I have been waiting a long time to make this post. Almost 5 years! That’s how long it’s been since I first made my study permit application to come to Canada. Looking back, even though there have been ups and downs on this journey, moving to Canada has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
If you have been following the news, Canada had made drastic cuts to the number of permanent residents that it would take in. In combination with high number of temporary residents, it has made immigration very difficult. Canada uses a points based system to invite Permanent Residents to the country. After having narrowly missed out in December 2023 by less than 1 points and in October 2024 by 1 point, I was very close to having to go back to India due to an expiring work permit.
I am very grateful to my employer and in particular Simon Foo and Connie Ko for standing by me and helping me with employer sponsorship. They didn’t really have to do it and it cost a lot of effort, money, time. As part of this process, I was asked to move provinces on a whim from British Columbia to Ontario at a very difficult time in my life. Looking back, I am glad I made that call because I would not have made it without that.
This is my full timeline incase you are curious:
8 November 2024 – Employer files for LMIA – Global Talent Stream(GTS)
6 December 2024 – LMIA approved
8 January 2025 – Invited to Apply
19 Feb 2025 – Application submitted(AOR)
26 March 2025 – Biometrics request(BIL)
27 March 2025 – Biometrics completed, Eligibility started
28 March 2025 – Medical pass, Background check started
5 April 2025 – Medical pass again
11 April 2025 – Final Decision in GC key
14 April 2025 – PR tracker shows all green, COPR number visible
30 April 2025 – P1 Email
15 May 2025 – P2 Email
13 June 2025 – ECoPR
My score was 562. That was with Canadian 2 year diploma, CLB level 10 English in all 4 categories, 2 year skilled Canadian work experience, 3 years skilled foreign work experience and job offer points. The minimum score for my round was 542.
My friend told me that there is certain weight that goes off your shoulders once you are a Permanent Resident and your status in the country is no longer temporary. It is pressure that you never really thought you had, but you feel it once you no longer have it. And I totally experienced that.
If you are thinking of move to Canada, I can whole heartedly recommend it. It has been one of the best decisions that I have taken in my life. But do make sure you plan for your pathway to permanent residency and don’t take anything for granted. If I have learnt anything through this process, it is that every point is important. Wish you the best in your Canadian journey!