British Columbia is giving priority processing to foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada and work in its construction industry as it seeks to build up its stock of available housing.
“Targeted invitations to apply will be issued to workers in select construction occupations who also have a valid B.C. trades qualification,” reports the province’s ministry of municipal affairs.
“This requirement will ensure that construction workers nominated by the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) are ready to contribute immediately to B.C.’s labour market.”
The priority processing of these applications started Thursday, Nov. 16 and applies to the following 25 construction industry occupations, listed here with their National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 codes:
22114 landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
72102 sheet metal workers
72103 boilermakers
72104 structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105 ironworkers
72106 welders and related machine operators
72200 electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 industrial electricians
72300 plumbers
72301 steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302 gas fitters
72310 carpenters
72311 cabinetmakers
72320 bricklayers
72400 construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401 heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402 heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72500 crane operators
73100 concrete finishers
73101 tilesetters
73102 plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
73110 roofers and shinglers
73111 glaziers
73112 painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113 floor covering installers
The Skills Immigration (SI) category of the BCPNP targets skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in BC and is further divided into five components:
British Columbia’s Housing Strategy Aims To Build More Homes, Lower Rents
British Columbia’s new housing plan, dubbed Homes for People, is intended to speed up the delivery of new homes, increase the supply of middle-income housing, fight speculation in the housing market and help those who need it the most.
“If you’ve scrolled through rental listings or seen the prices of homes in your community, you know how tough it is to find an affordable, decent place to live,” says British Columbia Premier David Eby.
Watch Video
“Even though our province is currently building more housing than ever before, it’s just not enough to meet the need. This plan will take us to the next level with unprecedented actions to tackle the challenges head on, delivering even more homes for people, faster.”
Homes for People will attempt to:
deliver more middle-income small-scale, multi-unit housing that people can afford, including townhomes, duplexes and triplexes through zoning changes and proactive partnerships;
offer forgivable loans for homeowners to build and rent secondary suites below market rates to increase affordable rental supply quickly;
build thousands more affordable homes for renters, indigenous people on and off reserve, women and children leaving violence, and build thousands more on-campus student housing units;
deliver thousands of new homes near public transit, and launch BC Builds to use public land to deliver affordable homes for people;
introduce a tax to discourage the flipping of properties and curb short-term speculation;
provide an annual income-tested tax credit of up to $400 per year for renters;
provide more homes and supports for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness;
streamline and modernize permitting to reduce costs and speed up approvals to get homes built faster, and;
strengthen enforcement of short-term rentals.
“We are in urgent need of more housing throughout British Columbia, which is why we are taking strong steps through our Homes for People strategy to close the gap between supply and demand,” said Ravi Kahlon, the provincial housing minister.
“We are working with our partners to unlock more homes across the spectrum of housing faster than ever, so everyone in our province can have a safe, secure and stable place to call home.”
A November 16 draw saw 224 invitations issued, 12 of them to candidates with skills and experience in one of 25 construction occupations announced earlier in the week.
A minimum score of 75 was required for the construction element of the draw.
A general draw, which included tech occupations, saw 116 invitations were issued through five BC PNP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. Minimum scores ranged from 94 to 115 points.
In a further targeted draw, 59 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates scoring at least 60 points in a draw targeting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants under NOC 42202.
A draw targeted at Healthcare workers saw 32 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, also with a minimum score of 60 points.
Finally, a draw aimed at other priority occupations under NOCs 31003 and 32104 saw 5 invitations issued, again with a minimum score of 60.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently published a “consultation and review report” that proposed a review of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
The paper – titled An Immigration System for Canada’s Future – was released in October 2023 as the result of a months-long endeavor by the immigration department to meet with stakeholders, identify areas for improvement in the Canada immigration system, and evaluate policies to achieve those improvements.
