Description: Hundreds of international students rally in downtown Vancouver against the recent changes to British Columbia’s provincial nominee program (PNP), which now requires STEM master’s students to have a year of full-time work experience before qualifying for permanent residency.
Protesters express dismay over the sudden implementation of the updated guidelines, arguing that it disrupts their plans and unfairly targets them. They call for a grace period for existing master’s students and meaningful consultations with stakeholders before any immigration policy changes.
Premier David Eby defends the revisions, stating that previous guidelines did not accurately reflect the qualifications of applicants invited to apply for the PNP program. He emphasizes the need to prevent exploitation by immigration brokers who misrepresent the program as an easy pathway to permanent residency.
The protest occurs amidst broader discussions about immigration policy, including recent federal decisions to cap student permits, adding complexity to the pathway for international students seeking permanent residency in Canada.
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