Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC ) FROM ARRIVAL TO SIX MONTHS

1. Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)FROM ARRIVAL TO SIX MONTHS University of Manitoba June 4, 2004

2. 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

3. Pre-migration and at ArrivalLSIC 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

4. Pre-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

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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%).

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Six Months After ArrivalTies 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

13. Six Months After ArrivalProblems or difficulties encountered Source: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada, Wave 1

14. Six Months After ArrivalType of Problems

15. Six Months After ArrivalSources of help received

16. Six Months After ArrivalSettlement 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

17. 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.

18. Access to Data • Survey data files are available through Statistics Canada Research Data Centers • Custom tabulations • Contact: (613) 951-3321 or 1-800-461-9050 • ssd@statcan.ca

19. Statistics Canada Charles Delorme - Chief (613) 951-7354 charles.delorme@statcan.ca Statistics Canada Jessie-Lynn MacDonald - Project Manager W1 Analysis & Dissemination (613) 951-0484 jessie-lynn.macdonald@statcan.ca Statistics Canada Sylvain Tremblay – Project Manager W3 Content (613) 951-2528 sylvain.tremblay@statcan.ca Statistics Canada Patrice Dion – Project Manager W2 Processing (613) 951-7335 patrice.dion@statcan.ca Contact Information

20. Contact Information Citizenship and Immigration Canada Jean Bergeron Senior Research Officer Citizenship and Immigration Canada (613) 957-5976 jean.bergeron@cic.gc.ca