IRCC’s Key Takeaways from Public Engagement
After listening to 17,500 voices (including more than 2,000 organizations and 2,100 current or former clients, such as foreign workers in Canada on a temporary basis, international students, and permanent residents), the following are some of the takeaways that were gathered:
Canada has a world-class and well-managed immigration system that has orderly pathways to bring immigrants to the country. The selection of immigrants is rigorous and evidence-based.
The system is overly-complex and needs simplification with target audiences in mind. The application to come to Canada needs to be made easier, clear information needs to be provided on government websites, and more access to information about application status and additional information for employers needs to be implemented.
Immigration puts pressure on housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. It needs to be ensured that communities can absorb and support newcomers. Immigration can also be a part of the solution to addressing these pressures by adding workers in critical sectors.
Fast and predictable processing times need to be put in place.
Client service excellence needs to be achieved. This includes reducing duplication in the system, ensuring fairness, accountability and transparency in decision making, with a focus on diversity, equity, and anti-racism. Support needs to be provided for navigating the system.
It is important to have effective tools, mechanisms, and partnerships to attract and retain the skills and talent to grow our economy (especially, in small, rural, and Francophone communities), and take steps to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship to remain globally competitive.
Newcomers are required to fill critical labor gaps in key sectors under pressure. Their access to the job market, via integrated job matching and improved foreign credential recognition process, is key to positive outcomes for immigrants and the country.
Top students need to be brought to and retained in Canada, especially in areas with labor market gaps.
Comprehensive planning for and information sharing on the arrival, settlement, and integration of newcomers, including planning for pressures on areas like affordable housing, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Pathways for temporary residents to become PRs of Canada are important so that workers and students know there are opportunities to settle in Canada and become Canadian citizens one day.
It is vital to be responsive to regional needs.
Canada’s positive international reputation in responding to humanitarian crises needs to be maintained. Crises of the future need to be quickly and equitably responded to.
Changes need to be made on an as-needed basis, to ensure the right tools are in place to support a decision-making process that is focused first and foremost on people. “The views and lived experiences of newcomers should help guide program and policy development.”
Actions
In response to the aforementioned suggestions, a plan was developed to realize a Canadian immigration system of the future that is “nimble” and able to “better meet the needs of our country and of newcomers.”
The following actions were suggested to address each issue:
Reduce wait times and improve service standards
Help remove barriers to welcoming in the people we need for the future
Strengthen partnerships with employers and institutions that rely on immigration, while addressing fraud and strengthening student and worker protections
Improve communications and ensure a human-centric approach
Make applications more user-friendly, using digital and virtual technologies
Continue to advance reconciliation as we welcome newcomers
To help reduce barriers to welcoming immigrants, the department suggested an examination of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to assess the need for legislative amendments or reform.
IRPA’s History
IRPA came into force in 2002, being the legislation that lays groundwork for most of IRCC’s programs, policies, and procedures. It provides the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) with jurisdiction to hear and decide cases on immigration and refugee matters.
It also sets out the core principles and concepts that govern the Canadian immigration and refugee protection programs, including provisions relating to refugees, sponsorships and removals, detention reviews and admissibility hearings, and the jurisdiction and powers of tribunals.
The department now says that IRPA needs to continue to reflect the goals of Canada’s immigration system, and that it provides a sufficiently flexible framework to meet them while keeping Canadians safe.
Watch video:
Updating IRPA
IRPA’s inclusion of legislation that allows for the creation of new immigration pathways could be – through the suggested update – used by IRCC to allow more specialized immigration pathways for skilled immigrants.
Further, IRPA includes legislation on application submission, technology use, processing procedure, etc. An update could reform these legislations to align with present realities and rising demand, allowing for the department to meet its aim of simplifying the immigration system.
“This report, An Immigration System for Canada’s Future, and the engagement exercise it reflects marks the conclusion of formal engagement sessions, but the beginning of a transformation to Canada’s immigration system. As our society continues to evolve and new realities emerge, so too will our immigration programs and policies,” read the paper.
