From arriving right after school — to working in finance and applying for permanent residency

The path to Canadian permanent resident status is challenging, but achievable. Nikolay's story proves it. He came to Canada at 18, studied at college, found an employer in a small town, and went through several immigration strategies before receiving the coveted invitation.

Nikolay shared his story in an interview with licensed immigration consultant Ivanna Pavlenko, who guided him through all stages of the immigration process. His experience will be useful for students, workers, and anyone planning to move to Canada.

Arriving in Canada and Choosing a College

Nikolay came to Canada right after finishing high school, when he had just turned 18. The timing was tough — COVID was raging worldwide and various restrictions were in place. He chose Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, and enrolled in a two-year Business Finance program.

His program choice was deliberate. Nikolay knew he wanted to work in a service field involving numbers and math. Out of five options he considered, he filtered out the less interesting ones and settled on business finance.

Adapting: Language, Loneliness, and First Connections

According to Nikolay, the hardest part of emigrating was getting used to life without family and friends who had always been there at home. COVID made things worse — meeting people was extremely difficult due to restrictions and online learning. But gradually he managed to make new connections and assimilate into his new country.

As for language, Nikolay admits: before arriving, he thought his English was pretty good. But just talking to border officers made it clear he had serious work to do on his language skills. Still, people adapt surprisingly quickly to new conditions — and that's what happened with him.

A chance encounter helped with first connections. A former schoolmate happened to be in London, having already lived in Canada for a couple years by then. She introduced Nikolay to her social circle, and those friends are still with him today. Later, through school, he made other acquaintances — Canadians and people from different countries. Nikolay notes that many immigrants successfully find Russian-speaking and other communities of interest through social media groups.

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Two years at college flew by quickly. The first year was completely online due to the pandemic. On one hand, this seemed like a downside. On the other, it gave him time to prepare for Canadian life and seriously work on his language skills. The second year was on campus, and it was a completely different, enriching experience — he finally got to see classmates and professors in person.

Nikolay is satisfied with the quality of education. He notes that the first semester might seem easy — this is because Canadian colleges have students of all ages, and some need to refresh their basic knowledge. But from second year onward, the program becomes significantly harder and more specific.

Important point: in his third and fourth years, Nikolay had the opportunity to take exams for professional licenses. He took advantage of this right away while the knowledge was fresh, and by graduation already had his investment sales license. Nikolay strongly recommends all students take exams at the first opportunity — many who put it off never ended up getting their licenses.

Working Part-Time During School

During his studies, Nikolay actively worked part-time. His first job in Canada was construction — insulating houses as part of an international crew. He found the job through friends and acquaintances. The experience proved valuable: Nikolay figured out for sure that construction wasn't something he wanted to do, but at the same time it was interesting to try something completely new.

Nikolay admits he regrets turning down the co-op program (a paid internship lasting one semester). Because of COVID, it was hard to connect with employers, so he decided to continue studying instead of interning. Nevertheless, summer jobs and participating in college events helped him fill out his resume.

Job Hunting After College: The Power of Networking

After finishing his studies, Nikolay applied for an open Post-Graduation Work Permit. From day one of submitting his application, he had the right to work and immediately started looking for a job in his field.

His resume at that point was practically empty — he had no serious work experience. But Nikolay understood how important networking is in Canada. Throughout his studies, he built relationships with professors, participated in various college events, and included this experience in his resume.

The key event was Professional Development Day (PD Day) at Fanshawe College. On this day, 15–16 employers from the finance sector came to the college — major banks, credit unions, insurance and tax companies. Each company presented itself, and students could approach them, introduce themselves, ask questions, and leave their resumes. At the end of the day, Nikolay approached his professor and told him which employer he particularly liked. The professor personally introduced him to the company representative and gave him a strong recommendation. The result — four interview invitations before even finishing school.

Interviews and Choosing an Employer

Nikolay prepared thoroughly for interviews: he researched each company, looked up possible questions, and practiced in front of the mirror. The first interview was the hardest — he didn't know what to expect. The second and third went much easier.

Three out of four companies made him offers. Nikolay found himself in a position where he was choosing the employer, not the other way around. At each interview, he openly said his main goal was to stay in Canada and asked employers if they were willing to support him in the immigration process. The employer he ultimately chose immediately said they already had experience with this and were ready to help.

