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HKFP
a day ago
- Business
- HKFP
‘Hanging halfway': In wake of Canada's immigration delay, Hongkong emigrants ponder whether to stay or return home
When Hongkonger Leonald Lee emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in July 2023, his plan was simple: find a full-time job and work there for at least one year, submit his application for permanent residence, and enrol in a master's degree programme after obtaining his PR status for much cheaper tuition. Lee, a former journalist, was off to a good start when he secured a minimum-wage job at a telecommunications company a month after his arrival. It was not the most exciting work, and his salary often arrived late. However, the 26-year-old did not mind because he had a clear goal in mind: he needed to accumulate enough work hours for his permanent residence application under the Hong Kong Pathway programme. Lee's seemingly straightforward plan took a turn earlier this year when he 'sensed something was not right.' In group chats with other Hongkongers in Canada, he found that more and more people were complaining that there had been no updates on their PR applications submitted months, or even over a year, ago. One night in March, Lee could not fall asleep and turned his mind to calculating the processing time for his application, which he filed in September last year. Using statistics reported by Hong Kong media citing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Lee estimated he might have to wait at least three years before his application was processed. Lee's estimation was confirmed by the IRCC soon after. On March 18, the IRCC announced there would be a years-long delay in processing permanent residence applications from Hongkongers under the lifeboat programme. The Canadian immigration authorities said that as of October 31, 80 per cent of permanent residence applications were processed within a year. But a backlog has emerged due to a high volume of applications received, and most applications are expected to be processed after 2027. 'What I thought would be a straightforward trilogy turned out to be much longer. I guess it is like The Lord of the Rings, with three thick volumes,' Lee said in Cantonese in a phone interview with HKFP. Moon Ho, a Hong Kong nurse who emigrated to Toronto in February 2023, has tried to follow up on her permanent residence application, which she submitted in September. In April, the 27-year-old spent a week trying to call the IRCC after reading guides provided by fellow Hongkongers in Canada on which lines were more likely to reach the office successfully. When she was finally put through to the office, she was told that her application had been received, but no one had 'opened her file' yet. The waiting time was 'far beyond' her expectations, Ho told HKFP, adding that she was constantly worried she might lose her job after her original permit expires in February next year. Although she can extend her permit or apply for a bridging work permit during her wait, news of other Hongkongers being rejected for unknown reasons has made her question her chances of success. 'I really love my current job in the intensive care unit, which I had to enrol in a course and take exams to get into,' she said. 'I really don't want to lose this job.' Ho's boyfriend, who moved to Toronto with her, is also waiting for his application to be processed. The architectural graduate from Hong Kong had intended to advance his career by pursuing a master's degree after gaining PR status. He is currently stuck in mid-senior jobs, as higher positions require a master's degree, but he cannot afford to pay the international student tuition fees. Confusion, frustration Lee and Ho are not the only ones pondering their future in Canada. In recent months, Hongkongers in Canada have taken to social media to express their confusion and frustration at the lack of updates on their permanent residence applications. Many provided timelines of their applications and said they had not been instructed to take the next step, like submitting biometrics. A netizen wrote on Threads in May that they felt 'very stressed and exhausted' because their work permit would expire in weeks, while their permanent residence application submitted last year had not been updated since. A renewal of the work permit was filed several months ago, but the application is still being processed, they said. The Threads user also said their grandmother's health had deteriorated, and they wanted to return to the city to see her, but they were also concerned about their status once they left Canada. It is unclear whether applicants can wait for their permanent residence applications to be processed outside Canada. The lifeboat scheme, introduced in June 2021 in response to the Beijing-imposed national security law enacted in Hong Kong in 2020, is set to expire on August 31, 2026. The lifeboat scheme offers two pathways. Stream A allows recent graduates from Canadian institutions to seek permanent residence. Stream B, on the other hand, allows Hongkongers to obtain a three-year permit to work in Canada. Those who have worked full-time in Canada for at least one year, or spent at least 1,560 hours in total undertaking part-time work, may apply for permanent residence. In June last year, advocacy group Hong Kong Watch told the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of the Canadian parliament that around 60,000 Hongkongers had arrived in Canada three years after the temporary immigration policy was launched. Lee and Ho are among more than 40,500 