I want to work in Canada. Will Canadian employers hire foreign workers when they have the option of hiring remote workers instead?

I want to settle in Canada and become a permanent resident. Am worried about the rising trend of remote jobs and work-from-home positions.

Are you too worried about the potential impact of remote working on your Canada work or PR prospects? Well, there’s absolutely no reason for you to worry about WFH jobs or remote positions hurting your chances of working and settling in Canada.

Here are five very good reasons why remote working will not doom you Canada immigration dream.

Some Jobs Cannot be Done Remotely

From building a home to transporting cargo across the country, from treating a patient to managing a power plant—there are so many jobs and positions that just cannot be done remotely.

The notion that the entire world can work from home and that all jobs can be done remotely is sheer fantasy. So, don’t be in a hurry to conclude that the remote working revolution may have brought your Canada dream to an end.

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In Canada and Outside Canada—Not the Same

Even for remote positions, there is a huge difference in allowing an employee to work remotely in Canada compared to working from a foreign country. Somebody living in another province may be in a position to reach office when required within a day or two.

An employee living in India, Vietnam, or South Korea can hardly be expected to drop it for a meeting in just 24 hours.

Remote Working—Easier Said Than Done

The pandemic compelled businesses and workers to accept remote working. Now that working in office is no longer a health risk, it remains to be seen whether businesses will continue with remote working.

Just because it is possible doesn’t mean it will be profitable and productive for businesses to have employees work from home. Businesses may find it easier to convince workers to come to the office by offering more flexible schedules and greater control over work routines.

The Big-Picture Factors

Remote working isn’t just about the business and workers. There are other big-picture factors here.

The whole ‘intent to settle’ underlying all PNP streams will rendered useless if everybody starts working remotely from other countries. Canada needs skilled workers to live and work in the country to boost tax revenues, create demand for goods and services, and boost demographics.

So, the government may actually not want to encourage too much of remote working in Canadian businesses.

Conclusion—Immigration is Still On!

So, what are your work/immigration options?

If you are a skilled worker living abroad, then you need to start preparing for the restart of FSWP draws in 2022. Employers have been forced to restrict hiring of foreign workers to those already in Canada on a work permit or those with the Post-Graduation Work Permit.

It’s difficult to predict but it won’t hurt to be prepared for a few big bang draws with very low minimum CRS scores. The government may look to issue a large number of ITAs when restarting FSWP draws and the last thing you want is to lose out on this opportunity.

If you aren’t ready for PR yet, then you should focus on the LMIA-mandator work permit under the TFWP. With businesses struggling with labor shortages, the government may ease up approvals under the TFWP to help more foreign workers enter and work in Canada.

A combination of a Canadian job offer and work experience in the country will simplify the route to permanent residence in the country. Your spouse can join you here on an open work permit and you can use family sponsorship programs to bring your parents and/or grandparents to Canada.

Of course, there are multiple PNP options for skilled workers outside Canada. You will have to commit to settle in the province that’s issuing the Invitation to Apply. You can use Express Entry-specific streams to keep your FSWP and CEC chances open.

Or you can use the Skilled Worker streams of various PNPs to qualify for an Invitation to Apply. In most cases, a job offer in the province will be mandatory to enter, work, and settle in the province.

So, it’s safe to say that your Canada immigration dreams need not change just because remote working has become popular today. You don’t know how long this trend will continue. And even if it does, it’s unlikely that remote working will become the norm for all positions and all jobs with all the employers in Canada.