Immigration to Canada – Highs and Lows

Posted On July 14, 2022

One of the World’s Best Countries

Canada is a natural immigration destination with one of the world’s best natural locales, untouched vast wilderness, world-class cities, and a deep-rooted culture of tolerance. The country ranks very high in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education. Canadian cities have consistently ranked high in the world’s most livable cities, with Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto making the top 10.

Canada is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations due to large-scale immigration from many other countries. Over 250 ethnic groups call Canada home, and the country has two official languages, English and French. Quebec is the only Canadian province to have French as its official language.

Immigration and Visa Programs

Despite Canada’s well-planned approach to immigration with numerous programs to suit various requirements, the country faces a skilled-worker shortage. The Express Entry Program, Provincial Nominee Programs, Business Immigration, Sponsorship Programs, etc., are just a few methods to immigrate to Canada.

The Express Entry program is the most sought-after as its fast-track processes help highly skilled foreign workers and their families get permanent residency. The program includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

To get an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for a Canada PR Visa through the express entry program, applicants must meet minimum requirements for age, professional work experience, language ability, and education.

The Canada Investor Visa program allows immigrants to gain permanent residence or citizenship if they make qualifying investments in Canada. Similarly, Business immigration programs are ideal for individuals who plan to be self-employed or start a business in Canada.

Over the next few years, Canada will focus on high immigration targets of more than 400,000 new permanent residents per year. These targets are set to propel the country’s economic growth, with 60 percent of new immigrants qualifying under the economic class program, including the Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

Redundant Qualifications

It cannot be denied that Canada sometimes fails to provide skilled individuals with the opportunity to utilize their work experience fully, as their qualifications and credentials may be meaningless in Canada. A qualified professional may often find high entry barriers for appropriate work, particularly if they’re already at a senior level in their home country. Also, many companies prefer to hire Canadian citizens as they are already located in the country.

Immigrants historically report job challenges, forcing many to take up lower-skilled jobs. Moreover, many immigrants are unwilling to take a cut in pay while they get the necessary qualifications and a Canadian license, which can put them on an upward career path.

The Canadian government limits the number of immigrants it accepts each year. In many cases, you must have a job offer even to begin the application process. Applying for an immigrant visa or work permit and receiving one can be complicated and lengthy.

It takes time for an immigrant to receive government welfare because of their immigration status. This makes it hard for migrants to afford living expenses until they find a job or other income stream. Often, newcomers may get frustrated within the first few weeks of arrival in Canada. And being away from family and friends’ support system only adds to their mental stress.

Newcomers to Canada can access many paid or unpaid social support programs, but they might not know how to avail these services. It is recommended that immigrants research their support options before leaving their home country and look for mentors who can help them when they arrive in Canada. They must be adaptive, resilient, and willing to start life afresh.

Housing and Accommodation Costs

A significant challenge all newcomers, whether immigrants or international students, face upon arrival in Canada is finding a place to stay. Hotels and Airbnb can be prohibitively expensive. Landlords may hesitate to rent their homes to newcomers as they do not have a job, credit history, or references.

Accommodation costs can take away nearly 50% of take-home income since most Canadian cities have a high cost of living. If you live in downtown Toronto, you can expect to pay over CAD 2,000 in rent for a one-bedroom apartment. You must also factor in parking, utilities and commuting costs. Immigrants from India and South Asia may find that living costs are significantly higher than they budgeted.

Moreover, domestic help in Canada is expensive, and you will soon find that most Canadians don’t have any household help. That means you drive your car, cook your meals, do your laundry, and raise your kids – all by yourself. From cold winters to the cost of living, immigrants in Canada have many challenges they need to know more about before moving.

However, Canada also provides its residents with a high quality of life, including increased earnings, a world-class education and healthcare system, and a modern, secular way of life.

A Helping Hand

When people move to Canada, the first few years can be challenging while they adjust to the new environment and culture. They need to get familiar with their new neighbourhoods, establish new homes and social networks, go to school and retrain, look for work, and learn a new language.

Newcomers can be at a loss to understand Canadian laws and systems. Additional problems can arise due to ignorance about public transport and medical services, identification documents, and government social programs.

Save Max offers comprehensive Post Landing support packages to educate, guide, and assist new Immigrants when they relocate to Canada. We provide information on essential documentation and procedures for their move to Canada. Our packages include Pre-arrival and Post-arrival services to make our clients feel at home in Canada. You can learn more about the services we offer at www.savemax.com.

The Pros Outweigh the Cons

Canada has embraced multiculturalism, where people from different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions and heritage live harmoniously. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants enter Canada each year. The culture is progressive, and migrants are sure to find a warm reception in their workplaces and neighbours.

Once you obtain a work permit, you can freely travel through all 13 provinces and territories to explore other work and housing opportunities.

The tech sector is the fastest growing industry in Canada, poised for a growth boom thanks to the government’s investment and support. The manufacturing, oil and petroleum industries have seen a small but steady growth in recent years. There are job opportunities in the manufacturing, food, retail, construction, education, warehousing and transportation sectors. The STEM-related fields and the healthcare sector also offer career opportunities.

Canadian healthcare is universal, decentralized and publicly funded, which means that the public shares the cost of health and medical expenses for citizens and taxpayers. Medical care is free for all Canadian permanent resident visa holders, including medical prescriptions. As a permanent resident of Canada, you are eligible for public health insurance.

Education is free for all students in the Canadian public school system. Canada boasts of one of the best education systems in the world, spending more per capita income on education than other countries.  Canada is also a preferred choice for international students to pursue their studies. Some world’s top universities are Canadian – McGill University, the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of British Columbia.

In Summary

While you may need a few months or a year to fully adjust to living in Canada, you will fall in love with the country. Canada is an excellent destination for those who enjoy the great outdoors, want a safe and friendly place to live in, and wish to experience many different cultures in one place.

And at Save Max, we promise to make you feel at home in Canada!