Mapping Multinational Migration Trajectories to and from Canada

Project Lead

Team Members

Sandeep Agrawal, Usha George, Feng Hou, Areej Jamal, Devaanshi Khanzode, Stein Monteiro , Victoria Ogley

Sub-Theme: ADTs Role in Mediating Migration Decisions and Expectations

Projects in this sub-theme explore how ADTS such as online platforms, social media, and AI influence migration decisions by shaping information infrastructures, impacting mobility aspirations, and altering settlement experiences for immigrants.

Objective

This project aims to understand the migratory decision-making processes of multinational migrants — those who move across multiple countries — focusing on both immigration to Canada and potential emigration from Canada. Using an intersectional and transnational framework, the project will explore how these migrants use digital technologies while making migration decisions, their personal and professional experiences, and their socio-economic integration in Canada. The research also investigates why some choose to leave after investing significant resources in their immigration journey.

The objectives of this research are:

to understand the use of digital technologies during the complex migratory decision-making processes (both immigration and emigration) of multinational migrants;
to explore their personal and professional experiences related to family life, sense of belonging, employment opportunities and labour market integration;
to develop a socio-economic profile of multinational migrants in Canada and their performance in the Canadian economy relative to direct migrants;
to develop a profile of multinational migrants emigrating out of Canada to understand problems with retention; and
to investigate why some migrants after investing significant time, money and energy to immigrating to Canada then decide to leave.

Research Questions

How do multinational migrants who immigrate to Canada differ from direct migrants in terms of their profiles and performance in Canada?
How do multinational migrants use of digital technologies during their complex migratory decision-making processes?

Methodology

This project employs a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative research component will use several datasets to identify multinational migrants who immigrate to Canada and those who emigrate out to develop their socio-economic profiles and to compare them with direct migrants.

The qualitative component of this research will be based on interviews with 50 multinational immigrants to Canada and an additional 25 multinational migrants who then chose to emigrate onwards from Canada to understand their decision-making process on immigration and emigration.