Hongkongers under Stream B who had obtained a three-year permit to work in Canada as of December 31, 2024 – most of them recent postsecondary graduates. Lee said the threshold for emigrating to Canada was 'low' under the Pathway scheme, and many Hong Kong immigrants did not anticipate that the wait for PR applications would be long, as earlier batches of applicants obtained their status rather quickly when there were fewer applicants. The IRCC said in March that, with the two streams combined, it received more than 26,500 permanent residence applications as of October 31. Only more than 10,500 have been approved, while fewer than 200 applications have been refused. To accommodate the processing time, Canada offered a new work permit for Hongkongers in May last year to allow them to stay in the country while they await a decision on their applications. The permit is valid for up to three years and can be renewed. Advocacy efforts Since last year, advocacy groups and politicians have called on the Canadian government to tackle the backlog and maintain its pledge to grant permanent residence to Hongkongers. In September, Tom Kmiec, a Conservative Party MP, presented a petition to the Canadian parliament, urging the IRCC to accelerate the approval process and ensure that applications from Hongkongers would not be rejected due to the target restrictions. The petition referred to Canada's Immigration Levels Plan for 2025 to 2027 for the Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) and Other Category, under which the Hong Kong Pathway programme falls. Canada is seeking to reduce the annual number from 10,000 in 2025 to 6,900 in 2026. The number is expected to drop further to 4,300 in 2027. The reduced target number prompted further questions about whether Hong Kong immigrants under the lifeboat scheme would be affected. The petition, which gathered nearly 15,000 signatures, also asked Canadian authorities to automatically review permits or visas for the Hong Kong applicants who arrived in Canada via Stream A or B. Kmiec told HKFP in a video interview that the estimated backlog was over 18,300 as of December 2024. The Conservative Party MP said he received a lot of requests for assistance from Hongkongers who had issues when they tried to renew their work permits while waiting for their PR applications to be processed. Some Hongkongers received letters from the IRCC claiming that their maintained status – a legal mechanism allowing temporary residents to remain in Canada while their application to extend or change their status is being processed – would expire in five months, or when the IRCC issued a response to their PR application, whichever is earlier. Given that the waiting time has exceeded five months, some Hongkongers are concerned that they could lose their jobs if their employers refuse to continue hiring them after their maintained status expires, Kmiec said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Kmiec (@tomkmiec) When Kmiec presented the issue in parliament in November, James McNamee, director general of the IRCC's Family and Social Immigration Branch, said that what was stated in the letters was an 'error' and that the authorities would 'amend' the wording. 'It's an error in the wording of that letter,' McNamee said. 'When that letter was originally created, we were within a much faster processing time… in recent months, with delays, it's taking longer. We have asked to amend that letter.' The official added that applicants may retain their status until they receive a decision from the IRCC without any limitation. Kmiec, who is also the shadow minister for immigration, refugees and citizenship, criticised the Canadian government for having 'no intentionality' behind its immigration. Many temporary measures were introduced to 'get through a particular crisis' without considering the future of immigrants, he said. Sense of belonging With around 10 months left before her work permit expires, Ho does not want the stress concerning her future in Canada to affect her daily life. She has decided to put everything to the back of her mind until September, when she will have to start preparing to extend her work permit or apply for a new one. Lee will make a decision soon. He will see his family in Hong Kong in mid-June, and he will decide whether he should stay in Canada. The chance of staying is slim, he told HKFP, given the foreseeable years-long wait, which he said made him feel like 'hanging halfway up in the air.' 'I used to see a path ahead of me, but I began to wonder what I was doing here. Compared to the first year [in Canada], the feeling of sadness is stronger,' Lee said. Reflecting on his stay in Canada for around two and a half years, Lee said it made him contemplate the meaning of freedom. While Hong Kong's political landscape in recent years was one of the reasons the former journalist chose to move abroad, he felt that the freedom he experienced in Canada was 'a bit useless.' His lack of a sense of belonging to the community in Canada was also why he lost interest in continuing to work in journalism after emigrating. 