Cannot leave Canada. On a tourist visa now!

[ravaell]

Hi. I came to Canada last month on a tourist visa as a street performer. I spent all my money on housing and can barely make enough money to eat and spend a couple of days on the streets and a couple of days through airbnb to actually wash myself and sleep properly.

A flight ticket would cost me 700 dollars back home but i CANNOT afford that if i dont want to starve. All the money i earn busking i put towards food.

I was wondering if i could apply for an open work permit or something similar so i can actually get a normal wage to survive until i can go back. Is that a possibility? Are there other options for me to work legally, like a normal job?

 

[scylla]

Based on the extremely limited information you've provided - you don't qualify for an open work permit. If you want to qualify for a closed work permit, you'd need to secure a job offer from a Canadian employer first and that Canadian employer would need to obtain an approved LMIA (permission to hire you) so that you can then apply for a closed work permit linked to that specific employer. It tends to be very difficult to find employers willing to go through the LMIA process (long and expensive with no guarantee of approval). For the LMIA to be approved, the employer first has to advertise the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be hired for the role - and must then typically wait 2-4 months for the LMIA application to be processed.

Depending on your age and country of citizenship, it's possible you might qualify for a working holiday visa (which is a form of open work permit). You'll need to tell us your age and where you're from.

 

[ravaell]

Im 54 years old and Im from Romania. Im really desperate. I dont want to work illegally because thats not the type of man that I am, but I would really like to get a job on top of the busking thing so I can eat AND put money away to go back. I`ve tried asking my relatives for money, but no one has so much money to spare.

I have a major in Economy if that could help me in any way, but I dont have the diploma with me. I could get a copy sent to me by one of my relatives in like half of month or something like that. I never worked in Economy though, so I have no experience, I have only worked as a clerk my whole life. 30+ years of experience.

I`m currently located in Toronto, tomorrow I will enter my second month on a tourist visa so i`ll still have 4 months left, but thats not what Im worried about. My health condition is decaying and the winter is coming really fast. I wont be able to resist much more just busking for money which is the only legal thing I can do to earn money to eat and sometimes get a roof over my head.


Thanks a lot!

 

[scylla]

You're out of luck when it comes to the open work permit. No chance of that - you don't meet any of the requirements.

If you want to work, you will need a closed work permit. As described earlier, to get that - the first step is to find an employer willing to offer you a job. Next step is for that employer to obtain an approved LMIA (typically takes several months). If the LMIA is approved you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

 

[ravaell]

You're out of luck when it comes to the open work permit. No chance of that - you don't meet any of the requirements.

If you want to work, you will need a closed work permit. As described earlier, to get that - the first step is to find an employer willing to offer you a job. Next step is for that employer to obtain an approved LMIA (typically takes several months). If the LMIA is approved you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

Ok, but its possible though right? I mean I dont have to leave the country to actually get a job. If I can find someone willing to offer me a job and go through all the hassle I can then file for a closed working permit right?

Though I doubt that with the "1 month mandatory advertisement first" I will be able to find a job. Guess I`ll keep on busking, hopefully I wont die through this Winter. Thanks for the answers...

 

[scylla]

It's possible - but very difficult. Most employers aren't willing to go through the LMIA process since the advertising requirement typically costs anywhere from several hundred to over a thousand dollars and they also have to pay a $1K LMIA fee - and after all of that, there is no guarantee the LMIA will be approved. Having said that, you can certainly try and some people are certainly successful. Make sure that employers understand that you will require a work permit and they will have to go through the LMIA process in order for you to obtain one.

 

[Lanina]

You need to seek some legal advise. I believe some of these community centres can refer you to free legal advise on the immigration situation.

What about the Romanian community in Toronto? Because at your age your health and living conditions considering the winter is coming comes First!!!!

 

[ravaell]

You need to seek some legal advise. I believe some of these community centres can refer you to free legal advise on the immigration situation.

What about the Romanian community in Toronto? Because at your age your health and living conditions considering the winter is coming comes First!!!!

Ugh.. as much as I love people and places, dont get me started on the Romanian community. Most of them come from the same place I come from. A 300 euros monthly wage, shitty living conditions and the most racist and homophobic people on planet Earth. I`ll try and sing for a shelter or something. Worked a couple of times before, maybe it`ll work now too.

Its sad that this beautiful country does not back down on these immigration regulations. I mean, I get it, they only want super smart people, which is 1 percent of my country`s population but its not really fair...

 

[scylla]

Canada's immigration programs are mainly focused on family reunification and an economic stream. With the economic stream, Canada is looking for people who have a high chance of making a significant positive impact to the economy. This does end up favouring those who are younger and in more skilled roles (both professional and trades). Unfortunately it's not about fairness to others - it's about positive impacts to Canada.

I'll be honest - at your age and given your work experience, qualifying for an economic immigration program will be extremely difficult. If you're able to secure a full time and permanent job offer in Canada - that might help (this will require an approved LMIA). You haven't said if you have an immediate family in Canada that could sponsor you - I'll have to assume you don't.

Good luck.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Ugh.. as much as I love people and places, dont get me started on the Romanian community. Most of them come from the same place I come from. A 300 euros monthly wage, shitty living conditions and the most racist and homophobic people on planet Earth. I`ll try and sing for a shelter or something. Worked a couple of times before, maybe it`ll work now too.

