Indian migrants flock to Canada as Trump-era rules make US less attractive

The Mumbai-based couple “zeroed-in on Canada” after seeing how easily their friends and family members had adapted to life in the country – though they did have to brace themselves for “the extreme temperatures, snow and wind chills” of the frozen north, Irani said.

“Canada is the most immigrant-friendly country right now, and unlike in many others where it takes years to become a permanent resident, here we became [such] before arriving … which gives a certain security,” she said. “The real challenge, of course, starts after landing … finding a job, a house, making friends, and settling down in the cold weather. One of the greatest challenges is finding a job that suits your qualifications and experience.”

Data from Statistics Canada found that currently, about 30,000 Indian nationals become Canadian permanent residents each year, making them the third-largest non-European immigrant group in the country after Chinese- and Filipino-Canadians.

Between 2016 and November 2019, the number of Indian nationals admitted as permanent residents in Canada grew 105 per cent from 39,705 to 80,685, according to a National Foundation for American Policy analysis of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data. Canada has a points-based immigration system, which assesses applicants based on their skills and the country’s need for them.

Canadian universities are also an increasingly attractive option for Indian students, particularly those with an interest in technology such as Abhishek Nagendra, who studied at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management before finding a job in the city.