Canada is simplifying the PR process for student-foreign workers, Indians will benefit

Canada Student Visas and PR: Canada is struggling with a huge visa backlog of 2.7 million applications. In 2022, visa applications increased by 55% compared to 2019 and this led to an increase in the backlog.

Canada's Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has introduced a new plan to allow temporary visas to be converted to permanent residence. The new strategy aims to extend permanent residency to foreign workers and international students who have significant work experience in areas of persistent labor shortage. Our government wants to expand pathways to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers and international students, Fraser tweeted. Special thanks to my colleague Randeep Sarai for bringing forward this important motion. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a five-pillar plan.

Pillar 1: The goals for increased immigration levels outlined in the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan will help Canada provide a large, permanent labor supply. This plan increases permanent residency opportunities for more temporary workers to help address labor market shortages and accelerate our post-corona economic growth.

Pillar 2: Recent changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will improve the Express Entry system by increasing flexibility in immigration selection tools under Express Entry.

Pillar 3: The permanent economic immigration program will be updated to help transition workers needed in high-demand occupations, from temporary to permanent residence. These include the following,

- Adoption of the latest version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 which expands eligibility for certain in-demand occupations within a number of permanent economic immigration pathways.

- Access to information for newcomers to ensure they meet the necessary qualifications and connect them to federal and provincial or territorial programming.

- Finding better ways to transport essential workers in high demand, such as removing bottlenecks for physicians.

- Introducing improvements to pilot programs to support transition to permanent housing for home care businesses as well as those working in the agri-food sector.