Its sad that this beautiful country does not back down on these immigration regulations. I mean, I get it, they only want super smart people, which is 1 percent of my country`s population but its not really fair...

It is fair, as scylla explained above. Canada's immigration programs are geared towards what is best for our country.

As unfortunate as your current situation is, it is entirely of your own doing. You should not have come to Canada without enough money to support yourself for your planned stay AND to buy a plane ticket home.

 

[ravaell]

It is fair, as scylla explained above. Canada's immigration programs are geared towards what is best for our country.

As unfortunate as your current situation is, it is entirely of your own doing. You should not have come to Canada without enough money to support yourself for your planned stay AND to buy a plane ticket home.

You`re right. It is entirely my fault. I thought I would make enough money just busking like I did in other countries, boy, I was wrong. Guess I`ll have to cope with it through this winter. Hopefully nothing bad will happen to me. Never experienced a winter here so I dont know how harsh it will be.

Although singers of different ethnicity groups should be of value to Canada. Our music is so much different than yours and that is not necessarily a good thing but its for sure a different experience. I guess Im way too old to even dream of a visa specially made for singers, especially since I am not of international value to the music industry, hahahah. Well, each to his own, I guess.

 

[ravaell]

It is fair, as scylla explained above. Canada's immigration programs are geared towards what is best for our country.

As unfortunate as your current situation is, it is entirely of your own doing. You should not have come to Canada without enough money to support yourself for your planned stay AND to buy a plane ticket home.

You have to agree though that it is not fair to accept thousands of Syrian refugees with no studies whatsoever that are only going to pull the country down and be so harsh towards people like me who have a College degree. That`s actually quite ironic if I read your post again, hahahah. They`re getting bombed, but gay/gypsy/transsexual/etc people in my country also get beaten, rejected and put down verbally, yet no one seems to care enough to actually allow refuge.

 

[scylla]

You have to agree though that it is not fair to accept thousands of Syrian refugees with no studies whatsoever that are only going to pull the country down and be so harsh towards people like me who have a College degree. That`s actually quite ironic if I read your post again, hahahah. They`re getting bombed, but gay/gypsy/transsexual/etc people in my country also get beaten, rejected and put down verbally, yet no one seems to care enough to actually allow refuge.

The refugee stream is an important part of Canada's immigration program and does provide an opportunity for those that meet the program requirements to settle in Canada. Certainly not all have college degrees but many do. If you're going to be unkind about it, one could argue that your college degree isn't of any real value given you yourself admit you haven't used it. What's happening in Syria is horrific. I don't think anyone can argue with that. And yes, individuals from Romania are sometimes approved for refugee status - however acceptance rates are low since Romanians can work without restriction across the EU and have the advantage of mobility to many different countries.

Your best bet for staying in Canada long term is an official job offer supported by an approved LMIA. I would recommend you focus your efforts on this and start connecting with potential employers / applying for jobs. I would also recommend that you read up on the LMIA process so that you understand how it works and what's involved. You can find this detailed information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/median-wage.html

Again, good luck.

 

[scylla]

Common (and trusted) web sites for finding jobs in Canada include: indeed, linkedin, monster and workopolis.

EDIT: Make sure your employer knows up front that you require a work permit and need them to obtain an approved LMIA.

 

[ravaell]

The refugee stream is an important part of Canada's immigration program and does provide an opportunity for those that meet the program requirements to settle in Canada. Certainly not all have college degrees but many do. If you're going to be unkind about it, one could argue that your college degree isn't of any real value given you yourself admit you haven't used it. What's happening in Syria is horrific. I don't think anyone can argue with that. And yes, individuals from Romania are sometimes approved for refugee status - however acceptance rates are low since Romanians can work without restriction across the EU and have the advantage of mobility to many different countries.

Your best bet for staying in Canada long term is an official job offer supported by an approved LMIA. I would recommend you focus your efforts on this and start connecting with potential employers / applying for jobs. I would also recommend that you read up on the LMIA process so that you understand how it works and what's involved. You can find this detailed information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/median-wage.html

Again, good luck.

Yes, 99 percent of Romanian individuals are declined refugee status simply because it doesnt add to the publicity. Dont get me started, please. I`ve seen Syrians risking their lives and their children`s lives to travel AN OCEAN just to get on American land. The refugee stream doesnt help with nothing. Women have been raped, men have been killed, children have been kidnapped and so on. Trucks have been crashed, drivers have been mauled. Just.... please... dont get me started.

Europe as it is closer for Romanians is also closer for Syrians to seek refuge, yet they seek it in Canada and USA, an ocean away. Why should other be denied the right to be granted refugee status an ocean away if they are not being treated equally in their home country. My college degree is useless because my country is in ruins economically with a wage of 300 euros per month when RENT is 300 euros per month. You can do the math.

You want my honest opinion? Just from one month since I have been here, I have been treated 10 times better than in my home country. People are nicer, the city is nicer and the MONEY is NICER, even though I havent had a chance to get a REAL job yet.

Why should I, or any other Romanian for that matter live in misery his whole life in a political and economical war in a country that never appreciates people whether they have a college degree or a high school degree.

People want to work, I WANT to work, legally and be treated as a human in this beautiful country. I dont plan to steal, I dont plan to live on social welfare I dont need SPECIAL HELP, I dont need refugee camps and hundreds of millions of dollars pumped into refugees. So no, its not fair and this is my final opinion, you can have yours of course.