The best laid plans…
Last week, a long-term client landed as a permanent resident at Toronto Pearson Airport.
By “long-term,” I mean five years.
In 2019, shortly before his Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expired, he reached out to me for advice. He knew that he was unlikely to be able to transition directly from temporary resident to permanent resident status, but he wanted confirmation that he understood his options correctly. There was a window of opportunity for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), but then his employer got cold feet.
Based on Express Entry scores at the time, we calculated that, if he returned to India to obtain a year or two of additional work experience, his Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) would increase, and he would be more likely to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence (PR).
The pandemic blew that timeline out of the water.
But he cherished reconnecting with family and friends during a global crisis. And he found interesting professional opportunities related to his field of study, overseeing advertising accounts for multinational brands.
Now, five years after leaving Toronto, he’s returned to a city that has transformed as much as he has.
It’s an honour to work with young and talented people from around the world during some of the most exciting transitions of their lives. While it’s hard to deliver bad news (as when a PGWP is expiring), I’ve learned that immigration consulting is not just legal advice: it’s sitting with someone during some of life’s biggest changes, listening to fears, and supporting them through both setback and celebration.
In this profession, we often celebrate client wins. And I’m here doing that today.
But even the best laid migration plans can go awry. I sometimes describe my work to friends as “20% legal advice and 80% emotional support.” And somehow career, education, housing, social, and cultural advice gets folded within there.
So, I’m also here today to say this: if anyone in Toronto is looking for an internationally experienced advertising account manager with experience in hospitality, fashion, and consumer packaged goods (especially grocery items), I’d be happy to make an introduction.
