Introduction
Big Data scientists are among the roles that we’ve seen employers actively trying to secure work permits for to bring workers to Canada. If you are looking to bring a Big Data scientist to Canada, there may be options just by virtue of the nature of the work that a Big Data scientist does. One of those options may well be the intra-company transfer program (ICT).
Understanding the Role of Big Data Scientists
A Big Data scientist deals with machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. These are cutting-edge and highly sought-after skills at the moment. If you’re an employer wanting to bring a Big Data scientist to Canada, you may be able to do so under the intra-company transfer program. This is possible if you have a Canadian operation and a branch or related entity in the home country of the employee you’re bringing to Canada.
Intra-Company Transfer Program (ICT)
If this is a US-based employee, for instance, you would need to have a US branch to make ICT work. This applies if the employee you want to bring to Canada is not an American citizen. If they are somewhere else in the world, you’d need to have a branch in their home country. ICT becomes an option if the employee works in that related branch or affiliate and has been employed there full-time for at least a year in the last three years. In this case, a Big Data scientist may be a very good candidate to send to Canada on ICT because their work fits well with ICT requirements.
Specialized Knowledge Requirement
As part of the ICT requirement, an applicant must show they have specialized knowledge. This is very specific and has two parts. One part is proprietary knowledge, which means the applicant knows about any proprietary tool the company has. The other part is advanced expertise, which is industry-specific experience. Proprietary knowledge refers to something unique to the company, like a software or system. The employee must have unique knowledge of this tool or procedure.
Advanced Expertise
A Big Data scientist coming from a branch of your foreign company would have proprietary knowledge of any proprietary tools your company has. Advanced expertise is about industry-specific experience, which the Big Data scientist is likely to have. They are likely to have at least one year of experience in that area of work, working with your company. All of that together is advanced expertise, and combined with proprietary knowledge, it equals specialized knowledge. This is crucial for the intra-company transfer program.
Conclusion
There are multiple pathways for employers to bring Big Data scientists to Canada, such as the intra-company transfer (ICT) program and the labor market impact assessment (LMIA). Both options cater to the specialized knowledge and advanced expertise that Big Data scientists possess. By understanding these programs, employers can efficiently navigate the immigration process. Ultimately, these avenues ensure that businesses can secure the high-demand talent needed to thrive in Canada’s tech industry.
