Many foreign post-secondary students in Canada would like to continue living and working in the country after they complete their studies. Luckily for them, there are a number of ways to transform a student visa into Permanent Resident (PR) status. With a little motivation and advance planning, they will be able to identify and take steps to apply to the PR program best suited to their education and experience.
Before applying for Permanent Residency
International students nearing completion of their studies should not wait until graduation to think about their future immigration goals. The correct path to PR will be determined by a number of factors, such as where they went to school, what level of education they received, and whether or not they have secured employment.
If a student is thinking about staying in Canada after graduation, it is usually prudent to apply for and receive a Post-Graduate Work Permit. This permit can be issued for the length of the program of study that was completed, with a maximum time period of 3 years. In order to be eligible for this temporary permit, students must have studied full-time in Canada in a degree/diploma program that lasted at least 8 months. An application for a Post-Graduate Work Permit must be submitted within 90 days of graduation.
Post-Graduate Work Permits are “open” work permits, meaning that the permit holder will be allowed to fill any job in the Canadian labour market. They will allow the student to find a job and begin supporting themselves as they settle into post-graduation life. Holding a full-time job, preferably in a position classified as ‘skilled’ by the Canadian government, helps to increase the number of program options the student will have when they apply for PR.
Some students may have already secured a job and temporary work permit before graduating. Still others may use their time after graduation to pursue travel, internships, or other ventures. Overall, the majority of graduates will be eligible to apply for PR, but their post-graduation endeavours will dictate the best path for achieving this goal. The most popular Canadian immigration programs for doing so are outlined below:
Canadian Experience Class
Canadian Experience Class, or CEC, is a popular choice for recent graduates as it has a well-developed immigration stream dedicated to international students. Unlike many Canadian permanent residency programs, it does not require that the applicant secure a job offer. It is intended for graduates who will be living outside of Quebec.
Applicants to the CEC international student stream must have graduated from a qualified Canadian post-secondary institution and garnered at least one year of full-time, skilled work experience in Canada. Their studies must have consisted of at least two years of full-time post-secondary study. Alternatively, they can consist of one year of full-time graduate study in addition to another year of pre-graduate study. Studies must have resulted in some form of degree. Applicants may apply while working in Canada, or within one year of leaving their job.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Depending on where they settle after graduation, students may wish to look into the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of their province or territory of residence. Each PNP is governed by the individual province, and therefore immigration categories and requirements vary somewhat from program to program.
Most PNPs include international student streams. Some have established specific streams aimed at retaining key graduates. For instance, British Columbia recently created the Post-Graduate Pilot Project, which allows graduates from a Masters or Doctorate program in key subjects to apply for streamlined immigration without a job offer or Canadian work experience. Still other provinces, such as Alberta, have created programs to allow graduates working in some positions considered ‘semi-skilled’ to pursue PR as well as graduates working in skilled positions.
Graduates should apply to the PNP program in their province of residence. An individual living and working in Saskatchewan, for instance, cannot apply to the PNP program in Manitoba. If choosing to apply to a PNP program, a graduate should be sure to feel confident in their decision to reside in the province through the duration of the application process.
Quebec-Specific Programs
Students who intend to live and work in Quebec post-graduation will have to seek PR through a Quebec immigration program. As part of its relations with the Federal government, the province has been given great autonomy over the way in which it runs immigration programs and selects immigrants for permanent residency.
Students who graduate from a Quebec post-secondary institution may be eligible for the Quebec Experience Class (Programme de l’expérience Québécoise/PEQ) program. This is Quebec’s version of the Canadian Experience Class, though each have separate rules and requirements. Generally speaking, students must have graduated and obtained a diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution, and completed at least an intermediate-level French course.
Graduates from a school outside of Quebec may apply to the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program. This program functions on a points system, and their overall desirability as an immigrant to Quebec will be assessed.
Special Considerations for PhD Candidates
Candidates pursuing a PhD in Canada may be eligible to apply for PR without acquiring a job offer. The Federal Skilled Worker program has an immigration stream dedicated to these applicants. Individuals must have completed at least two years of their PhD program, or apply within 12 months of graduation. Additionally, they must not be the recipient of any award that requires them to return to their home country. A maximum of 1,000 applications in this stream will be accepted for processing each year.
Applicants in this category must also meet the general requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker program, such as demonstrating one year of full-time skilled work experience in the past 10 years and qualifying according to the Federal Skilled Worker points system.
