Canada’s of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller recently announced measures to control the Temporary resident (TR) program.
Temporary residents:
Foreign nationals coming to Canada on a temporary visa are Temporary residents (TR), and differentiated from those coming here on a permanent basis (“Permanent Residents” or PR). While there are ways for TRs to transition to PRs while staying in Canada, the status as TR continues till the time, they become a PR.
TRs are 3 broad categories, with many sub-categories:
- Visitors
- International Students (Study Permit holders)
- Foreign workers (Work Permit holders)
- Under Temporary Foreign Workers Program – most LMIA-based work permits
- Under International Mobility Program (IMP)
- post-graduate work permits;
- spousal work permits for students or workers;
- youth mobility agreements;
- intercompany transfers;
- trade agreements;
- temporary special humanitarian pathways; or
- other pilots
- Special measures
- refugee claimants awaiting hearing;
- Temporary Resident Permit holders.
The announced measures include:
- Targets for temporary residents to be included in the Annual Immigration levels plan
– A 1st in Canadian immigration
– Target to reduce the TR population to 5% of total Canadian population (currently, 6.2%)
- More domestic draws at Federal level – Express Entry
– Beneficial for CEC Applicants – those in Canada with Canadian experience
– Work permit holders in Canada should prepare for their PR efforts
– Less numbers for outside Canada applicants
- PNPs – recruit more In-Canada applicants
– Presented as a recommendation to provinces, this measure will have similar impact particularly for students working in different provinces to benefit from their respective Provincial Nominee Program
