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Comment by gamekathu | Hacker News Reader

The post glosses over Canada by not mentioning Quebec. If you are in Quebec, chances of your getting a Permanent Residency is close to slim if you do not have French language proficiency. Thus, while living in Quebec for 5 years now, being a grad student, I neither qualify for PR nor citizenship by naturalization.

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In the US a student visa never leads to naturalization, you need a green card first. I think that's the case in most countries.

I heard of someone from Haiti getting Canadian citizenship while going to grad school in Quebec but that seems more an exception than the rule.

My point was mainly directed at both PR and naturalization aspects of Canada that was mentioned in this post. Even if you are not a student, the road to PR in Quebec is long if you do not have meet the language requirement. Typically you apply for Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) which is a pre-requirement for PR. This pre-requirement also has a pre-requirement nowadays, which is getting an invitation to apply for CSQ through ARRIMA (which has a yearly cap). In total,even if you are not a student, if you do not meet language requirement, it can take 3-4 years just to get the PR, and 3 more for citizenship. Thus, my point was against the classic misconception of “easy path to citizenship” of Canada made by this post (and frankly by a lot of people in general, as they tend to overlook Quebec).

Yeah I don't know why anyone would choose Quebec if they aren't already fluent in French.

People choosing Quebec to immigrate must be either fluent in French or stupid. Quebec immigration is perhaps one of the most arcane system and politically influenced. To compare it only takes 4 or 6 months to get a PR in rest of Canada if you have the right skills. In Quebec, even if you have the right skills and speaks French, it takes a minimum of 2 years if the red tape allows. If you do not know French with the right skills 3 to 4 years.

For some people the choice is governed by the educational institution. Sure, I could have applied to UofT but my research led me to McGill (and I’m frankly glad that happened).

Education yes. Everything else you won’t be that glad.

The French language requirement doesn't seem too onerous in this case as French is one of the official languages of Haiti.

But can’t you just move to Ontario and apply there? Canada has freedom of movement.

While being a student, I can’t. Also, if your intention is to move to Quebec you are technically not eligible for PR in Ontario. However, many folks these days opt of this path though - apply for PR in Ontario from outside Canada using Express Entry, land in Ontario and stay for 6 months and then move to Quebec.

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