Snowroll

Hi all
A bit of confusion here, hopefully you can clarify things a bit.
Background:
We are a family of 5, my wife is nearing the end of her GP training.
Our desired destination is in BC and Health Match BC has, so far, been extremely helpful in regards to the professional aspect (licensing and MCC procedures).
On our conversations with HMBC, they strongly recommended that we take the PNP - Skills Immigration - Health Care Professionals route, rather than the EE.
Their main reasoning for that, is that it will allow us to make the move much earlier, compared to the EE stream - and this has a great appeal to us, due to numerous reasons.
However, after speaking to a fellow BE GP, who has made the move a while ago using HMBC's suggested route, we are having some doubts, as his experience was not so positive with the PNP Skills Immigration stream - it took him some 18 months to get a PR.

So, our questions are:
1. Will the PNP Skills Immigration stream actually allow us to move to Canada sooner than the EE stream?
2. If so, what are the differences in time between the two streams (very general numbers, we know that numbers can vary greatly)?
3. Is one of the streams considerably easier (in terms of procedure and/or costs) compared to the other?
4. How bad/difficult will it be for us if we'll face an 18-month wait for the PR?
5. Will I (as the spouse) be able to work by relying on one of the streams more than on the other? Will not having a PR from the get-go reduce my eligibility to work?
6. While not on a PR, will we have access to the Medical Service Plan (after the 3-month waiting period)?
7. Are there any other pros and cons to either stream - specifically for GPs looking to move to BC?
8. What is the actual importance of getting the PR quicker?

Again, our main objective is to be able to move to BC as soon as legally possible.
Secondary objectives will be myself being able to be employed and the MSP.

Many thanks for your guidance

Siouxie

With PNP you can obtain a letter of support from the Province for aTemporary Work Permit once you have received Provincial Nomination - so you would be able to work in Canada whilst waiting for PR to be processed.

With Express Entry, you wouldn't.

DigitalGhost

So how are you qualifying for the PNP if you don't mind me asking? Does your partner have a qualifying job offer already? If so then the PNP probably is the way to go.

Snowroll

Thank you. So, I'm guessing that means that the PNP is the quicker way in to Canada.

Thanks
My partner doesn't have an official job offer, yet, as we are waiting for a letter of eligibility from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and a recognition of training from the College of Family Physicians Canada. But as understood from Health Match BC, this is only a formality (that involves an exam or two, and lots of paperwork and fees).
We also understand that getting the LMIA, in case of the EE route, is just as probable.

If there are any other views, we will be glad to learn.

christmasoompa

Yes, because as above you can get a TWP once you've got nomination, so would save you a couple of months - although PR itself will usually take quite a bit longer than if you applied via EE.

LMIA isn't required for EE, unless of course you need a job offer to get enough points under the CRS. If LMIA is just as probable, then personally I'd do that and an EE PR app, as (a) it will be quicker to get PR; and (b) it'll mean you're not obligated to BC, just in case you do end up wanting to move on elsewhere fairly soon after getting PR.

Snowroll

Thank you. Saving a couple of months in the process could be the deciding factor for us. Also, last time we visited Canada was last year and we seriously doubt that we will want to leave BC to another province. We probably have until September to decide on which pathway to choose.

I'm sorry if I sound too clueless... but what is the significance of getting a PR, if we are allowed to live and work in BC via the PNP? Is it just the fact that the work permit is temporary, or is there more to it?

DigitalGhost

Once you are landed you can actually live and work anywhere in the country but the general rule of thumb is that if you accept PNP then you should fully intend to settle in that province. Probably not an issue in your case though because you do actually want to live in BC and also healthcare registration is largely provincial.

You should aim for PR if you ever intend on becoming Canadian citizens eventually and you would just be repeating work permit applications indefinitely otherwise. That's not something most people choose to do and likely isn't going to offer a lot of stability for you and your kids.

Can the necessary registrations and tests be sorted out from outside Canada? Please let me know how you proceed with this as it's something I'm kind of researching atm.

Snowroll

Thank you for clarifying this. If a PR should be obtained within 18 months of landing in Canada under a TWP, I assume it's not too bad? I don't know what an employment contract will look like, and for what duration it'll be. But it stands to reason that it'll be a 1-year contract, and hence a 1-year work permit? And then we'll have to renew the TWP for another year, and by the end of that get the PR? What if employment contract is for 2 years, will the TWP be for that duration?

Afaik, most of the procedure can be done outside Canada - Certificates and other documents are sent to and verified by the Medical Council of Canada, then there is the MCCQE Part I test that can be done in various locations outside of Canada. The MCCQE Part II should be done in Canada only. Then there is also an interview with the CPSBC that should be done in Canada, prior to commencement of work.

DigitalGhost

Snowroll

Thanks for that.
It does make more sense to go for the EE and PR from the get-go, but our circumstances - renting a house that was just placed on the market for sale - put us in a different position. We prefer moving out asap and dealing with the headache of obtaining a PR once we're in Canada, rather than dealing with a problem of renting a new house here for just a few months, before the move to Canada.

I'm not sure about the process for medical doctors who are not GPs, I think you need to look at the relevant College for more information, but it shouldn't be too different.

DigitalGhost

Ah ok, that makes sense. Tbh it's promising if you can get an LMIA from your partner's prospective employer in Canada so quickly. Have they given you any kind of ETA on that?

christmasoompa

If it's only just been placed on the market, then you may have time to get PR before moving given how sluggish the market is in most of the UK at the moment. A LMIA will normally take 3-4 months anyway (longer if you've not found an employer yet and they haven't done the paperwork as that can take a while), so you could apply for PR asap and have that running alongside the LMIA app, assuming you score enough to apply via EE. You may find you get PR before moving if the house takes a little while to sell.

Good luck.

Snowroll

We haven't discussed the LMIA, as HealthMatch only advise the PNP pathway. Only thing I know about it is that the job should be advertised for at least 4 weeks prior to the letter. See Step 16B on the file I PM'd you.

Thanks, especially for the LMIA part. You have a point and we'll think about it. We just don't like the sense of uncertainty about staying in the house on borrowed time, and would really hate it if we'd have to sort out accommodation for a few months.

Just to make it clear about the PNP, will it have a detrimental effect on the MSP and/or my ability to work?

Siouxie

I think perhaps there is some confusion going on here.

If you are a Provincial Nominee (i.e. PNP) there is no LMIA requirement - you would receive a letter of support from the Province to enable you to obtain a temporary work permit (although you would need an 'up front' medical to enable you to work in health care). The work permit would be valid initially for the maximum of a couple of years in all likelihood, more than long enough for your Permanent Residency to be processed and finalised. PR from PNP is a 2 stage (step) process. Initially the application is made to the Province and then once you have been nominated you submit the full Permanent Residency application to IRCC (Immigration Canada) for processing.

You can apply through Express Entry PNP - which is quicker than the paper based, if you have a job offer (details in the link)

https://www.welcomebc.ca/Immigrate-t...e-Professional

Snowroll

You're right, there is some confusion... But with your help, and others in this thread and forum, we are making progress.
If the work permit's validity will be long enough to allow the PR process, then that removes most of the uncertainty. Our plan is to stay in BC permanently, so if it takes another year or two before we get a PR/Canadian citizenship, so be it.
Thanks!