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Indians constituted almost half of the Canada immigration candidates who received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence under Express Entry in 2019. Indian Express Entry candidates received 47 per cent of all the Invitations to Apply(ITAs) issued through Express Entry last year. Indians are also far ahead when compared to the Nigerians who came second in terms of the percentage of Express Entry ITAs received, at just 7%.
Why do Indians have an upper hand in Express Entry?
Indians have been receiving a high number of ITAs in the past few years. Proficiency in English, higher education levels and work experience as well as the skills that are in high demand in Canada are the factors that make Indians the most eligible candidates. In 2019, the most number of invitations were issued to candidates in the following professions:
- Software engineers and designers
- Information systems analysts and consultants
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- Financial auditors and accountants
- Administrative assistants
The ICT professionals arriving in Canada with experience in these occupations obviously have an upper hand in the Canadian job market. Moreover, many H-1B visa holders with ICT work experience in the US are moving to Canada as the US has tightened its rules for immigration. According to data from IRCC, close to a total of 12 percent of ITAs went to the residents of the US in 2019. As the US government has enforced a freeze on H-1B visas, even more Indians, both from the US and India, are expected to move to Canada through Express Entry.
Among federal immigration programs, Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) remained in the lead in 2019, with 45 percent of all ITAs being issued to FSWP candidates. Canada has not issued any invitations to FSWP candidates after travel restrictions were imposed in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic. But the FSWP candidates need not lose hope as, by all evidence, Canada immigration system is fast recovering from the impact of COVID-19 and will soon return to normalcy.
So if you wish to move to Canada in the near future, you must start the preparations right away. That will make you ready to move to Canada by the time Canada reopens its doors for more immigrants.
Check your Express Entry eligibility by filling our free online assessment form!