“In order to seize opportunities that come with change, we have to be nimble and continue to innovate and adapt. This cannot happen in isolation. It’s through partnership and staying connected that we share information, become aware of emerging issues and find solutions.”
Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.
Nurse practitioners are playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of healthcare in Canada and the growing demand for them over the coming decade is expected to provide many opportunities for qualified foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence here through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.
“The nurse practitioner role has been increasingly recognized as part of a solution to Canada’s long-standing shortage of primary-care providers to improve access and wait times, particularly in underserved populations and communities,” note nurse practitioners Vanessa and Kathy Hardill on healthydebate.ca.
“Evidence demonstrates that nurse practitioners provide high-quality, efficient and cost-effective care valued by patients, families and other healthcare providers, yet the role remains vulnerable to shifting political contexts related to healthcare reform.”
With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) changing Canada’s Express Entry system to allow it to target 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including nurse practitioners – it opened the door to a new pathway to immigration for them.
The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.
Ottawa made the changes to help resolve serious labour shortages in Canada.
“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”
Across Canada, the Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website listed 171 jobs for nurse practitioners in mid-October, with most of those jobs in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Job Bank gives its highest rating of very good to the job prospects for nurse practitioners in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario over the next three years and rates their job prospects as good in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.
Video
The career-planning website pegs the median hourly wage for nurse practitioners in Canada, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 31302, at $54,01 but that varies from a low of $30.18 right up to $63.
Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means these workers can expect to earn up to $122,850 per year.
Candidates hoping to immigrate through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.
Provinces Have Already Been Holding Occupation-Specific Draws For Years
Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.
The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.
Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.
IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals the number of spouses and common-law partners immigrating to Canada under its spousal sponsorship program dipped again in September in tandem with another drop in total monthly immigration to the country.
In September, 4,710 newcomers became new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program, down 2.4 per cent or 115 new permanent residents, from the 4,825 in August.
The ninth month of the year, though, also saw an 8.5 per cent decline in total monthly immigration, down to 32,065 in September from 35,055 in August, which indicates spousal sponsorships dropped off less than total immigration that month.
By the end of September, Canada had welcomed 59,585 new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program.
That puts the country on track, provided the current levels of spousal sponsorship arrivals maintains itself, to welcome 79,447 spouses and common-law partners as permanent residents to Canada under the program by the end of the year.
That level of spousal sponsorship immigration would be 23.9 per cent higher than the 64,140 new permanent residents who immigrated to Canada under that program last year.
After maintaining a level of 6,230 new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program for each of the months of June and July when total monthly immigration to Canada topped 40,000 new permanent residents, the level of spouses and common-law partners fell by 22.5 per cent in August.
That same month, total monthly immigration to Canada also fell by 13.8 per cent to 35,055 new permanent residents.
Video
The current projected level of spousal sponsorship immigration would be almost in line – although somewhat still above – with the target level set by Ottawa for spousal sponsorships for this year.
In its Immigration Levels Plan 2023 – 2025, Ottawa set an upper limit of 84,000 new permanent residents under programs to sponsor spouses, partners and children. The target for this year for that category of immigrants is 78,000 new permanent residents.
Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, saw the greatest number of arrivals under the spousal sponsorship program with 31,460 spouses making it their home in the first nine months of this year.
British Columbia Attracted The Second-Highest Number Of Spousal Sponsorships
The other provinces and territories attracted the following number of new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program during that period:
Newfoundland and Labrador – 145
Prince Edward Island – 100
Nova Scotia – 705
New Brunswick – 405
Quebec – 6,140
Manitoba – 1,625
Saskatchewan – 1,040
Alberta – 7,850
British Columbia – 9,995
Yukon – 70
Northwest Territories – 40
Nunavut – 10
When a Canadian citizen or permanent resident chooses to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner to immigrate to Canada, the sponsor must sign an undertaking, promising to give financial support for the sponsored person’s basic needs, including:
food, clothing, shelter and their needs for everyday living, and;
dental care, eye care and other health needs not covered by public health services.
