Student to Permanent Resident: Canada 3 Years, USA: 25 Years
How long does it take to get Permanent residency status in USA and Canada for students attending Masters degree in respective countries?
Immigration rules in Canada are much friendly compared to old immigration polices still followed in US.
Lets compare how long it would take to get Green Card in US and Permanent residency in Canada for a students studying Masters degree in USA and Canada.
USA – Green Card
Here is a quick overview of Green Card process in USA.
- Get F1 Visa
- Compete Masters Degree (2 to 3 years)
- Find a job
- H1B Work visa valid for 6 years
- Employer typically files for green card in your 5th year in H1B
- Assuming Green Card is applied in EB-3 category
- With current wait times, it would take over 20 years to get green card.
Canada Permanent Residency
Assuming student is applying for Provincial Nominee program in British Columbia (if you attend schools like University of British Columbia)
BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an immigration program that allows BC employers to recommend highly skilled workers to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for permanent residence.
Applicant will receive faster processing of their application for permanent resident status (within 12 months) and will be able to extend their work permit for an additional two years.
Here’s how the program works:
- A BC employer offers a job to an international student who has almost or already completed their degree program. The job offer must be a full-time, permanent position; in most cases it must be related to the student’s field of study.
- The employer and applicant each complete the required BC PNP forms.
- The employer submits the complete application, with a letter recommending the applicant for nomination, within one year of completion of the program of studies.
So, it takes about 2 years to complete Masters and with a job, you can get Permanent residency in about 3 to 4 years.
When it comes to Canada, high cold temperature is what everyone fear. If you make up your mind to overcome the fear towards cold (like so many other students) then Canada might be good destination for higher education.
i am a graduate in pharmacy with 64%,i want to do masters in canada but anyway its not possible because i have 6 band in ielts and my profile is also low.so,if i do a one year pg diploma i will get a one yr work permit so can i apply for masters at the end of my work permit and what is prerequisite for a student to get PR.can i get a PR with this kind of approach
I want to go The USA for doing my Master.After that ,I have an intention to enter Canada. Is it possible to go Canada from USA for study or work, after completing study in the USA or during study?
can anyone answer this question as soon as an international student lands in canada lets say in toronto and has a study permit in a private university can he start applying for PR as soon as he lands in canada
The pay is less in Canada and taxes are more. So earning in US for 2 H1-B terms (4-6yrs). mean while you can file a Federal PR in Canada and you can get it. This way you will get good pay in USA and your PR in Canada. After getting Canadian PR, you can shift to Canada and get a software job in Toronto with experience.
In Canada, its really hard to get jobs for freshers. The University fees is high. The Private universities suck money and the degrees does’t worth anything. Currently I am suffering, Please think before taking any decisions.
Hi Manz
i am a 2011 passout with BE(computers) with 64% and i am planing to do Pg diploma in canada is that worthy and what r the chances of getting jobs.my main intension is to settle down in US as i have 10 backlogs so i cant get f1 visa .so i am planing to do pg in canada by that i wil get 1year work permit.and how about the chances of getting work visa in US .can u pls suggest me on this….
Hey manz…Iam planning to do ms in canada and then settle up by getting a job in IT..I want you to share your experience…about the universities,why the degrees arent worth and also why is it difficult for a fresher to get a job?
Currently I will be completing my BE in IT…Plz help.
hi, i am following this blog since last few months . it provides very good insights on pursuing masters abroad. i have finished B.E. in electrical engineering. i am planning for M.Sc in canada. i have a doubt regarding visa interview for student visa in canada . Is there any student visa interview for getting student visa in canada ? Should we make them believe that we are not potential immigrants in such interviews to get the visa ?
thanks for running this blog and guiding students for their further studies in foreign countries
Iam studying B.tech Mechanical 3rd year,after completion i want to do M.S in Canada and settle their with PR(permanent residence).please give me a good suggestion.
Hello most learned commentators, I was denied admission to a canadian university for a masters prog. but fortunately, secured one in the U.S though, my heart still lies with canada due to the high living standards, current high level of demand for manpower in Ca and economical advantages. Pls, I need to know my chances of relocating and securing a good job In Ca. with an MSc. Degree from the U.S
In us it is very easy to get a job compare to Canada . Master students in us comes under Catagory of eb2 not eb 3 it takes not 20 years ,if every thing is gong is fine you can get in 7 years.
For phd students it hardly takes one year for Gc.
Under eb1
what about funding oppurtunity in canadian universities?
Hello HSB and fellow HSB fans,
I’ve got a query here. Suppose the candidate completes his MS in an accredited US university and then finds a job suitable to his qualification, then why would he come under the EB-3 category for a green card. EB-3 is for candidates holding a bachelor’s degree. One who has completed an MS must fall under the EB-2 category right. So the greencard must be available within 7-8 years or so. Just point out if I’m wrong.
Thanks
Rajkamal
Having masters doesn’t qualify you for eb2.
Does the Job require masters as minimum requirement?
You can have PhD and get a job that requires bachelors as minimum requirement less than 5 years work exp, then you qualify only for eb3.
hey HSB,
can you please tell me that under what category of green-card applicants do physicians fall……..physicianns who are doing residency in USA…????or could you please shed light on the average time taken to get green-card after h1.
Hi,
If you are planning on immigrating to Canada the best option you have is to apply as a skilled worker . Right now they have 29 job skills which will receive PR very fast. If you have finished your Masters in Canada or USA you have a better chance of getting through. You also will need a job offer in Canada , which will help you with immigration. check out
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp for all the details
USA is a totally different story and is much much harder
Good luck
So, if a someone comes in to Canada on a student visa, to one of these universities, he/she is also eligible to work full time anywhere? Because its a limitation for most international students coming in to US, where they are eligible to work only on campus and are not authorized to work for non-campus employers.
Students can work 20 hours on campus (just like US) per week.
Hi Nithin,
You can obtain off campus employment on certain conditions. If you substantiate to the USCIS that you have extreme financial hardship and you have good grades in academics, you can work off campus. There are many other restrictions like you must not work at liquor stores etc,. So, refer this blog and government websites of US to find further information on this…
Thanks
Rajkamal
Could you please tell me the career prospects for a person who has done his MS in mechanical engineering from Canada.
please do reply
hi. i need some mater regarding the ways to settle over in canada as permanent resident.. after completing my ms in canada ,would i get job?? is there any guarantee???????? pls can u send me the clear description about it or els you can send me your face book or gmail adress to talk about ………… please……………
Give us the guarantee right now that you will live on 31st December 2012,the world is ending before that according to Mayan Calendar.
If you can give the guarantee,there will also guarantee that you’ll get a job after MS in Canada.
Hi frnz,”m applying for 2012 fall {M.S PHARMACY i.e.,RA/A.C/P’engg.}preferrably in north eastern states,of US. So keeping in mind about the present financial meltdown,i would like to know,how would it effect my tution fee, and also the part time jobs, and job opportunities in PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR after my masters.
HI,
I want to go to canada for study.
I tried for US but didnt get the VISA unfortunately.
Due to this, I have a one year gap between my studies.
I graduated in May 2010.
Please tell me whether i can get the canadian student VISA if i apply for spring 2012 in canadian colleges. ??
please reply….