Statistics show that the number of Indians migrating to Canada has more than doubled since 2016. One of the primary reasons for this shift is the US making its immigration rules stricter, which has made it difficult for Indians to obtain green cards in the United States. So, more and more Indians find Canada an attractive destination for building a career and raising their family. While the number of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada was 39340 in 2016, the number rose to 80685 in 2019. It means an increase of more than 105 percent.

The shift of focus from the US

Earlier, the United States of America used to be the primary destination of immigration for Indians. However, it has become more challenging for Indian workers, especially Indian tech workers, to obtain an H-1B visa and become permanent residents in the country. The denial rate of H-1B visa applications in 2019 was four times higher than in 2015. Because of the low number of employment-based immigrant visas and the per-country limit, Indian professionals now need to wait for decades to obtain permanent residence in the United States. At the same time, Canada welcomes many skilled workers and has a welcoming immigration policy. As experienced workers are available for work in Canada, many US and Indian technology companies have opened their affiliate offices.

Canada’s immigration points system

The immigration points system of Canada is highly favourable for Indian immigrants. Points are awarded based on age, post-secondary education, English language proficiency, and work experience. Most of the Indian middle class’s educated youth meet these requirements, thus making them eligible for immigration to Canada.

Canadian education

Another reason for a high number of Indians obtaining permanent residence status in Canada is because more Indians students go to Canada for higher studies. In Canada, it is easy for an international student to transition to work after graduation, leading to permanent residence in the country. Simultaneously, in America, the Trump administration announced that the Optional Practical Training would be restricted or eliminated. It is a system that allows international students to work after graduation in the US for 12 months or an additional 24 months in a STEM-related job. The administration has also put forward other restrictions that would make America less appealing to international students. As a result, the number of Indian students enrolling in US universities has declined by more than 10% between 2015-16 and 2018-2019 academic years. Simultaneously, the number of Indian students in Canadian universities rose from 76075 in 2016 to 172,625 in 2018. It means an increase of 127%.

Canada to welcome more immigrants

Canada is planning to increase immigration levels in the coming years. A significant reason for this is the dwindling labour force of the country and an ageing population. So Canada is planning to welcome more than 1.2 million immigrants in the coming three years, the highest immigration level in the country’s history. Moreover, the Canadian point system is flexible and gives importance to the needs of the employers. But America’s immigration system is mostly influenced by bureaucrats.

Prominence of Indians

In 2019, almost a quarter of immigrants who were admitted to Canada were Indians. It means Indians accounted for 25 percent of the 341000 immigrants who were admitted to the country in the year. In 2015, Indians constituted only 14 percent of newcomers invited to the country.

The reasons why India is a leading immigrant source country are many. Firstly, it is the second-most populous country in the world. That means it has a vast pool of potential immigrants. Its middle-class population has many potential immigrants with a high level of English language proficiency, education and work experience, making them eligible for Canadian immigration.

Earlier, more Indians preferred the US as their favourite immigration destination. They constituted the majority of applicants for the H1-B Temporary Skilled Worker Program in the United States. But the approval rate of H1-B visa applications has come down significantly of late. So more and more Indians now prefer to migrate to Canada.

Canada has terrific opportunities for Indians looking for a better life and brighter career. Connect with ImmiLaw Global for more information on Canadian immigration.