The Nova Scotia government introduced a new immigration stream this week, for international students who have worked in the province for twelve months.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab says the province will process candidates through the provincial nominee program for the federal government’s new express entry system. It will shorten the wait to about six months.
ListenDiab says, with 10 post-secondary institutions in the province, the pilot project is necessary because well-qualified candidates, including international students, were not being selected by Ottawa for express entry under other provincial streams.
We have, in this province, increased our retention level with 71 per cent of immigrants arriving from 2007 to 2011 staying in the province.
Diab says recent international graduates who have been working for a year, have learned to love the province and they really want to stay. She says it provides yet another avenue for immigrants hoping to gain permanent residency in the province.
The government is allowed to nominate 1,050 immigrants this year under the provincial nominee program, up from 700 last year.
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