Canada's New Immigration Rules: A Mixed Bag for Indian Students, Tourists, and Workers
In an attempt to make its immigration process easier and draw in the best talent, Canada has made drastic alterations to its visa policy. Though the alterations seek to ease the influx of skilled employees, they pose additional challenges to temporary Indian students, visitors, and laborers. In this article, we explore the meaning of these changes and how they affect Indians wanting to visit or move to Canada.
Impact on Temporary Indian Students
Among the most important of these is a change impacting foreign students, including Indian ones. Currently, foreign students graduating in Canada may seek a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allowing them to remain employed within Canada for a maximum of three years. Now, however, under the new regulation, how long the PGWP will be for will be connected to how long the program has been attended by the student.
For example, students who finish a one-year program will be entitled to a one-year PGWP, whereas students who finish a two-year program will be entitled to a three-year PGWP. This modification could impact Indian students who intend to study higher in Canada and later acquire work experience.
Changes for Tourists and Visitors
Canada has also made changes to its Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program, which visa-exempt visitors, including Indians, must undergo. Currently, eTAs are valid for five years or the expiration of the traveler's passport. With the new policy, eTAs will remain valid for up to three years or the expiration of the traveler's passport.
In addition, Canada has implemented a new requirement of biometric information, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, for all visa applicants, including visitors and tourists. This is meant to improve security and ease the processing of visa applications.
Implications for Indian Workers
The new regulations also introduce changes for Indian employees who want to work in Canada. Currently, employees who apply for a work permit are required to prove that they have enough money to sustain themselves in Canada. But according to the new regulations, employees will also be required to prove that they have a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer.
In addition, Canada has also launched a new Global Talent Stream, which is intended to bring highly skilled individuals into the country. The stream will offer quicker processing of work permit applications and will also waive the need for some workers to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Conclusion
Canada's new immigration policies usher in opportunities and challenges for Indian tourists, workers, and students alike. While the reforms seek to simplify the immigration process and invite the best minds, they also add new conditions and limitations. Indians who intend to visit or migrate to Canada need to comprehend these changes and make necessary preparations. In doing so, they will be better equipped to deal with the immigration process and fulfill their objectives in Canada.