The Immigration Minister of Canada, Marco Mendicino, has announced two new immigration pathways for Hongkongers.
People of Hong Kong descent who are recent graduates or skilled workers are eligible to apply for the new permanent residency immigration programs.
The new programs are now open for applicants. They can submit applications under these programs. Marco Mendicino made an announcement of the new programs in November last year. After China imposed the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the government of Canada condemned the decline of Hong Kong’s electoral system. And in response to these situations, Canada announced to increase the intake of immigrants from Hong Kong.
While applying for the fresh streams, immigration candidates need to be temporary residents in Canada and must have a valid status. They should meet all other eligibility conditions such as work experience, education qualification, and language proficiency. Also, they need to own a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport. People with a United Kingdom passport are also eligible.
Eligibility for Stream A applications
Candidates who are eligible for the Stream A immigration program must have a post-secondary degree from a Canadian DLI (Designated Learning Institution). Applicants must have completed their degree within the three years of application. Also, they should have completed half of their program in Canada only.
If applicants are diploma holders, the length of the program must be a minimum of two years. And the credentials for graduation or post-graduation should be at least one year.
Eligibility for Stream B applications
Those immigration candidates who have a minimum of one year of full-time work experience within the last three years are eligible for the Stream B immigration stream. Applicants with part-time work experience of at least 1,560 hours are also eligible.
Applicants do not need to complete a post-secondary program in Canada in order to be eligible for Stream B.
Please note: Candidates should intend to live outside the province of Quebec. They cannot settle in Quebec if they are applying for Canada PR because the province of Quebec has its own immigration programs.
