The strict rules of H1B of the United States has resulted in increase of Canadian citizenship by 50 percent. Nearly 15,000 Indians obtained citizenship during the period of 10 months ending October 2018.
According to Canadian authorities, 1.39 lakh permanent residents became citizens in Canada, out of which nearly 11% are Indians.
India has the second-highest number of citizenship applications and this rise in number is a result of the reduction of the time period to obtain a permanent resident in Canada. Last year about 51,000 Indians were granted permanent residency say the data.
As per the Canadian Immigration policy, the country is likely to admit more than a million immigrants in the next three years.
According to Canadian rules, a permanent resident must have lived in the country for at least three of the five years before applying for citizenship. While permanent residents can live and work in the country, get social benefits, and are protected under Canadian laws, they are not allowed to vote or run for political office.
According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, almost 1.53 lakh people would have obtained Canadian citizenship by October, an increase of 40% compared to 1.08 lakh people in the corresponding period last year. The number increased after the country introduced new citizenship rules in October 2017.
The highest number of Indians – 51,651 – became permanent residents of Canada in 2017, ahead of the Philippines with 40,857 citizens and China with 30,270.