Government Resources

Welcome BC: a one-stop govenment website for immigrants, communities, and service agencies, that encourages:

• newcomers to move to B.C., and to live, work, invest or study here
• communities to welcome other cultures and nationalities
• service providers to connect with communities, funding and support
• information on working in Canada temporarily and permanently 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada: provides information to immigrants looking to visit, move, study or work in Canada; apply for permanent residence status or citizenship; or to sponsor family members. It also provides information for employers looking to hire a temporary or permanent foreign worker. (link to list of application forms)

• Temporary Foreign Workers
• Immigrating to Canada for Work: Skilled worker program, Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominees Program
• Investors, Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed: for people who want to start a business in Canada

Everyday Government Services

Service Canada: provides information for newcomers, families and children, seniors, youth, and students on services provided by the Federal Government of Canada such as health, employment, housing, income assistance, immigration, personal documents, starting a business, education and legal assistance. Go here for your Social Insurance Number, Employment Insuracne, GST/HST credit, passport, Child Tax Benefits, Universal Child Care, etc

• Social Insurance Number: you will need to apply for your number and card before you can work in Canada

Service BC: information on the services provided by the Provincial Government of BC like medical service plan (MSP), driver's licence, BC I.D., birth, death and marriage certificates, housing, income assistance, changing your address, etc

• Medical Service Plan (MSP): info on getting medical insurance in BC, changing your address, replacing a CareCard, applying for assistance, etc
• Driving:
  • ICBC: Insurance for your car
  • Drive BC: general driving info for BC on road weather conditions, border delays, ferry information and more
  • International Drivers Licence
• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC): find information on pensions, education savings plans, labour market information, workers rights, apprenticeships, disability, employment insurance, health and safety, etc.

Revenue Canada: tax information and forms

• Child and Family Benefits: programs and benefits for children and families

BC Vital Statistics Agency. birth, marriage, and death registrations and other services

Tenancy Laws: Know your housing rights as a renter and as a landlord

Working Inside Canada

Working In Canada: resources and interactive tool to help immigrants get ready to find a job in Canada, choose a location to work and research what the labour market in that field and location is like.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:

• Foreign Credential Recognition: about the process and applying for funding
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program: steps for employers looking to hire foreign workers, and information for foreign workers on pensions, employment insurance, and their rights
• Job Seekers Information: job boards, social insurance number, career assistance, employment standards, wages, employment insurances and more
• Labour Market Info: job descriptions and requirements, employment prospects, wages, where to get training, local labour market info, and industry profiles

WorkBC: Job Seekers: resources to find employment, transition from a job, steps to increasing your employability, and other tips for new immigrants

Job Bank of Canada: government run job board for all of Canada

Employment Standards: your employment rights, how to file a complaint, information for foreign workers, domestics, farmers etc

• Fact Sheet in Mandain, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, Filipino, Korean
• A Guide to Employment Standards
• Employment Standards Act

Employment Initiatives and Funding

Welcome BC: Employment Initiatives: labour market programs, services and initiatives

• Skills Connect: is an employment bridging program that helps skilled immigrants connect to jobs, assess their skills and qualifications, provide career counseling, assist in upgrading skills and training, and setting up mentoring opportunities. Immigrants and employers contact SOICS employment coordinator to see if you qualify to access funding.

Employer Resources:

Employer Roadmap to Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers

WorkBC: resources for employers for finding workers, retaining them, HR guides, managing adjustments and more. It includes special sections related to hiring immigrant workers