The journey to permanent residency in Canada can be long and is often only the beginning of the road to citizenship. Alejandrinia Velo Sagarnaga knows this all too well, and it’s not what she expected.
Sagarnaga came to Canada three years ago on a study permit to get certified in kitchen and bath design. After starting a job at Pottery Barn, a large retail outlet that specializes in both home and office decor, she continued the process of applying for permanent residency.
While waiting for her application to be approved, her work permit is expiring. Sagarnaga is now faced with a choice: stay in Canada with no job or leave her life in Calgary and go back to Mexico while she waits to hear about the decision regarding her residency.
The uncertainties and challenges faced by those applying for Canadian citizenship are commonly shared, especially for new immigrants like Federica Fiortto who says applicants have little control over the timeline and often face financial burdens because of it.
For many, the experience is overwhelming and often causes anxiety. Background checks, health inspections and language assessments are all factors in the process. Both Sagarnaga and Fiortto highlight how the road to permanent residency and citizenship in Canada is never a straight line.
