International students who wish to work after graduation prefer Canadian immigration legislation over US law. This affects international students' choices. If US immigration policy tightens, the US may lose international students. The study examines foreign student enrollment at US and Canadian institutions using numerous sources.
International students choose Canada instead of America
According to a recent study conducted by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), a policy think tank, highly skilled foreign nationals, including international students, choose Canada over the United States.
This is due to the fact that it is more difficult to obtain an H-1B visa or permanent residency in the United States, whereas it is easier to work in a temporary status and obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Maximum period of two years for admission of international students
In spite of this, it is important to point out that Canada declared in January that it would limit the number of overseas students who might be admitted to the country to a maximum of two years.
This limit was later increased. Beginning this autumn (September), Canada will, for the very first time, establish limitations on the number of "temporary residents" that it will admit.
This category of individuals also includes temporary foreign workers, as well as those who are accepted under humanitarian and refugee programs.
The only people who have been eligible for yearly objectives up to this point are permanent residents who are on the route to becoming citizens of Canada.
In addition, there will be an effect on the applications submitted by Indian students in the short term as a result of diplomatic concerns that have arisen between Canada and India.
International students in Canada obtain permanent residency
According to the findings of the study, an international student who has completed their studies in Canada may be able to seek permanent residency within a few years afterwards.
Because of the per-country quotas and the low yearly limits on employment-based green cards in the United States, individuals from India who have a high level of education may have to wait for decades before they are granted permanent status.
According to the National Federation of American institutions (NFAP), the Trump administration has made it more difficult to get H-1B status and has openly explored the possibility of imposing additional limitations or abolishing optional practical training for students.
This may have deterred international students from enrolling in undergraduate programs at institutions in the United States.
US immigration law is less attractive than Canadian law
For international students who wish to find employment after graduation, the immigration laws of the United States continue to be less appealing than those of Canada.
The decisions that overseas students have taken have been impacted as a result of this. If immigration policy in the United States becomes more restricted, it is possible that the gap between the United States and other nations in terms of being able to recruit international students may expand.
Obtaining permanent residency visas
"Canada is benefiting from young Indian tech workers shifting away from US destinations," said Peter Rabkai, the creator of the Toronto-based firm. "This is largely due to the challenges of refining and finding a reliable path to H-1B permanent resident visas in the United States," Rabkai added.
