Immigrants tend to concentrate in larger cities such as Toronto. Although permanent residents are guaranteed the right to take up residence anywhere in Canada, close to 60% of immigrants choose to settle in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Meanwhile, close to 30% choose to settle in Montreal or Vancouver. Despite numerous suggestions over the years to encourage immigrants to settle elsewhere, little progress has been made.
Here are some of the most common issues surrounding the distribution of immigrants in Canada.
Problems with recognition of foreign credentials
In recent years, the issue of foreign credentials has often been raised in the Canadian media, as reports of barriers to immigration have emerged.
Newspapers routinely report that immigrants face significant challenges in getting their credentials and work experience recognized, and one such article, published in the Globe and Mail, reflects this trend.
In this article, we examine the problems with foreign credential recognition and explain how this issue impacts immigrants’ lives.
Cost of the visa system
The cost of the Canadian visa system varies. The Express Entry system costs $2,300 for a single applicant, $4,600 for a couple, and $5,465 for a family with a dependent child.
This fee is paid to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, and is refundable if your application is rejected. And for more information, you should hire a Canadian immigration lawyer because they know better and due to their expertise you can make the process faster and smoother, and more successful.
The fee is also required for a dependent child. Once you have submitted your application, you’ll have 60 days to finish your online profile.
Changes to the selection system
Changes to the selection system in Canadian immigration laws and policies have been made in recent years to increase the chances of successful settlement.
The focus on economic class immigration has been replaced with a competitive model, in which meeting a minimum threshold is not sufficient to be admitted.
Now, an applicant must also meet certain criteria that attract an employer, such as having enough points or possessing other characteristics that would lead to the nomination. These changes have resulted in a massive queue to deal with excess demand.
Impact of new selection system on visitor visas
Canada is currently under fire for the high refusal rate of visitor visas. A recent report found that nearly half a million people a year are denied entry into the country because of the system.
However, the number of people being refused entry into Canada is not unprecedented. In 2019, 783,909 people applied for short-term visitor visas.
Impact of new selection system on student visas
The Biden administration delayed the implementation of a rule that would have changed the H-1B student visa lottery. The new rule, which would have chosen H-1B petitions based on their salary, would favor high-salaried workers over lower-paid ones.
However, this change could still have a negative impact on the number of student visas issued. It is unclear if the Biden administration’s new rule will make this change, or not.
End Note
Canada’s immigration law and policy are designed to welcome newcomers from all over the world. The country has a long history of welcoming immigrants, and today nearly one in five Canadians are foreign-born.
Canada’s immigration system is based on the principle of family reunification, which means that most new immigrants are sponsored by family members who are already Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
The government also offers a number of programs for skilled workers and businesspeople who want to start a new life in Canada. In recent years, Canada has also been working to resettle refugees from conflict zones around the world. The country has a strong commitment to human rights and refugee protection, and it has been praised for its humane and generous approach to immigration.
