New programs open broad opportunities for student immigration to Canada
PILOT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS
As Russian Toronto notes, the pilot program for international students who have completed their studies in Canada and received a graduation document looked very attractive from the start due to its simple requirements.
Additional appeal is added by the fact that immigration through this program does not require going through the Express Entry pre-selection system; applications can be submitted directly, which significantly simplifies and speeds up the process of obtaining permanent resident status. That is why the program was destined for success, which is what happened. After applications began on May 6, 2021, the allocated quota was filled on the first day, and applications were closed.
Recall that it was previously announced that applications would be accepted from May 6, 2021 to November 5 of the same year, or until all quotas were filled. A total quota of 40,000 applications was allocated for the program.
At first glance, this number looks quite impressive. However, in reality it proved insufficient to meet the existing demand, which was quite expected – according to statistics, in 2019 there were 642,000 international students studying in Canada, and at least half of them plan to stay to obtain permanent resident status. Even considering the COVID-19 situation, it is unlikely that the number of students decreased significantly in 2020 and 2021; rather the opposite.
It is obvious that this pilot program is intended to partially address the legalization problems of international students, whose situation has become more complicated due to the COVID-19 epidemic. But, as we see, the allocated quotas were insufficient.
Recall that this program is a pilot, meaning it is a one-time experiment aimed at testing demand and refining the procedure. So, given the initial results, it is highly likely that this program could become permanent, and another round of applications can be expected next year.
Moreover, it is possible that an additional round of applications for the student program may be held in early November 2021 if quotas for the other two pilot programs, which also began accepting applications on May 6, are not used.
For these two programs, targeting temporary workers in the healthcare field and temporary workers with essential occupations, a combined quota of 50,000 applications was allocated. In our estimation, this quota is inflated, and it is likely that it will not be even half filled. In that case, unused quotas may be transferred to the student program.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
The main requirements for the student pilot program are as follows: – those who completed their studies in Canada after January 2017 can apply; – a mandatory condition is having a job in Canada at the time of application; – proof of English proficiency at IELTS level 5 or higher.
Recall that until now, the main immigration program for graduates of Canadian educational institutions was the federal Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It is very popular but has a number of nuances. In particular, a mandatory condition is at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada in a skilled occupation. Additionally, before submitting documents, one must first go through the Express Entry selection system.
The new student program, compared to the CEC program, has several significant advantages and simplifies the immigration process for recent graduates. Overall, when familiarizing oneself with this program, it seems that the government decided to give everyone who came to study in Canada a chance to legalize.
So, what are the simplifications in the new program compared to the CEC program: – applications for the new program can be submitted directly, without prior submission to the Express Entry system; – any job is acceptable, with no requirements or restrictions. Even part-time work is allowed. The only requirement for the job is that it must be paid. – a work permit, which students receive after graduation (PGWP), is not mandatory for the pilot program. That is, even if you have not yet obtained a work permit, you can still apply for immigration; – if you have already applied to the Express Entry system under existing programs, you can also apply under the pilot program; this is not prohibited; – compared to the CEC program, the range of educational institutions is significantly expanded, and requirements for the level of education obtained are lowered. For the pilot program, it is not necessary to study at a college or university; it is enough to complete any educational program that grants a document certifying a particular profession, including trades; – importantly, the duration of study requirement is reduced – one academic year (minimum 8 calendar months) is sufficient, which is needed to obtain an open work permit in Canada.
With such simple entry requirements, it was undoubtedly expected that the new immigration stream for recent students would become extremely popular.
CONCLUSIONS AND FORECASTS
One of the main reasons the Canadian government decided to create a dedicated stream for graduates of Canadian educational institutions is the need for their legalization.
Another reason is the search for additional opportunities to fulfill the ambitious plan to increase the number of immigrants accepted, designed for 2021-2023. After all, at the end of 2020, the government announced its intention to accept 1.3 million immigrants over the next three years, which means an annual intake of more than 400,000 people. We have already noted that under current conditions, achieving this goal looks unrealistic, and the only way to reach the set targets is to legalize graduates of educational institutions among foreign students. So the new immigration pilot programs with a total quota of 90,000 applications allocated to them are one step in the right direction.
It is also worth noting another pilot program – for temporary workers with occupations that are considered essential. As a rule, to work in such occupations, it is enough to complete one-year courses in Canada, after which you can obtain an open work permit. Finding a job in these fields will not be difficult.
This program can be considered as a backup. If after graduation you are unable to apply under the program for graduates of Canadian educational institutions (for example, quotas are filled, as happened now), you will always have a backup option to immigrate through the pilot program for temporary workers with occupations that are considered essential. This program is not expected to have high demand, and you can be more likely to get into the allocated quotas.
In summary, we can confidently say that these programs open up new opportunities for immigration to Canada via a simplified and accelerated path.