Vancouver resident Calvin Wong says, he can picture the future in Canada after the Federal government announced it was reducing educational requirements for Hong Kong people seeking permanent residency in the wake of the Chinese city’s crackdown on dissent.
Wong ,28, In 2017 graduated with a computer science degree from the Hong Kong university of science and technology, moved to Canada in 2021 on a work permit, hoping for a life with political freedom.
Immigration pathways have allowed thousands of Hong Kong residents to settle permanently in Canada excluded Wong because it has been more than five years since he graduated.
This will change from August 15, after Ottawa announced recently that it would remove all educational requirements for individuals with a minimum of one year work experience in Canada.
Immigration consultants say the move effectively opens pathways of all ages for people who are living in Canada, instead of the current focus on pupils and recent graduates. There were many inquiries after this announcement.
Since the Canadian government made a great decision, I can gradually get permanent residence and live safely in Canada, says Wong.
The store clerk said, he would never regret the decision which he took to move to Canada which was a huge relief, since he got a chance to secure permanent residence for him.
For Hong Kong residents who had studied or worked in Canada, the federal government created two immigrations pathways in 2021.
Stream A applies to former Hong Kong individuals who graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada within three years. Individuals with a minimum of one year work experience in Canada who graduated from a foreign or Canadian institution within five years could apply for stream B.
The changes open up Stream B to all with a minimum of one year experience in Canada, regardless of education.
The Minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship Sean Fraser said, the changes were a “win-win situation”. This means that more individuals from Hong Kong who need support, are welcomed to Canada, which will simultaneously help Canadian businesses fill labour gaps with workers who already have work experiences.
3,122 permanent residents have been welcomed by Canada under the two pathways as of April 30,2023.
Canada is helping to retain individuals from Hong Kong regardless of their education.
If you happen to be a legal worker in Canada, and happen to obtain at least one year of work experience, then you are through.
