Permanent residency challenges for Foreign Students in Canada. A number of developments this year have had a significant influence on the environment for foreign students studying in Canada. These modifications highlight an important fact concerning international students and graduates who come to Canada. The government offers no assurance of granting them permanent residency (PR).
After graduation, international students can pursue several options for employment and potential permanent residency in Canada, but Canada does not guarantee them PR. Examining Canada’s changing immigration policies especially highlights this ambiguity.
Planning one’s academic and career prospects in Canada requires an understanding of the difficulties associated with permanent residency for international students. The process of obtaining PR status can be difficult and competitive, despite the chances that are available. A variety of factors influence it, such as changes in legislation, eligibility requirements, and Canada’s immigration goals.
Challenges in Attaining Permanent Residence for International Students
Even if they are excellent prospects, international students who graduate from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada confront a number of obstacles in their quest for permanent residency (PR).
Initially, in order to be eligible for many economic PR programs, graduates usually need to gain work experience. This frequently entails getting a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which enables them to work in a variety of industries for the majority of businesses in Canada. While prospective modifications to this program are anticipated, the duration of the student’s study program typically determines the length of the PGWP.
Upon obtaining the requisite work experience, graduates seeking permanent residency must submit an application through an appropriate PR program. A lot of people choose to use the Express Entry system’s Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, which is intended for people with job and educational experience in Canada. Graduates may also be eligible for alternative routes, like Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that are unique to their home province or territory. Some PNP courses even target foreign graduates right after they graduate.
Challenges and Prioritization in Canada’s Immigration System for International Graduates
For international graduates, obtaining permanent residency in Canada can be a challenging process due to lengthy wait times and a recently introduced system of priority that takes into account the labor market and demographic requirements of the nation. For example, category-based selections have been added to the Express Entry system, which favors applicants who speak French well and/or have work experience in certain high-demand industries. This implies that candidates falling into these categories may receive preference over those with higher CRS scores in Canada’s federal immigration procedure.
Different Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams have comparable standards, granting PR status to individuals with desirable work experience, particular demographic characteristics, or familial links to a province or territory before those with higher ranking scores.
International grads pursuing PR may face difficulties as a result of these reasons. Furthermore, many are limited in how long they can stay in Canada by the terms of their Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). An foreign graduate may have to leave Canada if they are unable to get permanent residence (PR) within the PGWP’s validity period and if they are unable to obtain another temporary residence status. If they continue to meet program eligibility requirements, their Express Entry profile is still valid, but this presents an additional challenge for foreign graduates hoping to settle permanently in Canada.
Strategic Selection of Study Programs and Institutions
Graduates from Canadian DLIs continue to be extremely competitive candidates for Canadian immigration, notwithstanding the difficulties previously highlighted. The Canadian government places a high priority on professional experience in demand and language competence, thus international students can improve their eligibility for PR by concentrating on these areas.
For example, under the Express Entry category-based selection process, candidates may be given priority for PR if they satisfy certain requirements about their professional expertise or language proficiency. With this strategy, the emphasis is more on these specific qualities and less on their CRS score.
Healthcare professionals, STEM professionals, tradespeople, transportation professionals, agriculture and agri-food professionals, and those who speak French fluently enough to be at a CLB level 7 are among the categories that the Express Entry system gives priority to.
Focusing on maximizing their eligibility under one of these prioritized categories will greatly benefit international graduates seeking permanent residency (PR), increasing their chances of acquiring PR.
International graduates should investigate their eligibility under regionally relevant provincial programs in addition to federal programs. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), for example, is available across the province and is aimed toward overseas graduates living in Quebec. Similar initiatives are provided by a number of other provinces to assist foreign graduates pursuing permanent residence.
Alberta
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
British Columbia
- International Post-Graduate Category
- International Graduate Category
Manitoba
- Graduate Internship Pathway
- Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
- Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
- International Education Stream
Newfoundland and Labrador
- International Graduate Entrepreneur category,
- International Graduate category
Nova Scotia
- International Graduate Entrepreneur stream
- International Graduate In-demand stream
Ontario
- Employer Job Offer Category
- Master’s or PhD Category
- Human Capital Category
Saskatchewan
- International Graduate Entrepreneur category
- Saskatchewan Experience category—Student sub-category