Canadian PR for international students comprises indirect pathways and a few possible challenges. The Conference Board of Canada recently released its study on international students trying to achieve Canadian Permanent Residence. The study further revealed that international students must take indirect pathways and follow multiple steps to obtain PR.
The Conference Board of Canada is a research organization working on a non-profit basis. It emphasizes the analysis of economic patterns, performance, and public policy problems.
IRCC must work toward enhancing international students’ pathways to ease their journey of acquiring Canadian permanent residency status.
Additionally, the department must develop more meaningful immigration paths so that international students can achieve PR faster. They must be able to get a fair idea of their immigration journeys.
The research study found the following key points:
Canadian PR for international students- possible challenges
International students simply completing their education in Canada will not be able to qualify for Canadian permanent residence. Furthermore, this factor alone cannot make them qualify for PR.
In the 2019-2020 immigration group, only twelve percent of international students who obtained PR by 2020 achieved it without a work permit. Also, they had completed nine percent or three percent of their studies. Conversely, the rest of the 88 percent of students depended on the combination of studies and post-study work permits to receive permanent residence.
However, these few students getting their work permits after completing their studies can obtain permanent residence in Canada. Reportedly, in 2010, 80 percent of recipients with a certificate from college did get a work permit, like 70 percent of the master’s candidates.
However, more than 60 percent of certificate holders from colleges, similar to 60 percent of master’s candidates, were able to obtain a Canadian PR in the specific year.
A similar case holds true in 2016, with below 20 percent of college-level certificate holders who received PR. This is true, although more than 80 percent possessed a preceding work permit. Similarly, for master’s candidates, the percentages were around 30 and 70 percent, respectively, in 2016.
The existence of these challenges and their reasons
Usually, international students in Canada require post-graduate work experience if they seek Canadian permanent residence. Additionally, they also require to own a work permit before they can apply for PR.
A few immigration programs favored applicants with a Canadian degree but most international students had to take up the economic immigration programs. Furthermore, they had to demonstrate their strong connections with either their employers or provinces, apart from studies in Canada.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee programs gained prominence among international students looking for PR. These programs enabled at least 34 percent of international students to shift to Permanent Residence during the same period.
However, international students under the PNPs had to face disadvantages because provinces preferred individuals having in-demand skills or strong ties with provinces. These people had higher chances of remaining in the country. Also, students could only get a limited number of nomination distributions.
The research also revealed that international students devoid of university degrees couldn’t obtain permanent residence even if they wanted to. This also implied that they were highly ineligible unless they showcased their work experience in an in-demand profession and strong ties with family residing in a Canadian province.
The research concerning Canada’s international students
The Conference Board demonstrated its reasoning through the example of the international student immigration group from 2010 to 2014. According to this research, post-graduation work permit candidates in the group gained more success in getting their PR compared to other work permit holders. However, obtaining a PGWP relied on different study levels; this didn’t prove beneficial for international students at certain study levels.
Furthermore, the immigration data clearly indicates a more significant gap between intention and opportunity among college or certificate-level students. However, the college or certificate level witnessed a vital increase in international students residing in Canada after 2010. Additionally, students were ardently planning to reside in the country even after their studies.
Also, in the international students immigrant group from 2010 to 2016, students with the following degrees successfully transitioned to PR in Canada. However, the role is based on percentage.
- Below 50 percent for a Master’s degree.
- Slight above 40 percent for College or Certificate.
- Between 15 percent and 20 percent for Bachelor’s degree.
- From 10 to 15 percent for trade.
- Below 15 percent for Vocational or language courses.
The above key findings of the research prove that having Canadian education isn’t sufficient for international students to gain eligibility for PR. Moreover, these students have no other alternative than to obtain temporary permits to fulfill their career goals in Canada.
Research about Canadian PR for international students- a brief
Overall, when international students undergo a difficult journey of multiple paths for PR, they become open to exploitative situations. Moreover, they undergo a lot of stress regarding the same process. It also makes it challenging for them to analyze their chances of obtaining a PR. The above research perceived that Canada fails to provide international students with a concrete federal economic immigration program. The country doesn’t have an adequate number of provincial programs as well. The Conference Board recommended IRCC and the provincial and territorial governments look into this matter and solve it effectively.
