Are you waiting as a visitor in canada for your PR?

[shorttalk]

Hey
I have been here on a visitor visa since May and havent work. Going slowly insane, but thankfully I had our wedding to plan for the first six months. What are you guys doing to keep busy whilst waiting for PR?

I applied for three sets of volunteer jobs to keep myself busy and to give to the community and they are all not recruiting until next spring, by then I hope to have PR.

Would be nice to hear from those who are in the same position..

 

[bonbon9]

- Getting my Driver's License
- Changing name on passport
- Changed my husband's CRA marital status (he hates paperwork)
- Getting a family doctor
- Trying to get used to the weather and my new married life (this includes a lot i.e. cooking, cleaning up)
- Talking to my parents online
- Playing games to kill some time
- Getting a family doctor (I finally did but wow, I can't believe how hard it was! Now she's trying to refer me to a specialist, but it's literally taking months. No wonder healthcare is free..)
- Trying to work out at the gym (just sometimes..)

 

[shorttalk]

lol i hear you on the married life bit.....I havent been out of work more than a month since I was 13 and had two jobs. Ive found myself making fresh bread everyday and cleaning like never before. One nice thing is I have never had time to properly browse for christmas gifts which has been fab. But I do find it difficult not to sit and stare at ecas all day lol. Nice to hear someone in the same position.

 

[Baloo]

On volunteering, where are you based?

 

[shorttalk]

Hi Baloo, Oshawa, Ontario. I want to volunteer in something in my sector, something that will look good on the resume. Im a qualified counsellor, life coach and NLP practitioner with 12 years of adult soft skills teaching experience. Ive contacted every helpline you can think of and shelters etc, nothing at all available which really shocks me at this time of year.

 

[Baloo]

Ive contacted every helpline you can think of and shelters etc, nothing at all available which really shocks me at this time of year.

That seems really odd, like you I know there is a need at this time of year.

 

[shorttalk]

its because they recruit twice a year only in these type of positions, are you volunteering? Any tips?

 

[AllisonVSC]

I'm landed now but still not working, sigh. I also tried volunteering while visiting but didn't have any success (even with orgs that are constantly looking for volunteers ie meals on meals, cancer society, etc) Then I discovered meetup.com. I joined two bookclubs, an ex-pat American group, a ladies lunch group and a tennis group. I have met a lot of great people in my area through meetup and had activities that I could look forward to. I also joined the library and fitness club (all in the same location at the local community center). I was very active on this forum for a while too.

While you are waiting is also a great time to get your academic and professional credentials assessed; there are lots of organizations that do it (for a variety of fees so shop around). You will then have some idea if you will be required to get re-trained if you work in a job that requires certification or other professional credentials.

I have 20 years of teaching experience in high school mathematics, but I don't qualify for certification here (without a year of post-grad work all of which I did 20 plus years ago in the states); so I am a bit slow on getting into the workforce. Since I've become a PR, I started taking classes - accounting and French - hoping the accounting co-op program will translate into a job late this winter.

 

[Baloo]

its because they recruit twice a year only in these type of positions, are you volunteering? Any tips?

We all have to do something, at present I am renovating our home.
I will be volunteering early next year - Why the delay, well the big issue here (Ottawa) is getting the police checks completed, it takes ages.

meetup.com sounds like a good idea, if there isn't a "CIC holding pattern" group, maybe I should start one .

 

[shorttalk]

Do you know i thought about setting up a meet up group, the shame is you have to pay. We are saving up for a deposit for a house. I have joined a meetup group but i havent gone yet, a bit nervous. Which is a little crazy as Im not a shy person!

 

[AllisonVSC]

Shorttalk,

I'm not sure what the dues are for setting up your own meetup and they make it kind of hard to find out on their webpage, but I think 3 months is about $70 and a year is in the $100-200 range.

I have been to meetups that charge participants a few bucks to re-coup just the cost of dues (my lunch group organizer does this) and some that charge to make money off the participants (a French conversation organizer does that), so if you think you might have a popular meetup you might consider starting one and charging. Also note that if you start one meetup you can organize another for no extra charge. I know two organizers that run more than one group.

Don't be shy, get involved. I've never felt that my personal safety was at risk by participating, but I wouldn't throw caution and good sense out the window when meeting up with strangers either.

@ Baloo, That "CIC holding pattern" meetup seems like a great idea given the participation on this board. The problem is that you must agree to organize "real face-to-face" events and I suspect the number of visitors waiting for approval is not very high in most geographic areas.

 

[Millu]

hello!

im also here as a visitor we are applying outland, and i send my visitor visa extension couple months ago...im suuuper nervous do i get it or not, hopefully i do!!! i really wanna stay with my hubby while we are waiting the decision.

i have just keep the house clean and taking care of our doggy. and yes i have exercise, its soo nice to have time for it now. and also i organized our wedding and moving etc, since i have alot time in my hands...
somedays are really hard, but hubby keeps me positive. hardest part for me is i cant support our savings etc financially.

i also sign to meetup, didnt pay anything though havent really looked the website that close yet...hopefully i can find something when we move to toronto

 

[Jez]

I was lucky enough to get a Working Holiday visa just before I turned 31, so we're here in Ottawa waiting for my PR.

Just started looking for work but only been here a few weeks now and getting used to the cold!

 

[AmericanWoman]

Hi Shortalk,

I totally relate to how you are probably feeling right now! I have been here as a visitor since January. I had difficulty obtaining my security clearance letter initially, which delayed my whole process by 6 months. Not because of criminal activity, just delays! Everything is in order now and will hopefully move along FAST!

Like you, I have ALWAYS worked. In addition to not being able to work, I graduated with my Master's last Decemember and was so excited to begin work again in my career. I had several phenomenal job offers, pretty much at the same time as my husband had a great offer in Canada. We choose Canada.

Again, like you, I tried volunteering with several organizations and pretty much was told positions were not available until next year! I still am shocked that I was turned away considering my educational background and experience. Unbelieveable!

Please still keep trying though, it only takes one agency that will recognize the potential you have to support their overall
mission and the clients they serve. What are "adult soft skills" ?

 

[AmericanWoman]

As far as some of the things I have been doing to maintain my sanity....

One of the main things that I have been doing is cooking. For the first time, I have had time to learn proper cooking techniques and my husband is loving it! I have enjoyed it too. I wish I had more friends to share with because we always have a lot of great food around. I figure once I start working, I will have learned a lot of shortcuts and methods to make our life easier.

Honestly, I had to go through a process of accepting the major change in my life and wanting to be here. (We were also travelling back and forth to the states planning our church wedding for the past 6 months.) Therefore, I have finally begun to become more involved in activities that symbolize us permanently staying here. I will resume my martial arts training in January, which is something I LOVE. Perhaps you can take a class to learn or do something you have always been inerested in......Dance? Art? Pottery? Just some ideas.

I am following up with another agency to voluteer with, hopefully.

I wish you weren't in this position, but since we both are, it was nice know I am not the only one.

Take care and keep your eyes on the prize.