By Molly Welby

On March 6, approximately 80 members of the University of Maryland gathered to learn about immigrating to Canada through Express Entry. 

Two representatives from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada traveled to this university to educate potential immigrants about the skills and background required to make Canada their permanent home. The First Secretary of Migration, Jennifer Carlile, provided students and other members of the community with information regarding the channels through which they are able to migrate and how they can improve their individual applications. 

According to Carlile, prior to the launch of the Express Entry program, it can take up to 10 years for an application to be reviewed. Today, once an applicant completes the preliminary application, the Comprehensive Ranking Program will award points for each section of the application: college degree, work experience, adaptability and any arranged employment in Canada. The highest point values are awarded to candidates who are 18 to 35 years of age, obtained a college degree with four to five years of work experience or have arranged employment in Canada.

If the minimum requirements are met, every two weeks candidates will receive invitations to apply for permanent residency. The website for the Government of Canada states that those chosen to apply have 60 days to submit a complete application which includes education equivalency, a medical exam by a designated medical health professional, police certificates, proof of funds, language test results, spouse eligibility, biometrics and the necessary fees for the individual and any accompanying family members. 

Potential immigrants have three programs through which they can apply for permanent residency: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Students trying to pursue their education abroad often choose to apply through the Canadian Experience Class, Carlile said. 

The Canadian Experience Class allows students to further their studies in Canada, after having gained one year of experience working there legally. Students may then be sponsored by a Canadian Employer to apply for permanent residency.  

This year, Canada is projected to have 340,000 new immigrants, making up approximately one percent of the population. Canada is ranked No. 1 in the U.S. News and World Report’s Quality of Life Rankings.

According to Omar De Jesus, a program assistant for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, immigrants are drawn to Canada for its high standard of living, diverse demographic, strong economy, and universal health care. 

Canada’s labor market caters largely to entrepreneurs but the most in demand professions are located in Information Technology, finance and accounting, engineering, management and merchandising. 

Masters student, Werrui Liu,  who is pursuing a degree in quantitative finance at the at this university, said that being an international student in the United States is “not that friendly” and often seen as “second best.” Upon completion of his degree, he hopes to pursue a career in Canada. 

Gabriela Gillespie, the Integration Program Manager for Global UMD’s International Student and Scholar Services explained that the program reached out to UMD directly, and that the university has never hosted an event like this before. When asked how the program related to the International Student and Scholar Services program she said, “Employment is the mission of the university both domestic and abroad.”

Students like Liu are the reason that De Jesus and Carlile have scheduled the event to occur annually so there is information available about pursuing a future outside of the United States.

Carlile elaborated on her passion behind Canadian immigration, “People tend to focus on the negative aspects of immigration, this is a chance to tell them what a great place [Canada] is.” 

Featured photo: Jennifer Carlile, the First Secretary of Migration for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, speaks on Mar. 6 in the Edward St. John Teaching Center about the Canadian Express Entry process. Photo by Molly Welby.