Jackie Wafula is a Kenyan residing in Toronto, Canada. Like many Kenyans seeking greener pastures, Jackie quit her local job as a secretary to chase her Canadian dreams.

Since moving to Canada, Jackie’s life has taken many turns. She started as an international student, got employment but eventually ended up as an illegal immigrant with no official status in the country.

In a vlog, Jackie revealed that the idea of moving to Canada first came to her in 2017 when it was a trending topic she frequently saw on social media. Her father was also fully supportive of the plan,

She slowly started researching the best schools and provinces, which eventually led her to choose Windsor City in Ontario. After applying to her selected school, she received an acceptance letter just three days later.

“We took the enrollment letter, applied for the study permit and everything was going so smoothly. I applied for a visa and the process was easy. They only asked me 3 questions,” she said.

“Within 2 weeks I had my visa. There was no way this was not a sign from God that I should go to Canada. I am meant to be in Canada,” Jackie enthusiastically narrated.

She went to Canada in around May, during the warm summer months. Shortly into her stay, she applied for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is a requirement for immigrants to work and get paid.

Soon after, she began her job hunt which was not easy. Jackie knew that as much as she was studying in Canada, she had to pay for rent, eat and help pay for tuition.

“School fees in Canada is not cheap for international students. I remember the first tuition I paid was $14,000 which is about Sh. 1.4 million per semester,” she continued.

Finding a job wasn’t easy, and Jackie almost gave up at one point. However, she met an Indian friend who connected her to a job as a resident assistant at the school.

With the job, Jackie could attend classes and work in the same place, earning Sh. 1,300 ($14) per hour. After a month, she received about Sh. 180,000 ($2,000), but it wasn’t enough to cover all her expenses at the time.

Jackie quickly realized she needed a second job. Through another friend, she found a position as a baker at a restaurant, working early morning shifts from 3:00 am to 7:00 am.

“I started working two jobs and attending school at the same time. It was overwhelming but I still wanted more money. I got another job at a Chinese restaurant…Now I had 3 jobs and had to attend school,” Jackie said.

Jackie wasn’t ready for the harsh cold of winter, which made it tough to keep up with her hectic routine. The food was also a challenge at first, but she soon learned how important it was to include fibre in her diet to stay healthy.

Even with the 3 jobs that she held, the money she earned was not enough. Several times, she contemplated returning to Kenya since she was living paycheck to paycheck due to the expensive bills she had to pay.

Eventually, Jackie graduated and applied for a three-year work permit. She got a good job as an insurance broker. However, in August 2024, Canada announced that visitors could no longer apply for or renew work permits while in the country.

This news hit Jackie hard, as she was relying on her job to secure her Permanent Residency. She began applying for jobs with employers who could sponsor her and also tried to persuade her insurance employer to keep her in Canada.

“Canada has humbled me. When you hear people say that Canada has humbled them, believe it. I’m literally back to square one, an illegal immigrant. I’m laughing but crying inside,” she said.

Jackie has given herself 6 months to see if she will land permanent residency in Canada.