B.C. recently released a new plan for the Provincial Nominee Program BC PNP, which will be implemented in January 2025 and is expected to be announced by the end of this year.
According to the news released on the official website of the BC provincial government on March 19, this policy update has a greater impact on the BCPNP program of science and engineering master's and doctoral students. The existing Master's and Doctoral Programs and International Graduate Programs will be replaced by 3 new programs and the requirements for applicants' education and language proficiency will be increased.
What is BC PNP?
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, to help the province expand its workforce, B.C. regularly invites eligible candidates to apply for a provincial nomination through the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP).
The master's and doctoral programs in the BCPNP are suitable for graduates who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree from a British Columbia university in the past three years, and can apply for Canadian permanent residence status at the Canadian Federal Immigration Service after obtaining a BC provincial nomination through this program.
What are the specific changes to the new BCPNP policy?
The original International Postgraduate and International Doctoral categories will be replaced by three new programmes.
The undergraduate degree program will be open to recent graduates who have graduated from an eligible post-secondary institution with a bachelor's degree. Graduates who have received a long-term job offer after graduation can apply for this program.
The Master's degree program will be open to recent graduates who have graduated from an eligible post-secondary institution with a master's degree, regardless of their field of study. Graduates with at least one year of full-time work offer in the technology category after graduation can apply for this program.
The doctoral degree program will be open to students who are enrolled in or have graduated from an eligible post-secondary institution with a Ph.D. degree. Graduates and PhD students can apply directly to this program.
Language score requirements change
With the exception of health care programs, the minimum language requirement for the BCPNP has been increased to a Canadian language benchmark CLB score of 8.
The B.C. government also explained the reasons for the reforms in the announcement:
Updates to provincial nominee programs, such as the BCPNP in British Columbia, Canada, are undoubtedly intended to ensure that the immigration process is fair, transparent, and effective.
First, clarifying the education level and language skills required will help ensure that only applicants who are genuinely qualified will be eligible for nomination. This not only improves the fairness of the immigration process, but also reduces the likelihood that "bad actors" will exploit loopholes in the system. The practice of obtaining permanent resident status through the "easy route" not only undermines the credibility of the immigration system, but can also have a negative impact on the social and economic development of the host country.
Secondly, these updates echo new measures from the Ministry of Higher Education and Future Skills, which aim to protect the rights and interests of international students. International students are often one of the main groups of immigrants who make an important contribution to the economic, cultural, and social development of the host country. By strengthening regulation and providing transparency, it is possible to ensure that international students study and live in a safe and fair environment.
In addition, statistics show that new immigrants who are highly educated and possess good language skills are more likely to succeed in the job, earn a higher income, and stay in jobs that need to be filled. This will not only help to enhance the economic competitiveness of the host country, but also inject new vitality and innovation into the local society.
Therefore, immigration policy should pay more attention to the selection of applicants with high skills, high academic qualifications and good language skills, so as to promote sustainable economic and social development.