Moving to Canada as a student and falling in love with the country is not uncommon. Canada is a top-ranking country in terms of quality of life, security, and education. With its growing economy, there are abundant job opportunities for skilled workers. If you’re an international student and want to consider immigrating to Canada, there are a few options available to you.
Firstly, you can continue to work in Canada with a job offer. As a student, you can work part-time (20 hours per week) during your studies, and full-time (40 hours per week) during breaks recognized by the government or during your co-op period. However, a qualified employer must make a job offer to you, and the process involves a detailed and complex Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), in which the employer must prove to the Canadian government that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident can perform the same job with the same qualifications as you.
Another way to immigrate to Canada is through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) after completing your studies and obtaining a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). If you have at least one year of professional experience in Canada in the past three years and the required level of language proficiency, you may be eligible to apply for the CEC program. If your spouse came with you and worked under the same conditions mentioned above while you were studying, they can also apply to immigrate through the CEC program as the principal applicant, with you as their dependent.
Lastly, you can immigrate to Canada through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which allows a province to nominate a potential immigrant for permanent residence. Each province has its own category or stream that will be opened, calling new immigrants according to their needs in the province. Several provincial immigration programs to Canada are specifically aimed at international students, such as the Alberta International Graduate, British Columbia International Graduate, Ontario International Student, and Nova Scotia International Graduate programs.
In conclusion, there are multiple ways and options to make your dream of immigrating to Canada a reality. It’s important to seek the guidance of accredited and registered Canada immigration consultants to ensure your process is in good hands.