Introduction
Solutions Architects are among the most common work permit applicants in Canada. If you own a business that wants to bring a Solutions Architect or multiple Solutions Architects to Canada, you may be able to do so under a program known as the ICT (Intra-Company Transferee) program. There may also be other options available to Solutions Architects wanting to come to work in Canada.
The Role of Solutions Architects
Solutions Architects are tech employees. Many of them work for Canadian tech companies or multinational tech companies that want to support their large contracts in Canada. These contracts may have been won from Canadian clients, and companies need the expertise and skills of Solutions Architects to support them.
Often, businesses may not find Solutions Architects in Canada with the same skills and specialized knowledge as those employed by the same company outside of Canada. So, if you’re looking for a Solutions Architect in Canada and are part of a multinational corporation, you may be able to use the expertise of Solutions Architects you employ in your branches outside of Canada.
The ICT Program for Solutions Architects
You may be able to do this under the ICT program, the Intra-Company Transferee program. The ICT program allows related companies—those that are legally connected, like a branch—to transfer an employee from a foreign branch to their Canadian operation.
Of course, there are specific requirements that must be met. We’ve discussed these requirements in several of our other posts and videos. But when it comes to a Solutions Architect, they would be a good candidate for ICT, as long as they meet the basic requirements and are considered specialized knowledge workers.
Understanding Specialized Knowledge
Specialized knowledge has a specific legal definition. A specialized knowledge worker is someone who has two key things:
- Proprietary knowledge: This means they have knowledge that is unique to the company’s software or procedures, and this knowledge isn’t available outside the company. For example, your company may have developed software, and this employee or your employees are the only ones who know how it works. This gives them proprietary knowledge.
- Advanced expertise: This means the employee has firsthand industry experience and knowledge that adds up to advanced expertise. So, when you combine advanced expertise with proprietary knowledge, you get what is known as specialized knowledge.
A Solutions Architect would be well-suited for this because they possess specialized knowledge, making them an ideal candidate to be transferred to Canada on a work permit under the ICT, assuming they meet the other basic ICT requirements, which we’ve discussed elsewhere.
Conclusion
If you are a business owner or a company seeking the services of a Solutions Architect, especially one who is already working for your company outside of Canada, there may be an option under the ICT for you. If ICT does not work, there are still other immigration options available to Solutions Architects, many of which we’ve discussed in some of our other posts and videos.
