Advice

[Blueveia]

I've been struggling into defining a new "path" to Canada.
So this is my story so far...
4 months ago i applied for George Brown College in Toronto and i got accepted in a Post-Graduate program which started in January 2014, the next step would be to apply for the student permit, but my family in Toronto decided to flip out on me at the last moment and deny me stay in there home there, so i was lacking time and money to be able to pay tuition and rent+food, so i had to give up on going in January.

So my real goal is to stay in Canada... get a job and make a life there, the reason why i applied for a study program was because it would make things easier after i was done with it or some people say. But i am beginning to doubt it... Everyday i learn of a neighbor or a neighbor relative that is in Canada working and living and they don't have half the education i have, nor speak English as good as I, so i guess they are doing it illegally, i don't know.

OK, now this is my current status:
Not Married
Age:21
Education: Bachelor Degree in Computer Sciences
Work Experience: 3 Month Internship without payment, (also gonna do another Internship with payment during 5-6 months in the months to come)
English: TOEFL score - 103/120 ; VERY GOOD
Net-Worth: 25.000 CAD > (this is the amount i can use as proof of funds to the visa officer)
Country: Portugal

From your experience, do you think I would be able to get a work permit? Or should I get more work experience in my home country? Or should I try another study program? Or should i shoot myself in the head? (I am kidding... but thats what i feel like sometimes with all this bureaucracy involved)

 

[scylla]

You have your work cut out for you.

I assume you know that in order to qualify to apply for a work permit, you'll first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a job and then that employer will have to obtain an approved Labour Market Opinion. This in itself is extremely difficult to do. Employers tend to be reluctant to hire foreign workers due to the cost, waiting time, advertising requirements, etc. Having said that, people do manage to do it.

You will then have to apply for a work permit and convince CIC that you are a genuine temporary worker and have no intention to stay in Canada long term.

You should aim to find a job in Canada that is similar to your education / any past experience since this will support that you are a genuine temporary worker. For example, given your educational background, if you apply for a work permit as a fast food restaurant worker, there's an increased chance of rejection since it will seem like you're taking the job as a means of getting to Canada.

 

[Blueveia]

You have your work cut out for you.

I assume you know that in order to qualify to apply for a work permit, you'll first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a job and then that employer will have to obtain an approved Labour Market Opinion. This in itself is extremely difficult to do. Employers tend to be reluctant to hire foreign workers due to the cost, waiting time, advertising requirements, etc. Having said that, people do manage to do it.

You will then have to apply for a work permit and convince CIC that you are a genuine temporary worker and have no intention to stay in Canada long term.

You should aim to find a job in Canada that is similar to your education / any past experience since this will support that you are a genuine temporary worker. For example, given your educational background, if you apply for a work permit as a fast food restaurant worker, there's an increased chance of rejection since it will seem like you're taking the job as a means of getting to Canada.

Is this applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program? Cause CIC demands us to choose a type of work permit to apply for and there's like 7 different types. *gun to head*

Also can you send me you're skype, facebook or other media with instant messaging through forum personal message, I would appreciate it cause questions keep bubbling up in my head all the time.

 

[scylla]

I'm sorry - I don't give out my personal contact information to individuals I don't personally know. If you have further questions, please continue posting them to this forum.

No - the information I gave you was not for the Federal Skilled Worker program. You don't qualify for the FSW program due to lack of work experience and because your occupation is not on the FSW occupation list / lack of a job offer in Canada.

The information I have you was coming to Canada as a temporary worker. If you want to come to Canada as a temporary worker, then the first step is to find an employer. Without a job offer and approved LMO from your employer in Canada, you have no chance of getting a temporary work permit approved.

 

[Blueveia]

Ok, so I need a work contract + LMO in order to get a temporary work permit.
Let's say I manage to get those, how long would the permit last? What happens when it runs out, do I apply for another one?

Also, i know some companies have what it's called "independent work contract" which is kinda like a down version of a real work contract, do you know if this would qualify as a work contract for the visa officer?

 

[lpc19800]

Work permits can usually last 2-3 years.
Have you looked into whether your country has a working holiday visa option with Canada? The would give you an open work permit and you can come over and work for any employer for a year.

I don't know what an independent work contract is - it sounds like self-employed?

To be honest there is a wealth of information on the CIC website - I recommend you check it out
As a European national though, I would recommend staying somewhere in Europe, building your work experience and then looking at the move to canada

 

[scylla]

Have you looked into whether your country has a working holiday visa option with Canada? The would give you an open work permit and you can come over and work for any employer for a year.

Unfortunately Portugal is not a participating country in the working holiday visa program. So this is not an option.

 

[Blueveia]

Work permits can usually last 2-3 years.
Have you looked into whether your country has a working holiday visa option with Canada? The would give you an open work permit and you can come over and work for any employer for a year.

I don't know what an independent work contract is - it sounds like self-employed?

To be honest there is a wealth of information on the CIC website - I recommend you check it out
As a European national though, I would recommend staying somewhere in Europe, building your work experience and then looking at the move to canada

An independent work contract is a work contract that says everything you do in the job is your responsibility, if you get hurt on the job you are the only one responsible, money wise the payment is total to the person, so no cuts or taxes are involved to.

I know there is vast information on the CIC website but it can be oh so very confusing and it's all so very general and not specefic about what we should really do, thats why this forum helps alot... with real cases and real persons experience.

 

[scylla]

An independent work contract is a work contract that says everything you do in the job is your responsibility, if you get hurt on the job you are the only one responsible, money wise the payment is total to the person, so no cuts or taxes are involved to.

What you've described is self-employed. You can't get an LMO approved as a self-employed worker. The company must hire you on full contract.