Moving From Ontario to BC to Obtain Permanent Residence Through BCPNP｜Ms. S

Making full use of her ECE qualification and experience, plus the BCPNP priority category, she obtained her PR!

Immigration Consultant

Kaoru Yamashita

Born in Japan. After working for a major computer manufacturer, she participated in multiple international IT projects at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She immigrated to Canada in 2003 and completed the Immigration Consultant Program at the University of British Columbia, becoming a government-certified immigration consultant. She specializes in consulting for Japanese clients, covering short-term visas (such as work permits) and permanent residency applications (FSW, PNP, CEC, Family Class, etc.).

Why did you decide to immigrate to Canada?

My reason for wanting to immigrate to Canada goes back to my time here on a working holiday. In Japan, I worked as a backup dancer for stage shows and TV programs such as the Kohaku singing contest. After failing audition after audition for theme parks and theatre companies, I felt a strong need to accomplish something, and I was in a somewhat reflective state of mind. It was around then that I was chosen to join an international performance group, and struggling to communicate in English there made me want to understand it better.

A few years later I learned about the working holiday program and went to Toronto. At first there was a lot that surprised me, but seeing how freely everyone lived, finding their own way of putting in effort, and valuing themselves, I started thinking not just about pushing through the present but about what kind of future I wanted. Encouraged by an ex-boyfriend I met there, I decided to study at a college, and by the time I was getting my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), I seemed to be close to meeting the requirements for permanent residence, so I decided to immigrate.

What made you choose Shiraishi VisaJP Canada?

When it came to my permanent residence application, I decided to ask Shiraishi VisaJP Canada because, in a Zoom consultation, I got clear answers and could see a real path to obtaining permanent residence. After graduating from a two-year college, getting my PGWP, and gaining a year of work experience, I began seriously researching the path to permanent residence. I realized there was a big difference from the information I’d had back when I chose my college around 2017.

Thinking it would be difficult to apply on my own, I contacted both an immigration consultant in Toronto, where I was living at the time, and Shiraishi VisaJP Canada. From my experience working with two different study-abroad agencies for my working holiday and my studies, I knew how important it was to have a consultant familiar with the local area and to get a second opinion. After reaching out to Shiraishi VisaJP Canada on LINE, Ms. Takinami followed up by email to confirm the contract. Ms. Yamashita, who then took over smoothly as my consultant, answered every question I threw at her clearly and carefully — I still remember that. She let me know that a priority category had just opened up under BCPNP for ECE occupations, and laid out a detailed path forward from there. Knowing Shiraishi VisaJP Canada was based in BC, with years of experience and a solid track record, I felt confident they could respond quickly even if the requirements changed again, so I decided I could trust them with my application.

What was the most memorable part of the process?

The most memorable part of the process, without question, was moving across provinces. From my 2016 working holiday through college and working, I had been living in Toronto, Ontario until 2022. When I asked Ms. Yamashita about the fastest way to get permanent residence, she advised, ‘Why not move to BC to apply under BCPNP?’ At first I was genuinely torn — I’d never moved even within Japan, I had built a life in Toronto, and I had accumulated a lot of belongings, so packing felt daunting. But with everyone’s encouragement, and being told to think of it like a second working holiday, I was able to make the decision.

Moving across provinces turned out to involve far more than I expected, and the hardest part was sorting through my home — selling things, donating them, giving them to friends. Having lived there so long, I had accumulated so much that it really hurt to part with it all. On top of house-hunting, job-hunting, and updating my credentials and address, I was working right up until the last two months, so it was genuinely hectic. In the end, I decided on a homestay and came to Vancouver with no job and no job offer lined up. Since arriving in Vancouver, my standard of living has improved and I’ve been fortunate in the people I’ve met, and I feel that decision was the right one. Past me — good job!

How was your experience using Shiraishi VisaJP Canada’s services?

Throughout the whole application process, using Shiraishi VisaJP Canada left me with the impression that I could always apply with a sense of security and stability. Starting my permanent residence journey all over again in an unfamiliar place, Vancouver, was genuinely nerve-wracking. As I settled into my new job and got a little more used to things, every new piece of information about permanent residence still made me anxious.

During the application preparation and document checks, they answered every one of my detailed, worry-prone questions thoroughly. Their responses were always very fast, and even after business hours they would let me know they’d confirm things the next day, so I never had to worry, even when money like application fees was involved. Not only my consultant, Ms. Yamashita, but also Ms. Takinami, who handled things as my point of contact, gave me clear explanations of the process as well as encouragement and congratulations along the way. I really felt the teamwork and that they were fully supporting me as their client. I’m grateful for that thoughtfulness that went beyond just the paperwork.

Future Outlook for Life in Canada

Looking ahead to my life in Canada, my next goal is to return to my first career, and, alongside that, to loosely pursue a third career. Getting my permanent residence on February 29, 2024 — leap day — gave me a moment to stop and think about what I could do and what I wanted to do next, and I realized my real passion was still my first career: performing on stage. But working as an Early Childhood Educator while also doing dance work is physically demanding, and the exhaustion at the end of the day can drown out that passion. So I’m now considering a new challenge as a kind of third career. A friend who works as an engineer suggested I try CCNA, a Cisco IT certification, if I was interested. It won’t be easy and will mean more studying, but I’d like to take it on.

Future Outlook and a Message for Those Planning to Travel to Canada

I imagine anyone planning to come to Canada feels both excitement and anxiety. There are two things I’d like to share. First, come with an open mind, ready to accept anything. Common sense is different from country to country, and it would be a shame to judge everything only by your own past experience — try to simply take it in as ‘oh, that’s how it is here.’ Second, the level of danger is different too. In Toronto there is gun crime and people being pushed on the subway, and in Vancouver violent incidents have been increasing. It’s important to stay especially alert around religious or political demonstrations and events. I hope you can stay aware enough to avoid getting caught up in anything without realizing it, and have a wonderful life in Canada.

Additional Comments

Thank you so much for everything. Thanks to the support of Ms. Yamashita, Ms. Takinami, and Shiraishi VisaJP Canada, I was able to obtain my permanent residence. If I had stayed in Toronto, I don’t think I would have it even now… I’d like to ask for your help again with my PR card renewal in five years, so thank you in advance for your continued support.

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