- In 2016, 39,340 Indians gained permanent Candian residency. By 2019, that number grew up to 80,685.
- which, according to a National Foundation of American Policy (NFAP), analysis of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada data, is a 105% rise.
- According to the situation, Indian scientists and engineers are more likely to find Canada a better alternative to reside, raise family, and make an income in.
Due to the stringent and inhibitory immigration policies under Donald Trump and the hurdles of obtaining a green card in the United States of America, Indians have resorted to Canada as America’s best alternative to gain permanent residence. The number of Indians who have obtained Canadian residency since 2016 has more than doubled. According to the situation, Indian scientists and engineers are more likely to find Canada a better alternative to reside, raise family, and make an income.
In 2016, 39,340 Indians gained permanent Canadian residency. By 2019, that number grew up to 80,685, which, according to a National Foundation of American Policy (NFAP), analysis of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada data, is a 105% rise.
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So, what are the reasons for this tremendous rise in immigration from India to Canada? Well, the first and foremost has to be the challenges Indians are facing in obtaining and H-1B visas. Moreover, unlike the United States of America, Canada offers various ways through which one could gain a permanent residency in the country, including Express Entry. Rules for Immigration based on work in Canada suits Indian techies more in the current situation.
In the United States, the denial rate for H-1B petitions for continuing employment has risen to 12% under Trump’s administration, accounting for four times higher denial rate compared to a 3% rate in FY 2015. The denial rate for new employees remained 24% throughout the first three quarters of FY 2019, compared to 6% in FY 2015.
Due to a severe lack of employment-based immigration visas, Indian might have to wait years before they could become a resident of the United States of America. As a result, most Indians are choosing Canada as the best alternative.
Moreover, Canadian universities, too, play an essential role in this rise in immigration to Canada. 2017 saw a 20% rise in international students in Canada. In 2018, the number of international students enrolling themselves in Canadian universities rose again by 16%.
Meanwhile, U.S universities, between the years 2015-2016 and 2018-2019, declined more than 10% of international students’ enrollment requests.
Canada also makes it easier for students to transition to work after graduating from its universities, making students eligible for a permanent residency. On the other hand, the Trump administration is planning to restrict or eliminate Optional Practical Training (OPT), including STEM fields.
According to Simranjeet Singh, founder of the Chandigarh-based Canadian immigration law firm, “Canada is benefiting from this rise of Indian skilled manpower, which is mostly tech specialists, as the route to the US through H1B Visa applications. It is noticeable that this trend coincides with a sharp rise in Canadian tech startups.”
Canada is also planning to make legal immigration more accessible. By 2021, Canada is planning to increase legal immigration to 350,000 a year. In 2017, the level of immigration was 286,510.
“To further ease the challenges of a shrinking labor force and an aging population, our new multi-year immigration levels plan sets out the highest levels of permanent residents that Canada will welcome in recent history,” declared Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussein in 2018.
Canada’s point-system is best suited for Indian nationals, as it focuses on youth value, post-secondary education, and high-skilled foreign and work experience. The point-system works in Canada because of its flexibility and responsiveness towards employer needs. Since America has a different government structure, it is impossible to implement this system in the United States.
