Canada is regarded as one of the highest chosen destinations by foreigners. Many immigrants come here on a study or work permit and then apply for permanent residency. The problem is that many people come here with that one single aim, without knowing what they want to do in a foreign country.
According to Statistics Canada, around five million applications were submitted for permanent residency, temporary residence, and citizenship in 2023, out of which 437,000 were approved for permanent residency status. Canada recorded a 97 per cent acceptance rate as of 2021.
With employment issues, housing shortages, and exorbitant prices, this year has been tough for new immigrants who come here for a secure future. Newcomers might have to struggle to survive in their initial years. However, it isn’t impossible. People can progress if they thoroughly research their dream countries, their eligibility criteria, and scopes for them in the future.
Here are three things new immigrants should remember.
Understanding the demand: I have seen a lot of people pick up odd general labor jobs because they did not focus on improving their educational skills. Some of them didn’t want to change jobs, fearing they might not get a permanent residency status in the country if they lose that job. Canada is an economy where the public and private sectors both play an important role. As of 2024, it is estimated that employment trends in the engineering, logistics, and trading sectors will have great demand.
In my experience, international students willing to study accounting, finance, or business-related fields are more likely to get a good job and financial stability because the engineering and trading sectors will be in demand. It is a waste of time and money if you have studied pharmacy in Canada but work as a sales associate at a fashion store or as a chef in a restaurant. It is ok if you are doing survival jobs as a newcomer. However, field jobs are always beneficial because you have studied about it and you get to experience the work related to your field of study.
Know all the rules. Those which affect you and the ones that don’t: When you go to a foreign nation, it is not only necessary to know the rules and policies affecting immigrants, but also those which affect the domestic residents. For instance, it is important to know that the GIC of international students nearly doubled from $10,000 to $20,635 this year. It’s also important for people to be aware of some rules that will affect permanent residents and citizens such as the increase in Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance payments, tax-free savings account for Canadians, dental care changes, and much more to have a better understanding of how policy formation works here.
Acquire new skills for more opportunities: Learning a new skill or changing your field of expertise into a different field is completely fine and it is a great way to score CRS points. The Comprehensive Ranking System is a tool that Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses to analyze the profile of immigrants and decide if the candidate is eligible to apply for permanent residency. The sooner you build up your skills, the more chances you have to become a permanent resident. For instance, if you know French, one of the official languages of Canada, it will not only improve your chances of getting more CRS points but will also give you an advantage in the job market. Jobs in Canada are divided based on NOC (National Occupational Classification), meaning occupations are divided based on the skills they have.
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