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While the U.S. blocks immigration visas, Canada building strong Nigerian community

色狐入口

U.S. President Donald Trump has expanded a controversial travel ban to include immigration visa restrictions on Nigeria and five other nations. In Canada, however, Nigerians belong to one of the fastest-growing diasporas in the country.

Nigeria, Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, and Tanzania will be barred from obtaining certain types of U.S. immigration visas beginning February 21. The said these countries are either 鈥渦nable or unwilling to improve their information-sharing鈥 with the U.S. or they 鈥減resented serious terrorism-related risks.鈥

As a result, many American citizens and Nigerian immigrants will not be able to reunite with their families.

Akatavweragbon Salowo, a blogger who calls herself 鈥淎k鈥 for short, immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2018. Like many Nigerians, both in the U.S. and abroad, she felt targeted by Trump鈥檚 latest travel ban update and questioned the logic of blocking immigration from Africa鈥檚 most populous country.

鈥淚 imagine there will be a lot of Nigerians moving to Canada (from the U.S.),鈥 Salowo told 色狐入口.

Canada does not consider a person鈥檚 country of origin when determining which immigration candidates qualify for economic-class immigration programs.

Last year Nigerians were the fourth most represented nationality among new permanent residents. About 12,595 permanent residents in 2019 were from Nigeria, which is exponentially more than the 4,090 Nigerians who became permanent residents in 2015.

Salowo was one of the Nigerians who immigrated to Canada through the federal system.

鈥淚 had a great life in Nigeria before I moved, but I think I just got to the point where I was a little restless,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 felt I was in a bubble and I thought it would be really cool to experience something different.鈥

Now she writes a blog on her everyday experiences as an immigrant in the Greater Toronto Area. She calls her blog 鈥溾 in an effort to 鈥渄econstruct鈥 what these words mean through her experiences living in Canada as a Black woman from Africa.

鈥淲hen you say, 鈥楬ey I am Nigerian,鈥 you never know how people are approaching the conversation,鈥 Salowo said, pointing out common stereotypical assumptions some people have about Nigerians, 鈥淎 huge chunk of us are passionate and educated and really just want to have a better life.鈥

Immigrating to Canada through Express Entry

Salowo said she chose to immigrate to Canada because it was, 鈥渢he easiest country to legally get an international passport.鈥

Canada is the only country with an immigration system like Express Entry.

Like many well-educated young Nigerians with work experience, Salowo obtained permanent residence through the that is managed by the Express Entry system.

She did not have a job offer in Canada, and she had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 441.

When a foreigner decides they want to immigrate to Canada they can enter into the Express Entry pool. Once in the pool, candidates are given a CRS score based on human capital factors such as age, work experience, education, and language proficiency. Then the highest-scoring candidates are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs).

With an ITA, candidates can submit an application for Canadian permanent residence.

鈥淚 was a little worried,鈥 she recalled, 鈥淏ut literally two weeks after I jumped into the [Express Entry] pool I got an ITA.鈥

Immigration through Canadian provinces

In 2019 it was rare that an Express Entry draw鈥檚 CRS requirement would go below 441.

However, Express Entry is also aligned with many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Most Canadian provinces also have their own programs that can be an option for immigration candidates who do not have high CRS scores.

For example, candidates needed a CRS of 472 in the latest Express Entry draw, but in one recent Alberta Express Entry draw candidates only needed a CRS of 300. Much like the federal Express Entry system, Alberta鈥檚 program does not require candidates to have a job offer.

By receiving a provincial nomination, Express Entry candidates automatically earn an additional 600 points over their overall score, which effectively guarantees them an ITA from the federal government in a subsequent draw.

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