Obtaining Canadian PR after completing a master’s or PhD program will be easier for international students who came to Canada.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) policy was introduced by IRCC on February 15, 2024. It was first announced on January 22. This regulation is a component of a larger series of adjustments meant to enhance the time spent by foreign students in Canada.
A three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit is now available to foreign students who complete master’s degree programs at Canadian DLIs under the new policy. The only post-secondary educational establishments in Canada with formal IRCC accreditation to accept international students are DLIs.
Additionally, this policy’s main change is that it now permits students to obtain a three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit after completing master’s programs of any length, including one- or two-year programs. In the past, the duration of the academic program and the PGWP frequently matched. International students gain from this new regulation since it gives them more freedom and chances to gain work experience in Canada after graduation.
How Recent Changes Simplify Obtaining PR in Canada?
International graduates of Canada’s DLIs might benefit greatly from the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). After finishing a program suitable for the PGWP, it allows these graduates to work in Canada, giving them the opportunity to obtain useful job experience. Particularly useful is this experience for people who intend to seek for PR in the future.
Furthermore, work experience in Canada is essential for many of the immigration routes available in the nation. Interestingly, candidates with work experience in Canada receive bonus points in the Express Entry system, which processes applications for some of the country’s most well-liked immigration programs. In particular, candidates can obtain at least 80 additional CRS points for Canadian work experience under the Express Entry system’s Core/Human Capital Factors section if they are single or have no common-law partner. While the number of points awarded to applicants who apply with a spouse or common-law partner may vary, the importance of having Canadian work experience does not change.
The PGWP’s increased term gives qualified students additional time to complete this essential work experience in Canada. Candidates can raise their CRS scores and increase their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry or other immigration channels by gaining additional work experience in Canada.
Therefore, for graduates of overseas schools, the extended PGWP policy can greatly facilitate their path to permanent residence in Canada. It gives them more chances to accumulate employment history in Canada, which benefits their immigration applications.
How IRCC Eases Immigration for Master’s and PhD Students?
The CRS system of Express Entry incentivizes higher education
A master’s or doctorate can greatly improve a candidate’s CRS score in the Express Entry system when it comes to migrating to Canada. This scoring system rewards higher education, recognizing the contribution that advanced degrees make to the Canadian workforce.
Moreover, candidates with master’s degrees receive 126 points from the CRS if they are applying with a spouse or common-law partner and 135 points if they are not. The CRS awards additional points to Ph.D. holders: 140 for applicants with a spouse or common-law partner, and 150 for those applying alone. These are some of the best results in the Express Entry system’s “level of education” category.
The possibility of receiving an ITA for permanent residence in Canada is higher for those with higher CRS scores. Because they receive so many valuable points for their academic accomplishments, candidates holding master’s or doctoral degrees sometimes have an advantage over other candidates in the Express Entry pool. As a result, they have a greater chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency, a critical step toward becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
Several provinces and territories offer specialized PNP streams for master’s and PhD students
Graduate students in Canada who obtain a master’s or doctoral degree are qualified for a number of additional options via different Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. Eleven of the thirteen provinces and territories in Canada run PNPs; the two exceptions are Quebec and Nunavut.
Many of the major Canadian provinces that are popular with immigrants, like British Columbia and Ontario, have set up specific PNP streams for their advanced degree-holding students. These streams offer a route to permanent residency in an effort to draw and keep highly educated personnel.
For instance, the province of Ontario offers two distinct graduate program streams: the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream and the Ontario Ph.D. Graduate Stream. These programs target individuals who have completed their master’s or doctoral degrees, respectively.
Through the province’s PNP, graduates with advanced degrees in British Columbia are eligible to apply for permanent residency under the International Post-Graduate Category.
Similarly, as part of the PNP, Manitoba provides graduates with master’s or doctoral degrees who have done internships with specific research or industry groups with the Graduate Internship Pathway.
With the additional avenues to permanent residency that these specialized PNP streams provide for master’s and doctorate holders, Canada is further demonstrating its commitment to drawing top talent through its immigration systems.
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