The data showed restrictive immigration policies in the United States, particularly during the Trump administration, having played a significant role in Indians choosing to immigrate to Canada
Indians simply love Canada. Since 2013, immigrating to Canada has more than tripled, reported forbes.com. The Forbes story mentioned that the scale of the increase was what one would expect to witness in a refugee situation, not the result of a steady increase in international students and employment-based immigrants. The data showed restrictive immigration policies in the United States, particularly during the Trump administration, having played a significant role in Indians choosing to immigrate to Canada.
The report indicated that the number of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada rose from 32,828 in 2013 to 118,095 in 2022, an increase of 260%, according to a National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) analysis of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data. In 2022, at 118,095, Indian immigration to Canada was way above the next largest source countries for permanent residents: China (31,815), Afghanistan (23,735), Nigeria (22,085) and the Philippines (22,070). In 2014, Canada had more immigrants from the Philippines than from India.
Between 2004 and 2012, Indian immigration to Canada stayed between 27,000 and 36,000. Then, from 2013 to 2014, Indian immigrants to Canada rose from 32,828 to 38,364, which stayed steady in 2015 (39,340) and 2016 (39,710).
In 2017, Indian immigration to Canada increased to 51,590, then rose to 69,985 in 2018 and 85,590 in 2019. Processing and travel disruptions connected to the Covid-19 pandemic caused the number to fall to 42,870 in 2020. But in 2021, as processing problems eased and the Canadian immigration authorities gave greater weight to work experience in Canada, Indians gaining permanent residence increased to 127,940 in 2021 and settled at 118,095 in 2022.
“Canada is benefiting from a diversion of young Indian tech workers from U.S. destinations, largely because of the challenges of obtaining and renewing H-1B visas and finding a reliable route to U.S. permanent residence,” said Peter Rekai, founder of the Toronto-based immigration law firm Rekai LLP
The significant increase in the number of Indians immigrating to Canada coincided with the election of Donald Trump and his opposition to immigration, including highly educated professionals—and the Canadian government’s policies to attract and retain foreign-born talent.
In January 2015, Canada adopted the Express Entry program to streamline immigration, particularly for high-skilled workers who had experience in Canada as international students or working in temporary status. In June 2017, the Global Skills Strategy began in Canada. “The Canadian government launched a new program to encourage foreign investment in Canada, incentivize companies to open offices in Canada, and attract top foreign talent,” according to a government website, reported forbes.com.
Under Trump, the United States and Canada adopted opposite approaches to the immigration of foreign-born scientists and engineers. The team Trump brought into the White House and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) viewed highly skilled foreign-born individuals as an economic threat, a stand at odds with virtually every economist in America. H-1B denial rates soared, delays mounted and threats of further action escalated, culminating in a ban on the entry of high-skilled visa holders and employment-based immigrants in 2020.
America’s destructive policies proved to be Canada’s gain, say attorneys. “Canada is benefiting from a diversion of young Indian tech workers from U.S. destinations, largely because of the challenges of obtaining and renewing H-1B visas and finding a reliable route to U.S. permanent residence,” said Peter Rekai, founder of the Toronto-based immigration law firm Rekai LLP, in an earlier interview. He added in a follow-up interview: “The Indian influx to Canada has much to do with doors closing in the United States.”
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