Challenges for International Students in obtaining PR in Canada

According to data published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, as of October 2022, out of 440,000 study permits issued worldwide, nearly 164,000 accounted for Indian students.

Canada issued a record number of study permits to Indian students last year. Still, those assuming that it will provide a guaranteed gateway to permanent residence may be a shocking reality.

Canada remains one of the world’s leading study-abroad destinations for students worldwide. Currently, there are 388,782 international students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities. The number of overseas students has risen significantly from 228,924 to 388,782 (69.2%).

Most students choose Canada because it is a safe, stable, and immigrant-friendly country with a super educational system. Out of all, almost 60% of international students have intentions to settle permanently in Canada after graduation.

The trouble is that international students in Canada need help with applying for permanent residency status. Most students face an uphill battle during their permanent residency process. Canada does not make it easier for students to apply for PR visas, and the pandemic has only exacerbated backlogs in the immigration process.?

The Conference Board of Canada recently conducted a study the name, ‘Student to Immigrant? Multi-steps Pathways to Permanent Residence’, wherein it has suggested that several international students struggle with multi-step, indirect pathways to Canadian permanent residence (PR). This shortcoming makes it difficult for potential and current students to assess their likelihood of securing PR. ?

The study recommends that Canada needs purpose-built immigration programs for international students to ensure faster and more predictable immigration processes. ?

What is the actual problem??

Merely studying in Canada does not automatically make you eligible for permanent residency. The study cited that of international students who gained PR, 88% had multiple temporary visas before approving their permanent residence status. The most significant loophole in the multi-permit immigration pathways is that it compels students to spend years in Canada without permanent residence, which makes them more vulnerable in front of Canadian employers.?

The number of international students enrolled in certificate programs in Canadian colleges is proliferating. Still, Canada offers only a few purpose-built immigration opportunities at this level of education to these students.

Additionally, Canada must build a solid strategy to balance and coordinate between granting study permits and issuing permanent residency to international students. The strategy is essential to mitigate the negative impacts of increasing international student enrolments and the lack of planned levels of permanent immigration. ?

Connections in Canada also play a pivotal role in determining an international student’s ability to qualify for PR. By December 2020, 39.1% of international students got their PR through sponsorship routes or as dependents. Many students who obtained permanent residency through economic immigration programs had to demonstrate connections in Canada, such as education in a specific province or employer. ?

Among other notable pathways that international students could take a chance on while applying for PR are Canada’s?Provincial Nominee Programs ?(PNPs). They are the most popular immigration streams, accounting for 34% of international students who switched to PR status, making it the most sought-after way to immigrate to Canada. But, irrespective of how fancy it may seem, international students struggle with PNPs because provinces usually nominate people with in-demand skills or provincial connections. They also sometimes allocate a limited number of nominations to students.

?Mounting troubles for international students

?The study further highlights that prolonged waiting times and temporary visa status put many international students in an exploitative position and stress as they cannot assess their likelihood of receiving PR. Out of 16,595 applicants, 9% of international students who were issued PR—became permanent residents after studying at one level in Canada without any work permit. 3% became permanent residents after multiple levels of study and no subsequent work permit. The rest, 88%, got their PR visas after combining studies and post-graduation work permits.

?Another concern concerning PR visa aspirants is the intensity of pressure international students face to remain in Canada. They have to find a suitable job opportunity, make connections in Canada, and do everything to demonstrate their skills and abilities to settle in Canada.

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Source:?https://blog.abhinav.com/challenges-for-international-students-in-obtaining-pr-in-canada/ .