Report: More than 355,000 International Students Became PRs in 3 years

Feds also stepping up processing other permanent residency claims, according to Blacklock’s Reporter

Author of the article: Postmedia News
Published Jan 10, 2024

The Department of Immigration said more than 350,000 foreign students were allowed to remain in Canada as permanent residents over the last three years, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

The Department of Immigration said that more than a third of a million foreign students were allowed to remain in Canada as permanent residents over the last three years.

“In the past three years over 627,000 former temporary residents became permanent residents,” the department wrote to the House of Commons public accounts committee, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

“This includes over 355,000 former international students.”

The figures covered the period from 2021 to 2023.

The department also said it’s stepping up processing the permanent residency claims of foreigners already in Canada after immigration fell during pandemic lockdowns.

In 2020, the number of new immigrants allowed into Canada was 184,370, less than half the current quota.

Cabinet’s Immigration Levels Plan sets quotas at 485,000 people this year and 500,000 in 2025, even though some Canadians said those numbers are too high.

According to in-house 2023 research by the Immigration Department, some questioned the feasibility of housing another half-million immigrants annually. “Gaps identified included more support finding housing,” said the report.

“We’re in this housing crisis,” said one respondent.

“The education system and health system are already under a great deal of stress,” said another.

“People are living on the street because there’s no housing,” said another respondent. “We need to get our own house in order before we welcome anybody else in.”

The Immigration Department paid Quorus Consulting Group $119,723 for the research done on 18 focus groups nationwide.