Canada is among the hottest immigration destination for Indians. Every year, more than 200,000 people move to Canada from India, on different types of visas. Canadian Immigration system is fundamentally suited to the Indian society, as we are among the very few countries where students continue with their education until post graduation.
In most countries, students take a gap after high school. Some students return to education for a diploma/graduation, and finally a small proportion of the graduates eventually end up in a Masters’ program. But why does all this matter? Well, it stands out handsomely in the ranking for Canada Immigration pool – Express Entry
We all know its not rare to find a 27-year old person with a Maters’ degree and 3 years work experience in India. A lot of these millennial’s have worked hard on their communication skills throughout schooling and University education. In a nutshell, they don’t find the English language testing exams very challenging.
Guess what, these 25-30 year old people with a Masters’ degree, 3 years work experience and decent English language skills – are the perfect candidates for Express Entry.
However, as these perfect assets age, their points go down with every passing year. By the time they reach 30 years of age their chances, though not zero, go down significantly. There are still options, but a little less convincing.
So how do these 30+ people go about their Canadian dreams?
A lot of them take easier, & possibly the best route – education. Let me explain this further, make sure you read till the end.
The bread & butter category for most Indians in the Canadian Immigration system is Skilled Worker stream, which has additional points for a Canadian Degree. Doesn’t matter which degree – as far as the college is DLI, you will get those points. This is not it – many will go a step further, looking for the invaluable Canadian experience. And yes, this comes with extra points. Wait a minute, isn’t it too much? Why would the Canadian government do this?
Well, the answer lies in 2 important aspects of the Immigration system – skills transfer-ability & candidate’s adaptability. It is expected that this route of coming to Canada as an international student, prepares you a lot better for a permanent settlement in Canada. Once you complete the program, you become eligible for PGWP, a open work permit that allows you to work for any employer across Canada and gain the brownie points for Canadian work experience. Keep in mind, the experience has to be under NOC 0, A or B category else you don’t get those points.
So, our 34-year old comes to Canada as a student; by the time he/she is 36, they got additional points for study as well as Canadian work experience, however lost 10 points for age. That is a net gain of 40 points. This is not all, if their employer agrees to give them a permanent job offer, there is another 50 points on the table. Voila!
Now, if you are 30+, and still reading this article, you’re probably convinced enrolling in a study program is the best option for you. Well, not always…
If your final goal is Immigration, i.e. permanently settling down in Canada with your family, it is probably not wise to jump the gun. Get in touch with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, RCIC, discuss your options before you make a final decision. Maybe a province in Canada is looking for a profile like yours, who knows? Book yourself an assessment with a regulated consultant and evaluate your options.
Do not fall for ghost (unauthorized) consultants that will make all the false promises until they get your money – and things go south as soon you pay them. Trust me, majority of consultants that you see around, even the big ones, are not certified RCIC and are not bound by any professional code of conduct. RCIC’s are authorized under the Canadian Law to represent people in Immigration related matters, hence it is advisable to always work with an RCIC. The safety of your dream is in your hands!