When choosing, Nikolay considered two factors. First, it was a small company, where there was a higher chance of individual support. Second, the company was located in the small town of Sarnia, which, as he knew, could give additional points in the provincial immigration system. One of the other companies offered possibly stronger terms, but required moving to Toronto.

Living and Working in Sarnia

Sarnia is a small town with a population of about 50–60 thousand people in southwestern Ontario, on the U.S. border. At first it seemed too small, but over time Nikolay came to appreciate the charm of small towns: the strength of the local community, how everyone knows each other and says hello on the street. You don't see that in big cities.

As for housing costs, Nikolay expected Sarnia to be cheaper than London, but prices turned out to be about the same — possibly due to the U.S. border location. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,500–$1,600 CAD, a two-bedroom — $1,800–$2,000 CAD. Rental prices have noticeably increased compared to a year or two ago.

Nikolay works at Main Street Credit Union as a Wealth Support Officer. A credit union is a financial institution similar to a bank: loans, investments, mortgages. The main difference is that banks are regulated at the federal level and operate across all of Canada, while credit unions are regulated provincially and only work within one province. Another difference is the culture and values: credit unions are more focused on the local community, on knowing clients and their stories. This is what attracted Nikolay.

Essentially, he works as an assistant to financial advisors, but he has his own license to sell investments, which allows him to meet with clients independently and help them with financial matters.

Immigration Strategy: Plans A, B, C, and Even D

Nikolay and his immigration consultant Ivanna Pavlenko had several strategies in case the main plan didn't work out.

Plan A was applying through Ontario's provincial program for graduates of educational institutions. This required completing a suitable educational program and finding an employer willing to support the application. Both conditions were met—as Ivanna notes, Nikolay's employer turned out to be an excellent partner in this process and was very cooperative. A profile was created. However, having an employer and meeting the program requirements, unfortunately, don't guarantee an invitation. The profile was valid for two years after graduation—and during those two years, no invitation came.

Plan B was applying through the federal program via the Express Entry system. While waiting for Plan A, Nikolay gained the necessary year of Canadian skilled work experience, and an Express Entry profile was created.

Plan C was applying through another provincial program that took into account his position and location. This is where the small town of Sarnia played a decisive role. As Ivanna explains, those who went to work in Toronto didn't get extra points for location, but Nikolay did. Moreover, draws were conducted tied to his specific location. The invitation came through this program.

There was also Plan D—learning French. When the situation with the main plans was uncertain, Nikolay started learning French to have additional options. Even after receiving the invitation, he continues to study it.

After receiving the invitation, Nikolay and Ivanna gathered documents and submitted an application for permanent resident status. Waiting for a decision will take several months, but Nikolay is on the home stretch. As Ivanna notes, Nikolay often says he was lucky, but in reality, it was his determination, strategic thinking, and willingness to take action that led to the result.

Pros and Cons of Living in Canada

Among the main advantages of Canada, Nikolay mentions the diversity of people and cultures, rich cuisine, and the openness of Canadians. From his observations, people here are much more open to everyday conversations and meeting strangers than in post-Soviet countries.

The downsides, he says, include high housing costs, expensive and inconvenient public transportation (Canadian cities are designed with the assumption that everyone has a car), and the complexity of the immigration process.

Advice from Nikolay

When asked what advice he would give himself before moving, Nikolay answers: worry less and take more action. Meet more people, be open, and don't expect everything to fall into place on its own. In some cases it does, but in others you need to take initiative.

Financial independence has become a particular source of pride for Nikolay. At the time of the interview, he was fully paying for his housing, transportation, and all his expenses on his own—without help from his parents. The path to this wasn't easy, especially during his studies, but the result was worth it.

Nikolay considers Montreal the most beautiful place in Canada—for its European look and historic atmosphere. He also really liked Ottawa with its architecture.

Key Takeaways

Nikolay's story is an example of how a well-thought-out strategy, patience, and willingness to take action lead to results. The key factors in his success: networking with professors and employers, a deliberate choice to work in a small town, being open with his employer about his immigration goals, and having several backup plans.

If you need help choosing an immigration strategy, book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant.