Fast-track immigration for more foreign Ph.D students

Canada, 3rd November: Canadian government is all set to welcome an increased number of foreign Ph.D students in the coming year.

This was revealed by Canada immigration minister Jason Kenney.

Foreign PhDs will get fast immigration--A new scheme for fast-tracking Ph.D students having a minimum of two years academic experience in this nation will be introduced by Canada. The government is ready to allow nearly 250,000 immigrants as Canada permanent residents in the year 2012. This will include a total of 1,000 foreign Ph.D students studying in Canada.

This announcement comes close on the heels of the immigration targets tabled by Kenney for the year 2012.

Foreign PhDs best for Canada economy--Quicker route to immigration for foreign PhDs is keeping in view their contribution to math, science and technology sectors of Canada, the federal government revealed.

The nation lacks required number of people with expertise in all the above named sectors. Hence, the government aims to expand the federal skilled worker program to include foreign PhDs too.

Welcoming the move, minister of state for science and technology, Gary Goodyear said the new program announces to the world that Canada is now all set to welcome innovative ideas.

He added that research and development undertaken in the fields of math, science, engineering and technology contributes significantly to the competitiveness of Canada in the global market. Before such program, Canada was asking immigrants wanting to become Canada citizens to move back to their respective nations and begin afresh on the long waitlist of seven-years, Kenney said.

It was like asking immigrants earning a degree or a diploma( from any Canadian institute recognized by an employer in Canada), getting work experience and attained proficiency in French or English to move out of the nation and get back in the long immigration queue if they wish to immigrate, claimed Kenney.

It’s simply senseless, affirmed Kenney, since all such immigrants are set for achieving success in Canada. Foreign PhDs must possess a minimum of two years study towards the degree and should be in good standing at any recognized Canadian post-secondary institute. Recent PhD graduates will also be eligible to apply with the only condition being they should apply within 12 months of their graduation.