Does the choice of program affect the speed of obtaining PR after school?
The significance of program choice when considering immigration after studying in Canada cannot be emphasized enough. The choice of program can greatly impact the speed at which you are able to obtain permanent residency (PR) in the country.
The Canadian immigration department is currently focusing on the alignment of immigration with key skills needed to fill labour shortages and meet Canada’s economic, social, and cultural goals in the coming years.
By choosing a program that is aligned with in-demand skills, international students have a higher chance of being prioritized for permanent residence based on their skills matching up with the labour market demand.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to enhance connections between students, post-secondary institutions, and employers to better position international students with in-demand skills to participate in the workforce and attain PR.
To support this strategy, IRCC is exploring measures such as work-integrated learning opportunities within the International Student Program and updating the Post-Graduation Work Permit to support critical sectors in Canada.
Additionally, the department plans to market high-demand skills and sectors to prospective international students, which can significantly impact their chances of transitioning to workers and ultimately obtaining PR status in Canada. While the specific high-demand skills and sectors targeted for economic immigration are yet to be determined, recent developments in Canada’s Express Entry system provide some insight. The introduction of category-based selections for PR allows IRCC to invite immigration candidates based on their professional skills and language proficiency. This change aims to better match the skills of potential immigrants with domestic labour market needs and address job vacancies in key sectors.
The current categories created under the Express Entry system include healthcare-related professions, STEM professions, trades, transport-related professions, agriculture and agri-food professions, and proficiency in French. These categories suggest that in-demand skills will likely be related to or specifically in professions targeted by the new category-based selections.
It is important to note that in-demand professions also play a significant role in Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which are soon to be the main pathway for economic immigrants and a key vehicle for IRCC to distribute the benefits of immigration throughout the country.
In conclusion, the program choice is highly significant when considering immigration after studying in Canada. Choosing a program aligned with in-demand skills increases the chances of obtaining permanent residency (PR) more quickly. The Canadian immigration department’s focus on aligning immigration with key skills emphasizes the importance of selecting a program that can facilitate the transition to PR status and contribute to Canada’s labour market needs.