200000 Canadian international students are on the brink of mass expulsion, with immigration routes cut off!
According to The Globe and Mail, the latest data from Immigration Canada shows that 203260 international students nationwide hold work visas that will expire within the next 15 months after graduation. Nearly $70000 work visas will expire between September 1st and December 31st, 2024.
The Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is mainly awarded to international students who have obtained diplomas from Canadian colleges or universities, with a validity period of nine months to three years.
According to federal government data, as of the end of August this year, the number of post graduation work visa holders has reached 471810, more than three times the number in 2018.
But as the number of permanent residency (PR) applicants continues to increase, coupled with a series of policy changes during the pandemic, it has become even more difficult for work visa holders to transition to PR status.
Now, the Canadian immigration department has suspended a policy introduced during the pandemic, allowing PGWP to be extended for 18 months to help alleviate labor shortages. This regulation will enable those whose work visas are about to expire to continue staying in Canada despite the backlog of PR applications during the pandemic.
In addition, the Canadian government has also changed its selection criteria in the Express Entrey system - prioritizing French language applicants and those with work experience in healthcare, technology, agriculture, transportation, and STEM (Science, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Image source: CPAC
In addition, the PR lottery for Canadian experience immigration has been suspended for nearly three years from August 2021 to May 2024. When the lottery resumed, the score requirements for applicants were significantly increased, making it almost impossible for many applicants with Canadian educational backgrounds and work experience to receive invitations.
According to historical data from Statistics Canada, approximately 40% of PGWP holders obtained PR status within two years of obtaining a work visa between 2016 and 2020; Between 2011 and 2015, 73% of PGWP holders obtained PR status within five years.
Now, the Canadian immigration department has explicitly stated in an email that obtaining work experience through holding a post graduation work visa does not necessarily guarantee permanent residency.
The office of Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that the government's current immigration policy is to reduce the number of temporary residents and stabilize the number of permanent residents.
According to Statistics Canada, as of the first quarter of 2024, there were 2.8 million temporary residents in Canada. 6.8% of the total population, higher than 3.5% two years ago. Temporary residents include international students, work visa holders, and refugee applicants.
Sarabjit Singh, from India, is now a mechanic and has joined the recent protests in Brampton, Ontario. I often sleep in a tent and then go back to work.
Image source: Twitter
He came to Canada as an international student and found a full-time job after graduation. Now, he is very worried about whether this job can be kept because his visa will expire at the end of this month and cannot be renewed.
Canada's goal is to admit 485000 permanent residents by 2024; Accept 500000 by 2025; Accept another 500000 in 2026.
This year, Immigration Canada plans to grant permanent residency to 110770 applicants in the EE pool; Next year, approximately 117500 immigration invitations will be distributed to these individuals.
Source link:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-international-students-canada-work-permits-expiry-2025/