My Journey as an IT Professional from Lucknow to Calgary
Canada. Too many Indians go to Canada anyway. I never thought I would be one of them. Honestly, Canada was never on my mind. Australia was always my first choice to migrate overseas. Maybe that came from being a cricket fan all these years. The more cricket matches I watched, the more I wanted to settle down in Australia in any way that I could. From whatever I could get to know from my friends and relatives, IT was the thing to focus on if you wanted to go abroad with family and earn a decent living. When I was doing my graduation, it was IT all the way. The MBA bug came much later.
Anyway, I even chose my pathway based on what would work the best for me for Australia immigration. I was so sure that I wanted to see myself settling with family in the Land Down Under that I was taking absolutely no chances at all.
Education and Early Career in IT
After completing my bachelor’s degree in computer science, I was all set to take the final plunge. I began with a full-time job with a comparatively small company. But then, at that time not many were taking on freshers anyway. I was in a hurry to learn. I tried to know as much as possible in the two years that I spent with my first company as an IT specialist. Then, with a stronger resume that had work experience, I decided to move on to a bigger company. I also took a program certificate from Cisco in the meantime.
Growing Interest in Immigration and Self-Research
While I kept working at my job in India, I would also keep tabs on what was happening in Canada immigration. Trust me, the more you know yourself, the better it is. With proper knowledge of the process, it would be more difficult for you to go wrong in visa and immigration. Express Entry, latest immigration updates, new announcements by Canada immigration, provincial draws, I would read everything. After some time, I could say with some confidence that I had got a fairly good knowledge about how to migrate to Canada. But honestly, I was still not confident enough to apply on my own. I made sure that I was qualifying for Canada immigration as per the eligibility calculation required to get 67 points. I would be applying as a skilled foreign worker through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, managed by the federal government of Canada through the Express Entry system.
Understanding Express Entry Programs
Launched about five years ago in 2015, the Express Entry system of Canada is one of the most straightforward and simple immigration programs across the world. Applications submitted through Express Entry have a standard processing time of within six months. That is the fastest that any country will take you in as a migrant. There are three different economic immigration programs under Express Entry. Specific eligibility is needed for the other two. Knowledge of a specific trade is required for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). The third program, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), requires Canadian work experience. One day, I read a first-hand experience of a recent immigrant to Canada. He explained how he first went to Canada as a temporary worker and later applied for PR through the CEC route. As per him, entering Canada temporarily and then converting to PR gives more immigration options because Canadian experience opens many doors. By this time, I was more confused than ever.
Decision to Seek Professional Guidance
This was when I finally decided to ask those who probably know best. A friend’s sister was working in Hyderabad with Y-Axis. She advised me to visit a Y-Axis office in Delhi, since there was no office in Lucknow. Many people had told me that immigration consultants are expensive and only care about money. Some even said that once you pay, they stop answering calls. The internet had many horror stories. Still, I decided to walk in for a Free Counselling session. I took all my documents and went to the Y-Axis Nehru Place office in Delhi. It was crowded because it was a Saturday. But once my turn came, I understood why. The consultants take time to explain everything — even during free counselling.
My consultant, Priya, was very patient and answered all my questions. She suggested I go for a Country Evaluation to analyse my profile as per Canada’s requirements.
Shift from Australia to Canada
By this time, I was no longer thinking of Australia. Somewhere along the way, my focus shifted completely to Canada. Maybe it was because I realised I had better chances of getting a visa for Canada. I did consider Germany since it had a strong demand for IT professionals. But the long waiting time for visa appointments discouraged me. I wasn’t willing to wait endlessly for something uncertain. So I decided to focus only on Canada.
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How Y-Axis Supported My Canada PR Journey as an IT Professional?
Resume Writing Service
I did not want to take any risks with my Canada PR application. I believed my resume was already strong and up to date. When I showed it to Priya during my counselling session, she did not criticise it. However, she suggested that I consider getting it rewritten according to international standards. That was when I realised that an international resume is very different from an Indian resume. Since it was a standalone service, I chose the Y-Axis Resume Writing Service. The professional worked closely with me to highlight my IT skills, work experience, and technical strengths. Once the resume was ready, I had a global CV that was suitable for international employers. With support from Y-Axis, my resume was also pushed through LinkedIn to reach relevant recruiters. A strong and well-structured resume greatly improves visibility among international employers.
Applying for Jobs in Canada
After receiving my international resume, I started applying for IT jobs in Canada on my own. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, international hiring did not stop, especially in the technology sector. I applied to nearly 20 employers using different job portals. The official Government of Canada Job Bank was especially helpful. It provided detailed information about job roles, responsibilities, salaries across different provinces, and future job prospects. This helped me understand where my IT profile fit best in the Canadian job market.
Finding the Right Pathway and Express Entry Profile
By this time, my Express Entry profile was active under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). The other Express Entry programs were not suitable for me. I did not have trade skills required for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and I did not have Canadian work experience required for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Once my profile was in the Express Entry pool, there was nothing more I could do except wait. Waiting for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is probably the most difficult part of the entire immigration process.
Waiting Through the COVID-19 Pandemic
I had to wait for several months while COVID-19 affected immigration draws worldwide. During this time, Canada temporarily paused invitations for FSWP candidates and focused more on Provincial Nominees and applicants under the Canadian Experience Class. Despite the uncertainty, Express Entry processing continued. Although services like biometrics and visa appointments were delayed, IRCC continued reviewing applications.
Invitation to Apply and PR Application
In the second half of 2020, I finally received my Invitation to Apply (ITA), even with COVID restrictions and pauses in place. Soon after receiving the invitation, I submitted my Canada PR application. Since most of my documents were already prepared, the process went smoothly.
Travel to Canada During COVID
Finally, the day came for me to board my flight to Canada. It was my first international journey, and it happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made me nervous. Thanks to special permission arranged by my Canadian employer, I was able to travel to Canada in January 2021. After arriving, I completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Despite the situation, the travel experience was smooth, and all safety protocols were followed.
Life in Canada Today
I am still in the process of settling down. A new job, a new country, and new people—it has all been a big change, but a positive one. Canada is truly one of the easiest countries for migrants to settle in. There is no language barrier, and people are generally warm, respectful, and welcoming. And yes, there are many Indians here. I have already made several new friends, most of them fellow Indians, which makes daily life much easier. Canada already feels like home.
Final Thoughts
Skilled foreign workers have multiple pathways to migrate to Canada, mainly through the Express Entry system and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). While Quebec and Nunavut follow their own immigration systems, most provinces actively welcome skilled professionals. Canada continues to be one of the most migrant-friendly countries in the world, offering strong career opportunities and a high quality of life. My journey from Lucknow to Calgary was not planned, but it turned out to be the best decision I have made.