This agreement cannot be cancelled, even if:
the person sponsored becomes a Canadian citizen;
the couple divorces, separates or the relationship breaks down;
either the sponsor or the sponsored spouse or common-law partner moves to another province or country, or;
the sponsor experiences financial problems.
EI Payments Considered Income For Sponsor Of Spouse
Maternity, parental and sickness benefits paid under the Employment Insurance Act in Canada are all considered income and contribute to allowing a person to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner but other payments from the government, such as employment insurance and federal training allowances, are not considered income.
According to that website, the current processing time for sponsorship applications for spouses or common-law partners currently outside the country and planning to live outside of Quebec is now down to 13 months, a considerable improvement over the 20-month processing time last year.
The expression of interest must meet the following minimum entry requirements:
Minimum net worth of $500,000 legally acquired.
Minimum of three years of entrepreneurial or relevant management experience.
Investment of at least $300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon, or $200,000 in any other Saskatchewan area.
Candidates enter a pool where they receive a score. The top scoring candidates are invited to submit an application.
Applications must include:
Business Establishment Plan confirming figures in expression of interest, and including at least one third ownership of a company in Saskatchewan, unless investment is $1 million or higher.
Commitment to be active in day-to-day management of business.
Creation of two or more jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if the business is located in Regina or Saskatoon.
Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.
Demand for computer engineers – even after excluding software engineers and designers – is projected to explode during the coming nine years and provide opportunities for qualified foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence here through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.
“Computer systems design will continue to outperform most industries in terms of production and employment growth as demand is expected to be supported by rapid technological changes,” notes the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS).
“The industry will continue to be driven by the need for businesses and governments to continually upgrade their information and communications technology systems in order to keep up with the most recent technologies and remain competitive.”
The government’s website to project out the future demand for workers based on their occupations notes that cloud-based platforms, the Internet of Things, big data and open-source software continue to gain in popularity.
The implementation of 5G networks and further developments in advanced manufacturing, autonomous transport, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, language processing and biometric security represent a multitude of growth opportunities for the sector.
“Consumers and businesses own multiple electronic devices and are increasingly asking for compatibility, transferability, and access to their content from any of those devices,” notes the COPS website.
“In addition to this, continued innovation in the telecommunications, information, and culture services industry such as virtual and augmented reality will provide job opportunities for computer engineers.”
By 2031, COPS is projecting there will have been 12,400 new jobs created in Canada for computer engineers and that, coupled with the existing shortage of these workers, will leave employers still scrambling to fill those jobs despite there being 13,900 new workers looking to fill such jobs during that time.
Video
“The labour shortage conditions seen in recent years will not clear and are expected to persist over the projection period,” notes the COPS website.
With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) changing Canada’s Express Entry system to allow it to target 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including computer engineers – it opened the door to a new pathway to immigration for them.
The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.
Ottawa made the changes to help resolve serious labour shortages in Canada.
Occupation-Targeted Draws Introduced To Resolve Labour Shortages
“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”
Job Bank pegs the median hourly wage for computer engineers in Canada, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 21311, at $46.43 but that varies from a low of $25.96 right up to $65.13.
Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means these workers can expect to earn up to $127,003 per year in Canada.
In early October, the Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website listed 69 jobs for computer engineers across Canada and ranked their job prospects over the next three years as good in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario and as very good, its highest rating, in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec.
Candidates hoping to immigrate through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.
Provinces Have Been Holding Occupation-Specific Draws For Years
Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.
The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.
Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.
IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.
Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.
Canada’s demand for information systems specialists, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 21222, is going to remain strong during the coming nine years.
That will provide plenty of opportunities for qualified foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence here through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.
The number of job openings for information systems specialists from now through to 2031 is expected to total 143,700 which is less than the 157,800 job seekers expected to be trying to snag jobs in that field. But the COPS considers that gap to be statistically insignificant and for the labour market to remain tight.
