Just registered to give my 5 cents:
In case your text is editable, please do so. There's like 10,000 mistakes in there, which kinda doesn't bode too well if you also state "Our English language skills are up to the mark." Neither CIC nor the Canadian government particularly care about our fate. All they want is to make it easier for Canadians and people on PRs. Hence, the text needs to be presented differently (frankly, there's a lot that I'd simply delete. They aren't interested in how many years people invested in their education). The text needs to be presented in a way that shows them what good immigrants did in the past. Like: 50% of start-ups are founded by immigrants PLUS small and middle sized companies create the most job. Terms like job creation, innovation, initiatives is what they want to hear!
Here's the proofread (and adapted) copy:
Candidates on open work permits and working in Canada need more visibility in Express Entry system.
Concerned Worker
Canada
Recently, Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduced the Express Entry system for immigration, putting thousands of temporary workers on post graduate work permits in great difficulty. Foreigners graduating from Canadian universities and colleges formerly had various options to stay. Consequently, many of us did work towards said options, as life resulted in many of us losing their heart to this county. We have been in Canada for 3 to 6 years, have settled down, adapted and assimilated with the Canadian society and culture. Also, we already have full time jobs which we had to compete for. In fact, well-integrated and hard-working students bring many benefits to Canada:
- Our brains! An economy thrives when people create and innovate. Studies show that nearly half of innovative start-ups are founded by immigrants. However, in order to continue doing so, we need more than just a (hard-to-get) start-up visa.
- Your future. Much like in most Western countries, Canada's suffering from an aging population. We'd be your tax-payers of the future. So, don't throw us out just yet...
- We have special skills. For dozens of years, immigrants have brought many benefits to Canadian businesses. Not only are we well-educated and hard-working, we also add a ton of value with our language skills. Many of us speak and write more than 5 (!) languages.
- We create jobs. Immigrants found about 50% of new ventures. Down the line, this means that we don't just create our own job but many more. Look at Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver: the number of foreign business owners is immense!
- We have a Canadian education: most foreign post-graduates studied in Canada for 2 to 4 years.
- Our youth and health: We are young and thus not a major burden on the heath system (yet, we pay the health premiums as part of our taxes).
- Most of us are single: International students will most probably be immigrating to Canada by themselves, thus neither burdening Canada by bringing in families nor using the health and education systems.
Unfortunately, the recent draw in the Express Entry system brought up the following concerns:
1. That holders of post graduation work permits (PGWP) may suffer from disadvantages due to not being awarded enough points for their Canadian work experience (considering the total of 1200 points).
2. PGWP holders may suffer disadvantages due to not receiving points for their full-time, LMIA-exempt jobs (CRS-arranged employment).
3. In fact, we are required to create a job bank profile even though we already are employed full-time.
4. Being recent graduates, we cannot score high in the foreign experience section. With a few exceptions, however, we already have Canadian work experience.
5. Our employers hired us based on the fact that PGWP are LMIA-exempt. Hence, most of them aren't willing to go through the hassle of an LMIA procedure. Moreover, they might let us go, thinking that we are only going to be in Canada for a short time period. We are afraid to suffer personal consequences - like finally not being offered a promised promotion - due to that shift of immigration policy.
6. As our work permits are expiring soon, some of us are in a very difficult situation. By the time the score required in draws comes down to our level, it may be too late for us - meaning that we need to leave job and country.
7. Canadian companies prefer Canadian experience. So how does it make sense to bring in foreign workers with foreign work experience instead of keeping Canadian-educated and already-experienced post-graduates in the country? Also, contrary to newly immigrating workers, our English and French skills are up to the mark!
We ask you to kindly take into account that international students we have been contributing to the Canadian economy by paying elevated fees (particularly tuition fees). Also, they have been paying taxes on their salaries as well as on any other purchases for the 3-6 years they have been here.
Here are our suggestions for a fairer treatment of people on post-graduate work permits:
1. Introduce an option for extending post-graduate work permits for candidates in the express entry pool.
2. Make LMIAs easier-to-get for candidates on post graduate work permits. Stay strict, but make it possible for them to, if merited, be awarded the additional 600 points.
3. If possible, eliminate or ease the LMIA requirement. Also, increase points awarded for Canadian experience.
