Belfast woman becomes one of first granted PR in Canada through Express Entry

Emma Hughes, a 29-year-old chemistry graduate from Belfast, became one of the first three applicants to be successfully granted permanent residency through Canada’s new Express Entry system, it was announced yesterday.

Here, she shares her experience of moving to Canada with Generation Emigration.

Why did you decide to move to Canada?

I have an uncle and aunt, Alex and Mary Hegarty, who made the move to Canada 40 years ago next month. We would come to visit them on family holidays when I was growing up. That exposed me to Canada, the culture, the people and the possibilities. Since then I have been fascinated with the place, and was just waiting for the right time to make the move.

I came alone on a one-year working holiday (International Experience Canada) permit, arriving in March 2013. I had just two suitcases and the hope I could make it work. I left behind my mum and dad, Betty and Pat Hughes, my brother David and sister Jennifer.

Where have you worked over the past two years?

My first job in Canada was at The Village Bake Shop in Orono in Ontario - which is a bit ironic considering I'm coeliac! I was serving customers and washing dishes.

I attended the national job fair at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto soon after I arrived. There I was introduced to EcoSynthetix, a renewable chemical company which works to replace petro chemical based products or harmful chemicals with natural, plant based, environmentally friendly alternatives. They hired me as a junior research and development scientist. I have since been promoted to the position of application scientist, working to develop grades of products for use in the building products market.

How did you go about applying for permanent residency, and what advice would you give others based on your experience?

I was originally on a one-year IEC permit. I got a positive labour market opinion through EcoSynthetix, and that resulted in a closed work permit. Once I had completed 12 months full time employment at EcoSynthetix, I applied for my PR. I had applied through the old paper system, but knew it would take a long time so I opted to create a profile through Express Entry when this opened on January 1st this year.

The Express Entry process is very simple. They make it clear what information they will require from you, and it’s very easy to see areas you could improve your score on, which increases your chances of being granted PR.

Anything that you claim in the profile section to gain points, you will be asked to provide evidence of once you receive your invitation to apply. For example I put in my previous Irish work experience for more points, but subsequently had to get letters from those employers to back up my claims. This can be a challenge from afar, so I would recommend others have these letters sorted before they leave Ireland if possible.

The best advice I would give is to have all your information gathered while waiting for your invitation to apply, including medical results, proof of employment, proof of qualifications etc. This will really speed up the process for you.

What will having PR mean to you?

It’s an honour to be a permanent resident here in Canada now. I can’t believe I’m the first person to get it through the new system. Having PR means I no longer have a ticking clock on my time in Canada. I don’t have an end date anymore, so I can get on with enjoying my new surroundings. It means freedom.

What are your plans for the future? Do you intend to stay in Canada?

Yes I do intend to stay. I will be applying for my citizenship as soon as I am eligible. This is fantastic country to live in. Don’t get me wrong, there are bad days when I get homesick and just want to be having Sunday dinner with my family around me, but that’s part of the deal when you sign up for an adventure like this. If you come to Canada with a positive attitude and are willing to work hard, you can make your dreams come true. I feel I’m the proof of that.

Find out more:

[ Destination Canada: The Irish Times guide to moving there ]

[ How can I stay in Canada? Express Entry explained ]

[ Canada: Applying for visas or citizenship  ]