“The labour shortage conditions seen in recent years will not clear and are expected to persist over the projection period,” notes the COPS website.
“Employment is projected to grow at a substantially higher rate than the average of all occupations. As a result, job creation will represent 48 per cent of all openings, a proportion that is above the average of all occupations.”
Driving the need for information systems specialists will be the on-going efforts by businesses and governments to upgrade their information and communications technology systems in order to keep up with the most recent technologies and stay competitive.
“Computer services benefit from the constant development of innovative computer and communications products that are designed and serviced by the industry,” notes the COPS website.
“Cloud-based platforms, the Internet of Things, big data and open-source software continue to gain in popularity, while the implementation of 5G networks and further developments in advanced manufacturing, autonomous transport, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, language processing and biometric security represent a multitude of growth opportunities.
“Consumers and businesses own multiple electronic devices and are increasingly asking for compatibility, transferability, and access to their content from any of those devices.”
With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) changing Canada’s Express Entry system to allow it to target 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including information systems specialists – it opened the door to a new pathway to immigration for them.
Video
The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.
Ottawa made the changes to help resolve serious labour shortages in Canada.
“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”
Information Systems Specialist Can Earn Up To $120,003 Annually In Canada
Job Bank pegs the median hourly wage for information systems specialists in Canada at $42.16 but that varies from a low of $25 right up to $61.54.
Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means these workers can expect to earn up to $120,003 per year in Canada.
In mid-October, the Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website listed 558 jobs information systems specialists across Canada and ranked their job prospects over the next three years as very good in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan and as good in British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
Candidates hoping to immigrate through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.
Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.
The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.
Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.
IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.
ApplyBoard has revealed Canada is processing record numbers of study permits for international students and leads English-speaking western countries as a destination for international study – but the United States and Germany are catching up.
In its Top Trends in International Education for 2024 and Beyond report, the Canadian educational technology company highlights Canada’s enviable position as a favourite destination for international study.
“Canada processed nearly 740,000 student visa applications in 2022, shattering the previous year’s record by 34 per cent … (and) 2023 is also poised for yet another all-time high,” notes the report.
“Canada processed more than 660,000 applications through the first nine months of the calendar year.”
The United States, though, is seeing massive growth in its international student population.
“The United States experienced the largest swing in student interest. The U.S. government processed more than 630,000 F-1 visa applications for its 2022 fiscal year,” notes ApplyBoard. “This was 42 per cent more than in 2021 and the highest number of student visa applications processed since 2016, when the U.S. sector started trending downward.”
Across the pond, the United Kingdom is also seeing very significant growth in its student population.
“In the United Kingdom, nearly 490,000 sponsored study visa applications were processed in 2022. This surpassed the previous year by 26 per cent,” notes ApplyBoard.
There is concern, though, that international student growth in the UK may have plateaued.
Video
“During the first six months of 2023, the UK processed 105,000 visas for sponsored study. While this was four per cent more than the same period in 2022, it’s a far cry from the 58 per cent growth between 2021 and 2022. Indeed, many UK institutions reported lower-than-expected enrollment for the September, 2023 intake and a decline in applications looking toward January, 2024 and beyond.”
Outside of the English-speaking world, Germany is showing signs of emerging as a leader in international education.
“We predict that Germany will be their biggest contender for international students, notes ApplyBoard. “Germany hosted nearly 368,000 students in 2022/23, up five per cent over 2021/22 and a new record high.
“Germany offers free tuition for nearly all study programs at public universities and students can apply for an extended 18-month job-seeking visa to find work related to their area of study. Nearly 40 per cent of international students in Germany remain in the country long-term.”
In Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is eyeing reforms to stop fraud in international student admissions by bad actors.
IRCC Putting In Reforms To Fight Fraud In International Student Admissions
Those reforms are to include:
a requirement, starting Dec. 1 this year that all colleges and universities deemed to be Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) be required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
a new “recognized institution” framework by autumn next year to benefit post-secondary DLIs that set a higher standard for services, support and outcomes for international students. These DLIs will benefit, for example, from the priority processing of study permits for applicants who plan to attend their school.
an assessment of Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) criteria over the coming months and reforms to better calibrate it to meet the needs of the Canadian labour market, as well as regional and francophone immigration goals.
