Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC) FROM ARRIVAL TO SIX MONTHS University of Manitoba June 4, 2004

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada What is LSIC? Longitudinal survey designed to study how new immigrants adjust to life in Canada Interviewed: 6 months, 2 years and 4 years after arrival Target population: all immigrants 15 years of age and over, who landed from abroad between October 2000 and September 2001 Joint Statistics Canada – Citizenship and Immigration Canada project supported by funding from the PRDG

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada P re-migration and at Arrival LSIC immigrants Admission category: 67% admitted under the economic category (56% SPA & 44% SSD), 27% family category & 6% refugees. Age: 25-44yrs (66%); 15-24yrs (16%); 45-64yrs (14%) Education: 68% of immigrants arrived with at least one diploma or degree and 19% had more than one. Region of birth: 68% Asia & Middles East, 15% Europe, 9% Africa

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada P re-migration and at Arrival Why Canada? Majority of new immigrants reported Canada as the only country to which they applied - 98% 30% to improve future for family 27% to join family or close friends 11% education & training

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Choosing Where To Settle Most immigrants settled in largest CMA’s Joining relatives or friends a key consideration followed by: language (Montreal), job prospects (Toronto) and climate (Vancouver) Economic category SPAs outside of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver cite "job prospects" and "joining family/friends" almost equally (32% and 36% respectively)

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Housing Ontario attracted the majority of new immigrants - 57% Low mobility among new immigrants Majority of immigrants have relatives (88%), new friends (82%) in same city Household size larger than Canadian average (2.6 vs 3.4)

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival A New Linguistic Environment Majority report being able to communicate in either English or French Almost all skilled workers speak one of Canada’s official languages, refugees and family immigrants highest proportion not able to speak English/French. Learning English and French important to newcomers

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Maintaining Health New immigrants are generally healthy. One in four reported at least one health problem since their arrival. Three quarters of those with health problems had received care – if not: “not serious enough” or for “financial reasons”. Desirable traits for health providers – “same language” (57%), “same gender” (31% of females), “same ethnicity” (36%).

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Education & Training Since arrival – 45% of new immigrants were enrolled in training, of which: - 58% English language training - 23% education leading to a degree or diploma - 9% French language training and - 8% job-related.

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Foreign Credentials Foreign credentials in LSIC include any licence required to practice an occupation or education above a high school diploma obtained outside Canada. 76% arrived with at least one foreign credential, 38% had more than one. Credential recognition is a major hurdle for new immigrants Six months after arrival 32% started the credential assessment process.

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Making Ends Meet Three quarters brought savings to Canada (roughly $30,000 CDN per family excl. business class immigrants) Most households declare income within six months (roughly $2,300 per month before deductions), nonetheless one in seven had no income Employment earnings constitute three quarters of household income One third report not having enough money

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Ties to Homeland Carrying on the values and traditions of their homeland either important or very important - 83% New immigrants are more likely to establish social networks with individuals from the same ethnic or cultural background 1/6 sending money home

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Problems or difficulties encountered Source: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada, Wave 1

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Type of Problems

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Sources of help received

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Six Months After Arrival Settlement Satisfaction Despite difficulties encountered, 74% satisfied with experiences in Canada 76% say their expectations have been met or exceeded Almost half plan to help others immigrate to Canada Almost all plan to acquire citizenship

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Data Dissemination Joint STC-CIC publication to be released fall 2004 Set of standard data tables to be released later in 2004 Official release in Statistics Canada’s “The Daily” on September 4, 2003.

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Access to Data Survey data files are available through Statistics Canada Research Data Centers Custom tabulations Contact: (613) or

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Contact Information Statistics Canada Charles Delorme - Chief (613) Statistics Canada Jessie-Lynn MacDonald - Project Manager W1 Analysis & Dissemination (613) Statistics Canada Sylvain Tremblay – Project Manager W3 Content (613) Statistics Canada Patrice Dion – Project Manager W2 Processing (613)

Statistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration CanadaStatistics CanadaCitizenship and Immigration Canada Contact Information Citizenship and Immigration Canada Jean Bergeron Senior Research Officer Citizenship and Immigration Canada (613)