Recently, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, took to social media to express his concerns about changing immigration policies but focused specifically on foreign students who have been protesting lately. Many of them requested extended work permits so they could have a safe and bright future in Canada. In an interview with Immigration News Canada (INC), Miller discussed the country’s immigration strategy, challenges international students face, new changes to work permits, and pathways to permanent residency in Canada.
One of the most crucial points raised in the interview was that “no automatic pathway” from study permits to permanent residency in Canada.
According to Minister Miller, entry into the country as a student doesn’t mean permanent residency, and application for permanent status must follow a different process for international students.
The changes mentioned according to his interview include:
No automatic pathway from study permits to permanent residency: According to Minister Miller, entry into Canada as a student was never a green ticket for permanent residency. Such becoming a student was never, he emphasized, meant to be a door opener for permanent residency.
This is after many international students seeking easier ways to remain in Canada after graduation. The government still keeps reminding us that study permits are not permanent residency.
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Work permit extensions are not automatic : Minister Miller also shared updates regarding the pressure coming from international students demanding an extension of their post-graduation work permits (PGWPs). Extensions do not, however, come automatically.
Some students will have to decide whether to leave the country or stay,” the minister said. The work permit will be “laser-like”, meaning that permits will be issued based on labor market needs in Canada and blanket extensions will not be done.
Immigration level and management of temporary residence : The country has decreased the quota for temporary residents, including international students, to facilitate its control over immigration flows. The permanent residency quotas are also scaled down by 20% as a move towards balancing the long-term needs of the country efficiently.
The government must ensure that immigration policies address the needs of an aging population and critical labor shortages without any pressure on housing and services.
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Closure of the Student Direct Stream : Another new change that has recently come into play affecting international students is the SDS close door, which expedited study permits for eligible students mainly from countries such as India. In his letter to Senator McCallum, Minister Miller posits that this change was mainly aimed at better handling the amount of study permits issued and keeping in check associations with international communities.
On asylum claims and immigration integrity : Minister Miller heard and addressed issues concerning asylum applications from international students who were misusing the asylum as a tool to stay longer in the country. He made it clear that asylum was for people whose lives were in danger and so was the government’s interest to ensure integrity in the refugee system of Canada.
Low immigration would impact the economic levels of Canada : But, when asked about stopping immigration, Minister Miller stressed that this would really have a serious impact on the economy. As for many years, Canada has had an aging population that needs young workers to maintain the economy and run the public services well. So, the 20% reduction in the level of immigration is not a matter of totally stopping immigration but for long-term economic stability.
Work with educational institutions and provinces : He also underscored the requirement for cooperation among the federal government, provinces, and education institutions centrally engaged in the process of building a balanced, sustainable immigration system capable of effectively meeting the needs of local communities without overwhelming them.
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Impact on international students over the long term : These changes suggest that the country will be more picky in its interest in international students. Canada will remain first in the heart for foreign talent but it will become much more complex for a student to navigate an immigration system. According to Minister Miller, international students will still come to Canada but those paths of permanent residency and work permits will be intricately linked with a country’s long-term goals.
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