The details of those reforms are to be unveiled later.
“International students are talented, bright and deserving of a positive experience as they pursue their studies in Canada,” said Immigration Minister Marc Miller earlier this year.
“We will continue to improve Canada’s International Student Program by protecting students and weeding out those who try to take advantage of them. Whether an international student stays and works after graduation or returns home, we want their time as a student in Canada to have been beneficial to their growth and aspirations.”
The move by the immigration minister came only days after Michèle Kingsley, the IRCC’s assistant deputy minister of operations, told the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration that 30 international students have already been granted temporary study permits to stay in Canada after a five-month investigation by the federal government.
“If a student had enrolled within three semesters of their arrival and there were no other problems or issues with their applications, such as criminal activity, the task force assessed that person to be a genuine student,” said Kingsley.
“The task force has reviewed 103 cases and determined 63 were genuine students. To date, 30 have been approved for temporary resident permits of up to three years.”
Both Miller and Kingsley recognize the important contributions international students make to Canada.
International education accounts for more than $22 billion in economic activity annually, greater than Canada’s exports of auto parts, lumber or aircraft, and supports more than 200,000 jobs in Canada. The temporary drop in international students in 2020 resulted in a loss of more than $7 billion for Canada’s gross domestic product that year.
“They support our local economies and bolster the skilled workforce across Canada,” said Kingsley.
In Canada, each of the 10 provinces and three territories runs its own educational system and determines which schools, including elementary, middle and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities, are DLIs.
International students can search a list of the post-secondary schools, such as colleges and universities, and language schools that are DLIs in each province and territory on the federal government’s website here.
Since many international students want to work in Canada upon graduation with a PGWP, it is also important for them to know before they start their studies that not all DLIs and programs make them eligible for this work permit.
Colleges And Universities Provide International Students With Lists Of Required Documents
“Along with graduating from a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution, you need to meet all other criteria to get a post-graduation work permit,” notes the IRCC.
Once an international student has chosen a school, college or university, he or she must apply to go there and follow that school’s admission requirements. The admission fees can vary considerably from one school to another.
Canadian immigration officials suggest applying at least six months in advance to study at a primary or secondary school and one year in advance for a post-secondary program at a university or college.
“Contact the school where you want to study to learn how to apply,” notes the IRCC. “They’ll give you the list of all the documents you need to send them. They’ll also be able to tell you about: the cost to apply; tuition fees; health insurance; rent and how much it costs to live in Canada, and; language tests.”
Schools in Canada send international students acceptance letters once they have been admitted and that letter is a very important part of the application process for a study permit.
It’s at the point that a college or university has accepted an international student that he or she should apply for a study permit.
That is usually done online but those who suffer from a disability or some other barrier that prevents them from applying online or makes applying online unreliable can be exempted from this requirement and submit a paper application.
International students applying to a school in Quebec, will also receive, along with their acceptance letter, a Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ) and must include this document in their study permit applications.
International Students Urged To Get Adequate Health Insurance
International students are responsible for their own healthcare costs as neither Canada nor the provinces pay for the medical costs of foreign students. Health coverage for foreign students varies between provinces.
It is very important for international students to ensure they have adequate medical and health insurance and can in an emergency situation pay those costs up front as many clinics and hospitals will insist on those payments being made upon treatment and insurance companies may only reimburse those costs later.
International students are advised to contact their schools to get more information about medical coverage and health insurance.
In order to successfully gain entry into Canada under the Student Direct Stream (SDS), every international student will also have to prove proficiency in English or French. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the preferred test for proficiency in English and students must score 6.0 or higher in each language skill: listening, reading and speaking. For francophone students, a Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) score that is equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) score of at least seven for each ability is required.
