Howdy!
I'm very sorry if other threads answer my questions. I bet they do! I searched, but there are just so many pages of unique scenarios that I was a little overwhelmed. I really hope someone familiar with the process can point me in the right direction to get started.
My company's Canadian subsidiary has hired me, so technically I'm just an internal transfer. The Canadian subsidiary is brand new, though, and I'm the first American they've hired. They are happy to help me, but we are clueless. I could really use some guidance.
My NOC is 2171, 2 years experience + 4 years in another class A or B NOC. My girlfriend will come with me to Toronto in July, 2015. Her NOC is 4166 w/ 5 years experience. We both have perfect written and spoken English and we both have enough points for the Express Entry program. I'll have plenty of points since I have a job already, but my girlfriend will also have about 70 points. We are very excited to get going on the paperwork ASAP so we can start looking for an apartment in wonderful (and expensive) Toronto and so my girlfriend can start looking for work. Our goal is to work in Canada for at least two years - maybe forever. I know we need to take a language test; that's no big deal. They have one an hour from my house or we could fly to Toronto to take the CELPIP.
SO I'm wondering: do you think we should both apply for Express Entry once we get our test results? Is the process the same for a permanent resident application as it is for a work visa? Should we apply for work visas first and THEN apply for permanent residency? Or jump right to residency? Maybe something else? I'm just confused about where to start. Should we hire a lawyer or some other agency to help us with the process or do you think we can navigate the paperwork on our own easily enough? Forms are no problem, we just need to figure out the basics.
Thanks so much for any help!
~JP
I'm very sorry if other threads answer my questions. I bet they do! I searched, but there are just so many pages of unique scenarios that I was a little overwhelmed. I really hope someone familiar with the process can point me in the right direction to get started.
My company's Canadian subsidiary has hired me, so technically I'm just an internal transfer. The Canadian subsidiary is brand new, though, and I'm the first American they've hired. They are happy to help me, but we are clueless. I could really use some guidance.
My NOC is 2171, 2 years experience + 4 years in another class A or B NOC. My girlfriend will come with me to Toronto in July, 2015. Her NOC is 4166 w/ 5 years experience. We both have perfect written and spoken English and we both have enough points for the Express Entry program. I'll have plenty of points since I have a job already, but my girlfriend will also have about 70 points. We are very excited to get going on the paperwork ASAP so we can start looking for an apartment in wonderful (and expensive) Toronto and so my girlfriend can start looking for work. Our goal is to work in Canada for at least two years - maybe forever. I know we need to take a language test; that's no big deal. They have one an hour from my house or we could fly to Toronto to take the CELPIP.
SO I'm wondering: do you think we should both apply for Express Entry once we get our test results? Is the process the same for a permanent resident application as it is for a work visa? Should we apply for work visas first and THEN apply for permanent residency? Or jump right to residency? Maybe something else? I'm just confused about where to start. Should we hire a lawyer or some other agency to help us with the process or do you think we can navigate the paperwork on our own easily enough? Forms are no problem, we just need to figure out the basics.
Thanks so much for any help!
~JP