancouver is also home to a number of well-known institutions, including the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, as well as colleges such as the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Vancouver Community College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langara College, Columbia College and Douglas College.

Advantages of BC’s Employer-Sponsored Migration Programme

Taking all this together, we can understand why so many Chinese applicants want to pursue this programme: first, the programme is stable; second, there is a large Chinese community and everyday life is convenient; and third, the climate is mild and the environment beautiful. So, to sum up, here are the advantages of BC’s employer-sponsored programme:

1. Obtain permanent residency status in one step, with no Canadian qualification or work experience required;
2. A stable programme with minimal policy risk;
3. With the employer based in Greater Vancouver, once the applicant receives their work permit, their children can access free local education and their spouse can apply for an open work permit — the whole family gets to enjoy life in Vancouver;
4. One applicant, the whole family migrates — with access to a well-developed education system and social welfare benefits;
5. The provincial nomination covers a wide range of occupation categories, suiting a broad range of applicants.

Reliable employer resources, professional programme interpretation and extensive hands-on experience are the real keys to success in Canadian migration. The above is our take on this programme — if you’re interested in learning more about the specific process and requirements for BC’s employer-sponsored programme, feel free to message us directly. Our firm’s partners and I firmly believe in giving an objective analysis of a programme’s pros and cons, presenting the most accurate picture rather than glossing over the drawbacks or steering people toward a particular option. What matters to us is objectivity — the right programme for you is the best one.