Canada eyes regional immigration opportunities as WWICS announces Punjab seminars
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 8, 2026: Canada is witnessing renewed interest among prospective immigrants amid a greater focus on regional labour-market requirements and opportunities outside major metropolitan centres, said Lt Col BS Sandhu (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of WWICS Group, on Wednesday.
Sandhu was speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh ahead of WWICS immigration seminars scheduled in Punjab and Chandigarh on October 10 and 11.
According to WWICS, seminars will be held in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana on October 10, followed by a session in Chandigarh on October 11.
The Amritsar seminar will be held at Hotel Best Western Merrion from 11 am to 1 pm, followed by the Jalandhar session at Ramada by Wyndham from 3 pm to 5 pm. The Ludhiana seminar will take place at Hotel Park Plaza from 5 pm to 8 pm. The Chandigarh session is scheduled from 11 am to 3 pm at Hotel Aroma on October 11.
Sandhu said prospective immigrants should also look beyond Canada’s major cities while assessing their options.
“Canada offers a very different proposition beyond its major metropolitan centres. Provinces such as Saskatchewan have vast land resources, a relatively small population and genuine requirements for skilled workers,” he said, adding that regional opportunities could be relevant for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.
He said interest in immigration to Canada and other major destinations had started picking up after a period of moderation, while immigration policies were increasingly being aligned with economic and labour-market requirements.
“Immigration opportunities continue to exist for well-qualified and well-prepared applicants. It is just that applicants must prioritise eligibility and compliance,” Sandhu said.
The seminars will cover immigration and resettlement options in Canada, Australia, the US, the UK, Europe and New Zealand, with discussions on eligibility, application procedures, documentation, timelines and policy changes. Skilled professionals, businesspersons, investors and students are expected to attend.
Amit Khanna, Vice President, WWICS Group, said immigration systems in major destinations were becoming increasingly skills-based and selective.
“Immigration today is no longer about simply choosing a country and applying. It is about understanding where an applicant genuinely qualifies, assessing the requirements and following the most appropriate lawful pathway,” he said.
Khanna said Canada continued to have opportunities in sectors such as healthcare and social services, STEM, skilled trades, education and transport, as well as pathways linked to French-language proficiency and specialised skills.
He added that Australia continued to offer skilled migration pathways for eligible professionals, while New Zealand had introduced changes to its Skilled Migrant Category. The US continued to offer investment-based options such as EB-5 for qualifying investors, while the UK had adopted a more selective skilled-worker system.
Sandhu advised prospective immigrants to assess their eligibility and profile before choosing an immigration pathway.
“An immigration application should begin with a realistic assessment of an applicant’s profile rather than with a promise of a particular outcome,” he said.
WWICS, founded in Toronto in 1993, said it has been operating in the immigration sector for more than three decades and has assisted over five lakh families seeking opportunities in Canada, Australia and other destinations.