'I think the reason why many Hongkongers wanted more freedom is that they wanted to shape the future direction of society. But when we are in a city that does not belong to us, even if we have the freedom to speak up, it is purely just talk,' he said. Push factors For many Hongkongers in Canada, the hope of becoming a permanent resident is what draws them to stay in the country. For some, however, the push factors are greater. Alex Chu, 41, returned to Hong Kong in July last year, shortly after obtaining his Canadian permanent residency. The software engineer and his wife moved to Toronto in early 2022. He told HKFP in an interview that after living there for six months, they noticed that the crime rates were high and they did not feel comfortable living in an area with legal drug injection sites and many homeless individuals. The slower pace of life in Toronto, which initially attracted Chu, also turned out to be a mismatch. While he enjoyed strolling in a park and resting on the lawn, repeating this activity almost every weekend made the Hongkonger feel it was 'too early for retirement.' Despite the difference in lifestyle, Chu still applied for permanent residence in August 2023 after completing his postgraduate diploma. What prompted him to return to Hong Kong was the IRCC's rejection of his wife's work permit renewal, stating that her work at the time could not be proven to be significant or beneficial to the Canadian economy. Chu said it was a mistake on the part of the immigration authorities, as such a requirement is not applicable to applicants under the Hong Kong Pathway programme. The couple decided to return to Hong Kong and travel to Japan briefly while their case is on appeal. This was also to ensure his wife was not staying in Canada illegally, Chu said. During their trip, Chu received updates from the IRCC indicating that the renewal denial was not a mistake. However, days later, the IRCC notified them again that the work permit renewal was 'in process,' and it was approved later. 'This experience really made me lose confidence in the Canadian immigration authorities,' he said. Criticism of the Canadian government is often unwelcome among Hong Kong immigrants, Chu said. He has seen comments online asking those who complained to be 'thankful' to Canada for offering additional permanent residence pathways to Hongkongers. 'Of course, we should not take it for granted, but it is a commercial deal. We are bringing money into Canada when we study, pay rent, pay tax and consume,' he said. Other options Pressure groups and politicians such as Kmiec continue to help Hongkongers who have difficulty extending their stay in Canada while waiting for their PR applications to be processed. Kmiec told HKFP that he has spoken with several provincial immigration ministers to find other settlement programmes for Hongkongers in Canada as alternative pathways to permanent residence. It is 'not very productive' to fight with the government on the target numbers, he said, especially with the general sentiment among the Canadian public that immigration levels should go down. He suggested that Hongkongers explore other options as a more feasible solution. Kmiec acknowledged that the Canadian government disappointed Hongkongers with the prolonged processing time. However, the politician also pointed out that the Pathway programme was meant to be a 'one-time escape' for Hongkongers involved in the 2019 protests, and people had to 'make the best decision for themselves.' 'I can't see this Pathway programme continuing on much longer, because the expectation is that those who wanted to escape had the opportunity, they just may not have the opportunity to get PR for an extended period of time until we sort out this immigration system,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Revised Canadian policy eases job transitions for foreign workers
In a significant move aimed at better utilizing the skills of temporary foreign workers already within the country, the Canadian government has introduced a new temporary public policy. This initiative that was signed on March 4, comes into force from May 27. It allows foreign nationals in Canada to change jobs more quickly, even before their new work permit application is fully processed. Previously, foreign workers seeking to switch employers or occupations often faced lengthy delays, sometimes several weeks, while awaiting a new work permit. This waiting period led to financial instability for workers and frustration for Canadian employers keen to fill urgent labour and skills gaps. Now, temporary foreign workers already in Canada, who have a job offer either through the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program or the International Mobility Program can begin their new roles more quickly The Canadian government acknowledges that temporary foreign workers play a vital role in the Canadian economy. However, circumstances can arise where an existing employment contract is no longer viable. This could be due to various reasons, such as a new role with the same employer, layoffs, workplace conflict, or simply the pursuit of better compensation or professional growth opportunities with a different company. "It is imperative to better utilize the skills and training of the temporary foreign workers already here," states a recently updated post on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). "This policy offers workers a viable and timely alternative to change employers if they need to do so" adds the post. Speaking to the TOI, Kubeir Kamal, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) said, 'The temporary public policy from IRCC, allows temporary foreign workers, including many from the Indian community, to change employers without needing a new work permit while their application is processed. This would specifically apply to the closed work permit holders in Canada.' 'Indian workers, who form a significant portion of Canada's temporary foreign workforce (over one lakh work permits were issued to Indian nationals in 2022), often hold employer-specific (close) work permits in sectors like IT, healthcare, caregiving, and agriculture. This policy allows them to switch jobs without waiting for a new permit, reducing downtime and enabling pursuit of better opportunities, such as higher-paying roles or positions with career advancement,' he added. Meanwhile, Jamil Jivani, a member of the Canadian Parliament from the Conservative party, apparently acting suo moto, has launched a petition to end the TFW Program. He blames it for high immigration numbers, taking jobs from Canadians, lowering wages and putting an additional burden on infrastructure. The re-elected Liberal party in August last year had announced restrictive measures for hiring temporary foreign workers. These included a cap on the number of TFWs that can be hired, and reduction in the duration of employment for workers hired under the low-wage stream to one year, from two years.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Canada visas 2025: India leads with 45.8% of 834,010 study, work permits
In the first three months of 2025, Canada approved 834,010 temporary resident applications and extensions. These included study permits, work permits, and visitor visas, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). India accounted for 382,055 or 45.8 per cent of these approvals, driven by students and skilled workers seeking opportunities in Canada's tech and healthcare sectors. 'India remains the leading source country for temporary residents,' said IRCC official on May 29, 2025. The top ten source countries for temporary residents from January to March 2025 were: Nigeria: 104,835 applications People's Republic of China: 100,890 applications Mexico: 59,305 applications Iran: 49,735 applications Philippines: 48,430 applications Ukraine: 33,110 applications Pakistan: 31,355 applications Colombia: 27,165 applications Bangladesh: 27,080 applications Many applicants are students, while others come as workers or visitors. For example, Nigeria saw a jump in applications linked to education and job prospects in Ontario and British Columbia. In the Philippines, applicants have pursued work in caregiving and hospitality. Ukraine's numbers reflect Canada's support through initiatives like the Canada-Ukraine Transitional Assistance Initiative (CUTAI). Welcoming newcomers and enforcing departures While Canada has welcomed new temporary residents, some existing temporary residents have faced removal orders or longer processing times. IRCC has said it wants to bring the temporary resident share down to 5% of the national population by 2026. That means enforcing visa rules more strictly. IRCC and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers now have the power to cancel temporary resident documents if people overstay or break visa rules. 'People need to comply with the conditions of their stay,' said a CBSA spokesperson in a statement in March. 'When permits expire or conditions are violated, removal notices are issued.' Canada's 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, announced on October 24, 2024, introduced targets for temporary resident admissions for the first time. 2025: 673,650 arrivals 2026: 516,600 arrivals 2027: 543,600 arrivals These figures do not include short-term visitors or seasonal workers but focus on work and study permit holders. IRCC has said these measures are meant to balance economic needs with concerns about housing and job markets. For international students, the government has capped study permit applications in 2025 at 10% below the 2024 figure of 606,250 applications. Post-graduation work permit eligibility has been tightened to target in-demand sectors like healthcare and skilled trades. Work permit rules for spouses of international students and workers were changed in January 2025. Now, only spouses in specific high-demand occupations can apply for an open work permit. Economic contributions and concerns International students and temporary workers support Canada's economy through tuition, living costs, and filling critical labour gaps. Tourism also benefits from visitor spending. However, high newcomer volumes have strained housing and public services. IRCC estimates the new caps will bring a 0.2% population dip in 2025 and 2026, before a rebound in 2027. The reduced growth could help ease the housing crunch—about 670,000 units by 2027. For businesses in agriculture and hospitality, the reduced flow of temporary residents has caused concerns about filling jobs. International students are also feeling the pinch as living costs rise and language requirements become tougher. Supporters of the changes say tighter controls prevent misuse and promote fairness. At the same time, IRCC plans to shift more temporary residents already in Canada to permanent status. In 2025, over 40% of permanent residency approvals are expected to come from this group.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian doctors who served in Gaza call for arms embargo, sanctions against Israel
