British Columbia adds new communities to the Entrepreneur Immigration Pilot

Foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up their business in rural British Columbia are now being offered more options. British Columbia has added 8 more communities to the eligible list for the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot Program.

Foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up their business in rural British Columbia can apply under the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot Program.

This program was launched in March this year. Communities which have lesser than 75,000 people and are located at least 30 kilometres away from the nearest urban centre have been participating in this program.

With the addition of 8 new communities, the total number of participating communities has increased to 66.

Here are the communities that have been added to the program:

1. Canal Flats
2. Akisqnuk First Nation
3. Parksville
4. Invermere
5. Regional District of East Kootenay (Area F and G)
6. Radium Hot Springs
7. Peachland
8. Shuswap Indian Band

To participate communities must prove that they can provide a network of business and settlement agencies to eligible entrepreneurs. Community representatives must attend program-specific and immigration training to host exploratory visits for interested applicants.

Who can apply?

Applicants must complete an exploratory visit to the community they wish to set up their business in. They also need to submit a viable business proposal to the community representative. To register under the pilot program they must receive a referral from the community representative.

At the time of registration, applicants must provide details of their:

• Business or work experience
• Education
• Language skills
• Net worth
• Details about the proposed business etc.

The net worth requirement for the Regional Pilot Program is much less as compared to other Entrepreneur Programs. This is due to the lower cost of setting up a business in rural areas of British Columbia.

Here are the eligibility criteria:

• Applicants should make a minimum investment of $100,000 in eligible businesses in the community
• Applicants should have a net worth of minimum $300,000
• Should have at 3 years of business experience or at least 4 years as a Senior Manager in the recent 5 years
• Applicants should take on ownership of at least 51% in their business
• Should be able to create one job for a Canadian PR or citizen
• Should be proficient in either English or French with a score of at least CLB 4
• Meet other eligibility criteria of the pilot

Once the registration process is complete, applicants will receive a score. Candidates with the highest scores will receive invitations through regular invitation rounds.

The processing time for this pilot is generally 4 months. Candidates may also be required to attend an in-person interview in Vancouver during the process.

Approved applicants must sign a performance agreement with the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. The performance agreement outlines all the criteria that are mandatory to receive a provincial nomination for Canadian PR.

BC PNP issues a work permit support letter to successful candidates. Using this the candidates can apply for a 2-year Work Permit to the Govt. of Canada, as per CIC News.

Once the criteria in the performance agreement have been met, candidates are nominated for a Canadian PR.

If you are looking to Study, Work in Canada, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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