According to a recent study on students who become immigrants, A large number of foreign students have to go through multi-step pathways to acquire Canada’s PR (Permanent Residence) status.
In addition to examining societal challenges and business performance, the Conference Board of Canada conducts public policy research.
As a result of IRCC’s work, foreign students will be able to more easily get permanent resident status in Canada.
The Conference Board of Canada, therefore, calls for “purpose-built migration channels that ensure faster and more predictable migration journeys” for foreign students.
Looking closely at their findings, let’s analyze their main conclusions.
Acquiring Canada’s PR status – Understanding the problems
When international student completes their education in Canada, they are rarely eligible for permanent residency.
As a matter of fact, only 12% of overseas students in the 2010-2019 cohort got their PR by December 2020, regardless of whether they finished one or two levels of study. The majority (60%) or two plus (20%) of the excellent 88% secured a permanent residency in this country via their education and post-education work permits.
Nevertheless, fewer students who receive work permits after completing their education become permanent residents. 80% of college certificate recipients and 70% of master’s degree recipients received a subsequent work visa in 2010. The number of people who were granted PR that year was slightly under 60% for master’s degrees and slightly more than 60% for college certificates. In 2016, less than 20% of college certificate holders obtained PR, despite obtaining a subsequent work permit in excess of 80% (the corresponding figures for master’s degree holders were 30% and 70%, respectively).
Recognizing the problem’s reality
Canada requires students from abroad to have post-graduate employment experience in order to grant them permanent residency. People who want to apply for Canada’s PR (permanent residence) frequently need to obtain a work visa first.
There are several immigration programs that favor candidates with Canadian degrees. Still, most international students who have to use economic immigration programs must also “show links beyond education in Canada, such as connections to a particular province or employment.”
International students transitioning to PR from other countries tended to prefer Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which accounted for 34% of all international student migrations to PR. Research indicates that provinces frequently nominate people with in-demand skills or connections to the province which may help them retain workers over time while allocating only a small number of nomination slots to students.
According to the Conference Board’s report, international students without university degrees faced a disadvantage, despite their strong interest in becoming permanent residents.
In order to be eligible for immigration to Canada, foreign students who do not possess university degrees must demonstrate either a combination of education and experience in a specialized field or have a strong family connection to the country.
According to the Conference Board, this is supported by research conducted by Statistics Canada on the cohort of international students over the period 2010-2014. A study of this cohort found that those with Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) were more likely to achieve permanent residency than those with other work permits. PGWP attainment varied across study levels, which was disadvantageous for international students.
As a result of the increase in international student enrollment since 2010, there appears to be a large gap between intent and opportunity among college/certificate students and those who intend to stay in Canada once they graduate.
This chart shows the percentage of international students (by degree) who obtained Canadian permanent residency between 2010 and 2016.
- Just under 50% with a master’s degree
- Just above 40% for college/certificates
- Between 15% and 20% for bachelor’s degrees
- Between 10% and 15% of trade
- Under 15% in vocational/language fields
Foreign students typically need additional authorization, such as temporary visas or permits, to stay and study in their host countries. This is a conclusion supported by the Conference Board’s research, which indicates that this requirement is common practice for most overseas students.
Concluding the research
It is challenging for prospective and present international students to gauge their chances of getting PR if they have to navigate a multi-permit route to PR in this country, increasing the risk of exploitative employment and stress associated with immigration.
As a result, the Conference Board’s investigation identified a problematic issue regarding the immigration of foreign students: Canada does not have a purpose-built economic immigration program for foreign students at the federal level, nor does it have any at the provincial level. IRCC and the provincial and territorial governments must address this matter as soon as possible in order to resolve the issue.
