International Student Choices For Studies In The U.S. VS Canada

The United States and Canada are both premier destinations for international students, offering top-tier education and potential pathways to permanent residence. However, their approaches to managing international students and facilitating their transition to permanent residence differ significantly. This article will compare the two systems, and evaluate which approach might be better for international students seeking permanent residence after completing their studies.

Acceptance At Colleges And Universities

United States: Colleges and universities in the U.S. are not restricted as to how many international students they can accept. However, they must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enrol international students. Accurate records of registrations are required. Spouses of F-1 and M-1 student visa holders cannot get permission to work but can come to live in the U.S.

Canada: The number of international students who will be allowed to study in Canada will be restricted to 437,000 in the upcoming year. Furthermore, applicants must obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in addition to a college acceptance to be allowed to study in Canada. Partners and spouses of international students will be eligible for open work permits only if their spouse is enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program at a university or polytechnic institution in Canada.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) vs.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

United States: The OPT program allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months (24 months for STEM graduates) after completing their studies. This work experience is valuable for students seeking to transition to employment-based visas. Most often, students try to transition to H1B work visas.

Canada: The PGWP allows international students who have graduated from eligible Canadian institutions to work in Canada for up to three years. This work experience is crucial for students aiming to apply for permanent residence through programs like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under the Express Entry system. Recent changes will now require a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 for university graduates and a CLB of 5 for college graduates to enter the work force for applicants applying after November 1st, 2024.

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H-1B Visa vs. Express Entry System

United States: The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa for highly skilled workers, allowing for dual intent (temporary stay while seeking permanent residence). With an exception for non-cap applicants applying to work in an institution of higher education or its affiliated or related nonprofit entities, a nonprofit research organization, or a government research organization, there is an annual cap of 85,000 visas, including 20,000 for advanced degree holders from U.S. institutions. The process is competitive, onerous, and subject to a lottery system. This is only a work visa program - applicants must apply for permanent residence later.

Canada: The Express Entry system is a points-based immigration system that includes the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Key considerations include age, knowledge, and experience. International students who gain work experience in Canada can earn additional points, increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Employment-Based Green Cards vs. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

United States: International students who secure employment in the U.S. may be sponsored by their employers for an employment-based green card. The process involves several steps, including a labor certification process, so-called PERM, to show there are no U.S. workers ready, willing and able to take the job. After the Department of Labor approval, an immigrant petition is filed with USCIS. The process can be lengthy and complex.

Canada: Apart from Express Entry, many provinces in Canada have their own immigration programs that nominate individuals for permanent residence based on the province's specific needs. International students who have studied and worked in a particular province may be eligible for a nomination, which can significantly expedite their path to permanent residence.

Integration and Sustainability

United States: The U.S. system emphasizes high-skilled employment, which can lead to successful integration for those who secure H-1B visas and employer sponsorship. However, the competitive nature of the H-1B visa process and the reliance on employer sponsorship can create uncertainty for international students.

Canada: The focus on younger ages, language proficiency and work experience ensures that international students are better prepared to integrate into the Canadian labor market. The study permit caps recently introduced aim to manage the number of international students and maintain the sustainability of the immigration system in a competitive labor market.

Pathway To Permanent Residence Clarity

United States: The pathway to permanent residence is less predictable due to the competitive nature of the H-1B visa and the complexities of the employment-based green card process. The lack of a standardized pathway is a challenge for international students.

Canada: Programs like PGWP, Express Entry, and PNPs better define the pathways to permanent residence. The recent policy changes provide clearer eligibility criteria, enhancing the predictability of the process. However, attaining permanent residence is still not easy and requirements are challenging.

Conclusion

Historically, the U.S. and Canada have too often used international student enrollment as a cash cow for supporting their universities and colleges at the expense of providing foreign students with realistic options for staying in the country. Neither country has paid enough attention to who should be selected for studies and designing a good program for them to facilitate their immigration, permanent residence and later citizenship. Instead, foreign students are expected to transition into the workforce through outdated temporary foreign worker programs and seek a way forward.

Fortunately, policy changes are being implemented in Canada, and less slowly in the U.S., to correct these shortcomings. Of course, no country can accept all the students who want to come there even with perfect programs. Some will miss it. That is just the way the system will have to operate. However, both countries could do better at clearly defining their policies to create clearer pathways to permanent residence and citizenship for those international students who wish to stay after their graduation.