The yearly report just released by the Government of Canada has revealed that Nigeria ranks third in the rating of the countries with the highest number of Express Entry invitations to Canada in 2018. This is revealed in the 2018 report released by the Canada Government.
According to the report, a total number of 6,025 Citizens of Nigeria received invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canadian Express Entry in 2018. It was further revealed that Nigeria is just behind China who recorded 6,248 ITAs in 2018.
Overall, Nigeria and China are distant second and third to India. India ranks first as 41,675 citizens of India dominated Express Entry invitations in 2018, receiving 46% of all ITAs issued.
Software Engineers took the lead: Further breakdown of candidates invited for express entry shows that Software Engineering was the most common occupation among those who received ITA last year, displacing Information Systems Analysts and Consultancy, which fell to second place.
Also, Computer programming remains the third most common occupation, followed by financial auditing and administrative assistance.
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Factors considered for selection: The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s data shows that 51% of Express Entry candidates who received invitations in 2018 were between age 20 and 29.
In terms of education, 48% had a Master’s degree or entry-to-practice professional degree and another 42% had a post-secondary credential of three years or longer.
Similarly, the majority of candidates (60%) had no Canadian work experience, while 39% had five years or more of foreign work experience.
David Cohen, a senior partner with the Campbell, Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal, said, “The evolution of Canada’s Express Entry system has been thrilling to experience and 2018 was no exception, as this report makes clear.
More than 90,000 foreign workers and their families were welcomed to Canada last year through Express Entry, an unprecedented number that we may see upstaged in the future given the higher targets that Canada has set for 2019 and 2020.”
Preferred Destination: IRCC also noted that Ontario, which is home to major cities such as Toronto and Ottawa, was the destination province for 64% of all candidates who applied for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry in 2018.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia all saw increases in provincial nomination category, which is the single most valuable factor under the Express Entry system.
Why this matters: Many Nigerians are always on the lookout for immigration opportunities, especially to countries such as Canada. For such people, news like this serves as a source of encouragement, whilst also informing them of the right way to go about their immigration processes.
In view of the serious economic hardship in countries such as Nigeria, many people will continue to look for greener pastures elsewhere until the Government takes the right steps towards remedying the problem.
[READ ALSO: How to Apply for Canadian Permanent Residency from Nigeria on Your Own]
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