Just over one day after going online, Canada’s new road to citizenship for foreign graduates hit its 40,000 applicant cap. “It is hoped that the citizenship pathway would assist Canada in meeting its Immigration Levels Plan for 2021.”
The chance for students was part of a larger announcement that enabled over 90,000 vital staff and foreign graduates to apply for permanent residency because they “possess the expertise and knowledge requires to combat the pandemic and promote economic recovery.”
Foreign graduates had to have finished a qualified Canadian post-secondary degree during the last four years, and no sooner than January 2017, to be eligible for the graduate stream.
From May 6, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. EDT, anyone who was qualified could apply their applications via IRCC’s online portal. On May 7, at 13:01 p.m., the quota was met.
“The pandemic has highlighted the efforts of immigrants in critical positions, as we have recognized nurses, chefs, and cashiers as our daily heroes,” said Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.
For some temporary residents now residing in Canada and their families, the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway is a limited-time route to permanent residency. Depending on the duration of the research programme, the nation also provides generous post-study job opportunities for up to three years.
People who have worked in an important profession or in the health or health care sector in Canada or who have recently graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution may be qualified for permanent residency.
The route is divided into six streams. Three of them consider candidates who understand both English and French, and three of them are only for French speakers.
According to a post on the IRCC website, the 40,000 caps for recent foreign graduates from a Canadian university have been surpassed. However, some people said that the application process was troublesome. The PIE News asked the IRCC to inquire about whether the payment scheme had expired on the first day of submissions, but had not received a response as of publication.
Update for French streams
Although the 40,000 enrolment quota for graduates has been met, this is not the case for French-speaking graduates. The site will be open until November 5, 2021, or until the full number of submissions is reached, according to IRCC.
The road to citizenship is expected to aid Canada’s 2021 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents who will help build jobs and fuel long-term growth, according to the government.
“International students contribute significantly to our academic cultures and beyond. They enrich our schools by bringing new perspectives; they add more than $22 billion to the Canadian economy each year, and they increase the number of courses available to domestic students.
“Those who want to remain in Canada after finishing their studies gain useful knowledge and experience in the workplace. Universities across Canada are eager to welcome these students, according to the spokesperson.
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