Each year, a multitude of Indian students face a life-altering decision. They accumulate substantial debts, bid farewell to their homeland and families, and set their sights on Canada, all driven by a common aspiration: obtaining a study visa that promises to lead them to the highly sought-after Canadian permanent residency.
This choice carries immense financial and emotional weight, fueled by the promise of a brighter future. However, a report has emerged, casting a shadow of doubt over this dream and cautioning international students that the path to Canadian permanent residency may be considerably more challenging than anticipated.
This report, authored by Senators Ratna Omidvar, Hassan Yussuff, and Yuen Pau Woo, highlights the unsettling reality that international students face when they arrive in Canada with expectations of imminent permanent residency. Many of these students, influenced by misleading assurances from education consultants, arrive with the belief that their educational journey guarantees them permanent residency.
However, this optimism doesn’t align with the intricate and highly competitive landscape of Canada’s permanent residency system.
While studying in Canada can enhance their prospects, it does not guarantee a straightforward path to permanent residency. The report reveals a disconcerting statistic: since 2000, only 30 percent of international students who came to Canada have successfully achieved permanent residency within a decade of their arrival. This revelation should serve as a wake-up call for aspiring Indian international students and their parents.
The report not only calls for federal intervention to combat the misinformation perpetuated by education consultants but also points to the unintentional role played by the Canadian government in fostering these inflated hopes among international students.
“While the Canadian government is being honest in highlighting the immigration advantages of studying in Canada, it can perhaps do more to be forthright about the highly competitive nature of the permanent residence application process,” the report states.
International Students Drive Unprecedented Population Growth in Canada
Canada’s population has experienced an unprecedented surge, growing at a rate not witnessed in nearly seven decades, with 1.2 million migrants, a substantial portion being international students, arriving in the country over the past year. Data from Statistics Canada reveals that on July 1, the nation’s population reached approximately 40.1 million, marking a remarkable 3% increase.
This surge represents the most significant 12-month growth since 1957, making Canada the fastest-growing country in the Western world in terms of population. This trend is occurring at a time when numerous developed nations are grappling with population declines.
In the past year, Canada rolled out the welcome mat for 469,000 permanent residents and a whopping 700,000 temporary residents, including students. And while the Canadian government has been advocating for high immigration as an economic booster, there are concerns arising. The influx of newcomers is driving up demand for housing, resulting in soaring prices.
Economists and experts are pointing fingers at Ottawa’s aggressive immigration strategy as a likely factor in these escalating living costs, with some critics suggesting that the system may be spinning out of control.
Amidst this immigration wave, one might wonder where Canadians themselves are flocking to within their borders. Interprovincial migration data reveals that Alberta is emerging as the top destination for Canadians seeking to relocate. Alberta experienced rapid growth, expanding by four percent, with an addition of over 184,000 individuals in the past year, including a net gain of 56,000 from other provinces.