OTTAWA – Canadian medical professionals who treated wounded Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are urging Ottawa to stop all military trade with Israel. The doctors say Canada's current restrictions on arms exports to Israel aren't good enough and they allege that Canadian firms are still making military components being used in Gaza. NDP MP Heather McPherson, who pushed for the current restrictions that were introduced in early 2024, says Prime Minister Mark Carney has not significantly changed the government's approach to Israel. Carney did join his French and British counterparts in threatening 'targeted sanctions' against Israel last week. Israel has insisted for months that its military operations in Gaza are meant to stop the threat posed by Hamas, but it has faced a wave of international condemnation over the high civilian death count and its restrictions on aid, including food and medical supplies. Orthopedic surgeon Deirdre Nunan says she saw many patients with ghastly injuries during her five visits to Gaza — including injuries consistent with drone strikes that were incurred during a ceasefire. 'As a surgeon, I cannot treat a genocide. As doctors, we cannot stop a famine. So we demand that the Canadian government take meaningful action,' the Saskatchewan doctor said during a news conference on Wednesday on Parliament Hill. Global Affairs Canada has been asked for a comment. The Bloc Québécois on Wednesday repeated its call for sanctions on Israeli officials, saying it's the only measure that would get Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respect international law. The Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council is also calling on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to fix the flaws in a program meant to resettle up to 5,000 people fleeing Gaza with family ties to Canada. The group says that just 41 people have managed to leave the Gaza Strip through the program Ottawa launched in January 2024. It says that Palestinians who managed to escape Gaza on their own are languishing in places like Cairo. In January, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said 645 people had arrived in Canada through this program, including those who found their own way out of the territory. The department has been asked for more recent data. — With files from Émilie Bergeron This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
India Today
7 days ago
- India Today
Planning to study in Canada? Know difference between student visa and study permit
If you're planning to study in Canada as an international student, you'll likely come across two important terms during the application process: study permit and student visa. While these are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually refer to two distinct parts of the journey to becoming an international student in the difference between them is key to avoiding confusion and ensuring a smooth transition from acceptance letter to campus WHAT IS A CANADIAN STUDENT VISA?A Canadian student visa -- more accurately referred to as a visitor visa or electronic travel authorisation (eTA) -- is the document that allows you to enter Canada. Think of it as your ticket into the country. Without it, you won't be able to board your flight or cross the border. Once your study permit is approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you'll receive a port of entry letter of introduction, along with a visitor visa or eTA, depending on your country of documents confirm that you've been authorised to study in Canada, but they are not your actual study permit. WHAT IS A CANADIAN STUDY PERMIT?Your study permit is the document that allows you to live in Canada and study at a designated learning institution (DLI).advertisementYou'll receive this permit only after arriving at a Canadian port of entry -- typically an international airport -- where a border services officer will issue the permit after a short interview and document check. To be clear:Student visa (visitor visa or eTA) = Authorisation to enter CanadaStudy permit = Authorisation to remain in Canada for the purpose of studyingYou cannot legally begin your studies unless you have both. WHAT TO EXPECT UPON ARRIVAL IN CANADAAt the border, you'll be interviewed by a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer. They will confirm the purpose of your visit and assess whether you meet all the conditions of your study questions include:What programme are you enrolled in?What school are you attending?How long is your programme?Do you have sufficient funds to support yourself?Are there any work restrictions on your permit?Even if your study permit has already been approved by IRCC, it's ultimately the CBSA officer who decides whether you're allowed to enter the country. This makes preparation you carry all your supporting documents admission letter, financial proof, and identification -- in your carry-on baggage, not checked luggage. MAINTAINING YOUR STUDY PERMIT IN CANADAOnce you've arrived and begun your programme, maintaining your study permit is just as important as obtaining it. This means:Studying full-time at your DLIComplying with any work conditions stated on your permitUpdating the Canadian government with changes to your address or personal informationRenewing or extending your permit before it expires, especially if you switch schools or programmesRecent updates to Canadian immigration policy in November 2024 now require students to reapply for a study permit extension if they change their post-secondary is a significant change from previous rules. Staying up-to-date with these requirements helps you avoid disruptions to your the Canadian immigration process can seem overwhelming at first, but knowing the distinction between a student visa and a study permit is a critical first visa gets you into the country; your study permit allows you to stay and pursue your education. Both are essential to your international student you prepare for your studies in Canada, stay informed, stay organised, and take the time to understand your responsibilities as a study permit holder. A smooth arrival starts with preparation and the right paperwork.- Article by Saif Iqbal, Vice President, ApplyBoard
