“More international students ought to stay.” – Canadian Immigration Minister

Ahmed Hussen, the minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship in Canada, reported that the government was looking to create an environment that would allow many international students to become permanent residents.

Speaking to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, Hussein stated that one of the key facets of the new 2018-2020 plan of multi-year immigration levels was ensuring international students stay.

Hussein stated that having more room for skilled individuals and international students who want to reside in Canada is part of the multi-year planning push.

Marta Morgan, the Deputy Immigration Minister, informed the committee about the different ways via which students can become permanent residents. He said that a student could either utilize Provincial Nominee Programs, designed to meet the needs of the labor market or apply for selection in the Express Entry system.

Randeep Sarai, a liberal parliamentarian and committee member from Surrey in British Columbia, requested Hussen to shed light on whether the government had accounted for an increase in applications for permanent residence by international students in its plan for multi-year immigration levels.

The minister firmly established that the government’s admission targets of the plan had factored in such an increase if it were to happen within the coming three years.

The Express Entry prioritizes international students

The committee also contemplated why the government had made changes in November 2016 to reduce the total entry points awarded for a job proposition in the Comprehensive Ranking System of the Express Entry’s system. The points that previously stood at 600 had come down to between 50 and 200.

Meanwhile, there was also an introduction of new points awarded for experience in Canadian studies by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. The changes were as follows:

1. For a level of education comprising of a post-secondary program spanning 1-2 years, the additional CRS entry points are 15.

2. Where one has studied masters, doctoral, or a post-secondary program spanning three years or more, the additional CRS entry points are 30. This is the same for someone with an eligible professional degree’s entry-to-practice.

One of the explanations given for the above changes was the disadvantage international students had when asked for 600 points for a job preposition despite having higher scores in human capital factors such as education, language proficiency, and age.

According to a report released by the IRCC recently, there is greater emphasis on such human capital factors with the job offer points’ changes. Furthermore, the study revealed a 10% increase in the number of one-time international student residents invited for application of permanent residence via the Express Entry pool, after the introduction of additional study experience points.

Exclusive international graduate streams by Provincial Nominee Programs

Whether you reside in the York University residence or you reside in any other learning institution, you ought to know that Canada provinces are continuing to tailor-make programs that go a long way when it comes to better service for recent international graduates and facilitation of their permanent immigration pathway.

In provinces such as British Columbia and Ontario, which are prime study destinations, there are programs offering international graduates options that do not need a job offer for application. Examples of these programs are the Master and PhD Graduate Streams in Ontario and Express Entry’s International Post-Graduate Category in British Colombia.

Additionally, Atlantic Provinces in Canada offer pathways via which international students can permanently settle. An example of such as program is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. Through the government’s multi-year immigration plan, there will be a doubling of the annual allocation of funds going to AIPP every year up to 2020.

Law changes now allow former international students who have temporary visas to count time spent in Canada, which makes the Canadian citizenship more accessible for them.

All evidence shows the government has increased support to encourage international students to make Canada their permanent residence.