Canada welcomes international students with open arms
The new government has made it
easier for international students to
gain citizenship in Canada.
“International students are the best candidates to be citizens of Canada. We are seeking them out and as are other countries in the world. It was the stupidest part of the previous legislative changes made under Bill C-24 to revoke 50 per cent credits of the international students,” said Minister of Immigration John McCallum while addressing the media on Feb. 25.
“It makes no sense for Canada to punch them in the nose and take away their 50 per cent credit rather than nurturing them and seeking to welcome them to our midst.”
McCallum has introduced his Bill C-6 to repeal the older Bill C-24 and made some liberal changes to the rules, which would make it easier for the international students to apply for citizenship in Canada.
There are four changes made to the rules as per the Bill C-6.
First, the age range for language requirement used to be 18 to 54. However, with the implication of the Bill C-24, the age range was changed to 14 to 64.
Second, the Bill C-6 repeals the intent to reside provision, which was introduced by the previous Conservative government, since that provision created legitimate concerns of possible future citizenship revocation.
Third, the 50 per cent credit for time spent in Canada by international students is restored.
Fourth, the physical presence requirement in Canada has changed from four out of the past six years to three out of the past five years. This will allow individuals to apply for citizenship one year earlier.
McCallum has also introduced a citizenship book for aspiring citizens in English and French languages called Discover Canada. These books will guide the individuals through the process of applying for citizenship in Canada.
Furthermore, for the benefit of the international students, the government has committed to review Canada’s Express Entry process, pledging that, “We will make changes to the Canadian Experience Class to reduce the barriers to immigration that have been imposed on international students.”
Since the introduction of the Express Entry process to apply for permanent residency in Canada via Experience Class or any other program, every individual has to apply through this program first. All the applications are scored within the system and the applicants that have higher scores than a certain threshold receive an invitation to apply, which will then allow them to process their applications through the Experience Class.
It has not been decided exactly as to what changes would be made to the Express Entry program. However, it seems like any policy changes that would be made to open greater opportunities for permanent residency and citizenship for international students would target several different categories.
It would target immigration quotas associated with permanent residency programs relevant to international students and modifications to scoring systems in order to better recognise the experience of living, studying and working in Canada that international students bring to their Express Entry applications.
“International students are the best candidates to be citizens of Canada. We are seeking them out and as are other countries in the world. It was the stupidest part of the previous legislative changes made under Bill C-24 to revoke 50 per cent credits of the international students,” said Minister of Immigration John McCallum while addressing the media on Feb. 25.
“It makes no sense for Canada to punch them in the nose and take away their 50 per cent credit rather than nurturing them and seeking to welcome them to our midst.”
McCallum has introduced his Bill C-6 to repeal the older Bill C-24 and made some liberal changes to the rules, which would make it easier for the international students to apply for citizenship in Canada.
There are four changes made to the rules as per the Bill C-6.
First, the age range for language requirement used to be 18 to 54. However, with the implication of the Bill C-24, the age range was changed to 14 to 64.
Second, the Bill C-6 repeals the intent to reside provision, which was introduced by the previous Conservative government, since that provision created legitimate concerns of possible future citizenship revocation.
Third, the 50 per cent credit for time spent in Canada by international students is restored.
Fourth, the physical presence requirement in Canada has changed from four out of the past six years to three out of the past five years. This will allow individuals to apply for citizenship one year earlier.
McCallum has also introduced a citizenship book for aspiring citizens in English and French languages called Discover Canada. These books will guide the individuals through the process of applying for citizenship in Canada.
Furthermore, for the benefit of the international students, the government has committed to review Canada’s Express Entry process, pledging that, “We will make changes to the Canadian Experience Class to reduce the barriers to immigration that have been imposed on international students.”
Since the introduction of the Express Entry process to apply for permanent residency in Canada via Experience Class or any other program, every individual has to apply through this program first. All the applications are scored within the system and the applicants that have higher scores than a certain threshold receive an invitation to apply, which will then allow them to process their applications through the Experience Class.
It has not been decided exactly as to what changes would be made to the Express Entry program. However, it seems like any policy changes that would be made to open greater opportunities for permanent residency and citizenship for international students would target several different categories.
It would target immigration quotas associated with permanent residency programs relevant to international students and modifications to scoring systems in order to better recognise the experience of living, studying and working in Canada that international students bring to their Express Entry applications.
