Two million people are expected to leave the country in Canada's immigration reset. What if they don't?

Dinesh

moved to Canada from India in 2018 as an international student and received a work permit upon graduating two years later .

More than two million newcomers are expected to leave Canada in the next two years as their permits expire.

Economists and immigration lawyers say it’s not realistic to expect such a large volume of international students and temporary foreign workers to leave in such a short time.

The federal government plans to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada in the next two years .

The government expects Canada ’s overall population numbers to decrease in 2025 and 2026 after abnormally high increases in recent years .

Consultants and lawyers expect many temporary residents to extend their stay here by trying to change their status from student or worker to visitor or seek asylum.

Anya

, a 27-year-old who came to Canada from Russia as a student in 2018 , doesn't want to apply for asylum, but she might have to go that route if she doesn't meet immigration requirements before her work permit expires in July .

Anya , who works at an insurance company, still has half a year to decide what she wants to do to extend her stay in Canada .