Additional Considerations
Students should be careful when pursuing Canadian Permanent Residency through any program. A misstep in the application process, even unintentional, has the possibility to derail an applicant’s chances for PR.
;D ;D GOOD LUCK ;D ;D
Before applying for Permanent Residency
International students nearing completion of their studies should not wait until graduation to think about their future immigration goals. The correct path to PR will be determined by a number of factors, such as where they went to school, what level of education they received, and whether or not they have secured employment.
If a student is thinking about staying in Canada after graduation, it is usually prudent to apply for and receive a Post-Graduate Work Permit. This permit can be issued for the length of the program of study that was completed, with a maximum time period of 3 years. In order to be eligible for this temporary permit, students must have studied full-time in Canada in a degree/diploma program that lasted at least 8 months. An application for a Post-Graduate Work Permit must be submitted within 90 days of graduation.
Post-Graduate Work Permits are “open” work permits, meaning that the permit holder will be allowed to fill any job in the Canadian labour market. They will allow the student to find a job and begin supporting themselves as they settle into post-graduation life. Holding a full-time job, preferably in a position classified as ‘skilled’ by the Canadian government, helps to increase the number of program options the student will have when they apply for PR.
Some students may have already secured a job and temporary work permit before graduating. Still others may use their time after graduation to pursue travel, internships, or other ventures. Overall, the majority of graduates will be eligible to apply for PR, but their post-graduation endeavours will dictate the best path for achieving this goal. The most popular Canadian immigration programs for doing so are outlined below:
Canadian Experience Class
Canadian Experience Class, or CEC, is a popular choice for recent graduates as it has a well-developed immigration stream dedicated to international students. Unlike many Canadian permanent residency programs, it does not require that the applicant secure a job offer. It is intended for graduates who will be living outside of Quebec.
Applicants to the CEC international student stream must have graduated from a qualified Canadian post-secondary institution and garnered at least one year of full-time, skilled work experience in Canada. Their studies must have consisted of at least two years of full-time post-secondary study. Alternatively, they can consist of one year of full-time graduate study in addition to another year of pre-graduate study. Studies must have resulted in some form of degree. Applicants may apply while working in Canada, or within one year of leaving their job.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Depending on where they settle after graduation, students may wish to look into the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of their province or territory of residence. Each PNP is governed by the individual province, and therefore immigration categories and requirements vary somewhat from program to program.
Most PNPs include international student streams. Some have established specific streams aimed at retaining key graduates. For instance, British Columbia recently created the Post-Graduate Pilot Project, which allows graduates from a Masters or Doctorate program in key subjects to apply for streamlined immigration without a job offer or Canadian work experience. Still other provinces, such as Alberta, have created programs to allow graduates working in some positions considered ‘semi-skilled’ to pursue PR as well as graduates working in skilled positions.
Graduates should apply to the PNP program in their province of residence. An individual living and working in Saskatchewan, for instance, cannot apply to the PNP program in Manitoba. If choosing to apply to a PNP program, a graduate should be sure to feel confident in their decision to reside in the province through the duration of the application process.
Quebec-Specific Programs
Students who intend to live and work in Quebec post-graduation will have to seek PR through a Quebec immigration program. As part of its relations with the Federal government, the province has been given great autonomy over the way in which it runs immigration programs and selects immigrants for permanent residency.
Students who graduate from a Quebec post-secondary institution may be eligible for the Quebec Experience Class (Programme de l’expérience Québécoise/PEQ) program. This is Quebec’s version of the Canadian Experience Class, though each have separate rules and requirements. Generally speaking, students must have graduated and obtained a diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution, and completed at least an intermediate-level French course.
Graduates from a school outside of Quebec may apply to the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program. This program functions on a points system, and their overall desirability as an immigrant to Quebec will be assessed.
Special Considerations for PhD Candidates
Candidates pursuing a PhD in Canada may be eligible to apply for PR without acquiring a job offer. The Federal Skilled Worker program has an immigration stream dedicated to these applicants. Individuals must have completed at least two years of their PhD program, or apply within 12 months of graduation. Additionally, they must not be the recipient of any award that requires them to return to their home country. A maximum of 1,000 applications in this stream will be accepted for processing each year.
Applicants in this category must also meet the general requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker program, such as demonstrating one year of full-time skilled work experience in the past 10 years and qualifying according to the Federal Skilled Worker points system.
Additional Considerations
Students should be careful when pursuing Canadian Permanent Residency through any program. A misstep in the application process, even unintentional, has the possibility to derail an applicant’s chances for PR.
;D ;D GOOD LUCK ;D ;D
