Skilled International workers who have been waiting to receive their Permanent Residency status in Canada are facing an uphill battle as the country’s Immigration System struggles to keep up with demand. While COVID-related delays have been mostly resolved, unexpected freezes in Express Entry draws from time to time are leaving many workers in limbo and facing the possibility of losing their Work permits and having to leave the country.
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According to reports, the freezes have led to a backlog of thousands of high-skilled workers who are waiting for their invitations to apply for Permanent Residency. Many of these workers are currently in the Express Entry pool of candidates with good scores, these scores would have been good enough to secure an Invitation at any point in the history of Express Entry system. These workers face the added pressure of a ticking clock, as their work permits are set to expire soon.
“The uncertainty and delays have been incredibly frustrating for us,” said Rahul Sahota. Rahul is a employed as a Pest control technician directly responsible to assure a healthy Pest Free environment for dozens of Canadian Businesses and has a significant positive impact on his local community’s health and well being.
Sahota further added, “We came to Canada in good faith, worked hard, and followed all the rules. But now we are caught in a bureaucratic nightmare that is out of our control.” Rahul’s work permit expires next week and there is a significant shortage of Pest Control technicians in the Job market.
The delays have led to a rise in LMIA job fraud, as immoral employers seek to capitalize on the fear and desperation of international workers who are facing an uncertain future. Many of these workers have invested years of their lives in Canada and have become valuable members of their communities, but they are now at risk of being forced to leave the country.
We also asked an Immigration expert their opinion on the current state of the immigration system and the challenges faced by newcomers. They further added, “IRCC is slow and stagnant in the face of Canada’s dynamic labour needs”. Steven Paolasini. B.Eng. RCIC.
“The situation is extremely concerning, I was a Frontline hero until a few months ago and now they don’t even care about my existence. I looked after the most vulnerable throughout the Pandemic,” said Maulik Patel.
Patel has been working in the healthcare industry ever since he moved to Canada in 2018. “We are running out of time, and we need the government to take action to address the delays and restore our faith in the immigration system.”
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently stated that the government is aware of the issue and is working to address it, but the workers on the front lines are growing increasingly frustrated as the delays continue.
“It’s not just about us, it’s about the thousands of families who are impacted by these delays,” said Minalynn, an Italian researcher currently in Canada on an open work permit. “We need the government to take immediate action and show us that we are valued members of this country.”
The situation is urgent, and it is clear that something needs to be done to ensure that skilled international workers are not left in limbo. The clock is ticking, and the workers are running out of time. The government must act now to address the issue and restore the faith of these valuable members of Canadian society.
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