Are you an international student in Canada who wants to obtain your permanent residency (PR) status? The following information will be of benefit to you.
With the constant updates in Canadian immigration, transitioninng from an international student to a permanent resident has become a little more challenging. The government has since fixed its focus to prioritize persons who are qualified or skilled to meet the current labour market needs. Based on the updates from the IRCC, the following are some of the desired skills and abilities that will help international students increase their chances of obtaining an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence:
1 – Learning French
The biggest advantage you can give yourself at obtaining PR is to learn French. Canada’s two national languages are French and English, and the government is currently seeking to ensure its national identity is strengthened through its language. When looking at current immigration trends, the draws for French category have been very frequent throughout 2024. In addition to this, the CRS for the candidates invited in these draws are always significantly lower than those of other draws.
The CRS for the most recent French speaking draw which happened on September 13, 2024 was 446 points. The first French speaking draw for 2024 happened on February 1, and the CRS candidates required for an invitation was only 365 points. In contrast, the most recent draw for the Canadian Experience Class category which happened on August 27, 2024 required candidates to have at least 507 points, while a general draw which took place on April 23, 2024 required candidates to have 529 points. You can readily observe that attaining French language proficiency is advantageous for candidates who wish to secure an ITA. This trend is expected to continue 2025 and 2026 as Canada bolsters its French speaking population.
2 – Pursuing higher education Graduating from a designated learning institution (DLI) can increase an Express Entry candidate’s CRS by either 15 or 30 points. A degree or certificate of three years or longer or a Master’s, professional or doctoral degree gives the maximum number of points of 30 while a one- or two-year diploma or certificate only gives 15 points.
It is prudent for students in a one- or two-year program to look into transferring into a three-year program to attain the maximum number of points that Canadian education can give. Pursuing a master’s degree not only awards the full 30 points but can also add points for the highest level of education category. With the recent changes to the post graduation work permit (PGWP) system, master’s degrees could be eligible for a three-year PGWP even if the degree is only 1 year in duration.
3 – Choose in-demand professions
In 2023, Canada began targeting category-specific express entry draws in areas that currently need more workers to fill the growing demand. These areas are Healthcare, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Trade occupations, Transport and Agriculture and agri-food. Pivoting careers into these fields will not only make it easier to find a job due to supply and demand factors but also lower the required CRS score to obtain PR. In a trade occupations draw on July 4th, 2024, the CRS score was only 436 points and on the following day, July 5th, there was a healthcare occupation draw with the minimum score being 445 points.
4 – Try a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Every province, except Quebec, has a PNP to attract talented individuals to fill labor gaps in that specific province. International students can investigate the different streams under a specific province’s PNP. If chosen and an individual receives a nomination, then they receive an additional 600 CRS points. This basically guarantees PR since you would be well above the cut off point. This is linked to in-demand professions as you have a better chance of being nominated if you work or have experience in an occupation that is in demand. Students also have specific streams that gives them points based on their Canadian education and some consider if you have a valid job offer such as the ONIP.
5 – Staying in the know regarding changing immigration laws and policies
The current trend in Canada is the reduction of immigration, especially towards students. Current students need to stay abreast of the changing immigration laws and policies to ensure they are following the law. In the recent announcement from IRCC on September 18, 2024, international students in Canada have been in panic mode. It is therefore critical that prospective and current international students be aware of the new policies and subsequent requirements for the obtaining their PGWPs, as well as to keep abreast of what new changes that may arise that could be detrimental to their PR plans.
How can Yanique Russell Law help you?
Our team at Yanique Russell Law can help you in selecting the best pathway for your situation that will give you the best chance at obtaining permanent residence. We also provide guidance on ways to increase your chances after your studies. In our network of trusted partners, we can also help you find other academic programs that can help put you into new streams for permanent residency.
Conclusion
These are but a few tips to help international students on their pathway to permanent residency. Consulting an immigration lawyer will be very beneficial in planning ahead, especially since the government of Canada is always changing immigration policies.
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