British - Canadian work permit

[katlou_25]

I am a 22 year old, British female, looking to find work in canada. I recently visited Toronto and am looking to work in the city. It is my understanding that I can visit the country for a maximum of 6 months without having to apply for a visa. When looking into it, I have come to understand that as a British citizen (with a valid, in date UK passport) I do not have to apply for temporary residential status. My plan would be to travel to the city and stay with a friend whilst looking for work. I understand that as a temporary resident I cannot work without changing my circumstances and applying for a temporary work permit. I have read conflicting articles in the CIC website: one stating that I must return to my country of origin to apply for and process a work permit and another which states I can apply to change my circumstances whilst in canada without the need to return home.

I feel I am facing a dilemma because surely I need to visit/be in the city to find work and be offered a job through normal processes such as interview. Or am I mistaken? How could I go about finding a job before I leave the UK, are there any agencies as such? Has anyone else done anything similar? There are so many questions I'd like answered, such as how long does the process take, how straight-forward is it? etc etc Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, just to give some info on my employment history, I currently work in a school assisting physically disabled children, but also have 5years retail experience. In terms of education I have partially completed an undergraduate teaching degree which I would like to finish later in life after having done some travelling.

Thats me thank you so much for any input u can offer me

 

[Maid_Marian]

Hi! I don't know much about the ins and outs of temporary work permits, but have you considered applying through BUNAC for a working holiday visa for Canada? Applications open in January each year and run until they're given out their allocated permits, but it's how I came to Canada initially.
You have to be 18-30 years old and have a valid British passport. Sounds to me like you're eligible. You would have to wait til January to apply, but you could complete your application and get police checks done before that, so you're ready to go as soon as it opens. Best thing is, once you've got your one-year work permit, you can come over and start work straight away. They also provide support in finding housing and jobs, esp. in the bigger cities. If you like Canada, they've also recently started allowing you to apply again, so you could get another year's permit after your first one.
Hope that helps!

 

[scottyxx]

BUNAC is pretty much your best and only option. if you find a job within canada, you will have to apply for a work permit within the uk AND you require the company to sign a piece of paper called an LMO which basically states no canadian in all of canada could do the job you are going to do to a similar level and by employing you the are creating jobs for canadians. Needless to say, 90% of companies are unwilling to fill this in.

Also if you finally get one of them to do it so you can get a work permit, the processing time is over 2 months, so they would have to hold that job for you until you got your paperwork.

Clearly, not a good option. BUNAC is the only option you have it gives you an open work permit for a year so you dont need the LMO from the employer and you are basically "canadian" in the employers eye for that year.

If you are highly skilled / trained / university educated, another potential answer is the AIESEC international exchange program, which I know for a fact has jobs in Toronto, but with AIESEC you have your job BEFORE you go to the country and it is usually a full time internship.

 

[scottyxx]

Also since you are a student you can apply for AIESEC, which would be perfect as it allows you to work with children, the BUNAC permit does have a condition that you cannot work with children, but I think this can be changed as I know a friend who said to the immigation officer "oh thats a mistake its supposed to say CAN work with children" and they changed it for her.

 

[Maid_Marian]

Also since you are a student you can apply for AIESEC, which would be perfect as it allows you to work with children, the BUNAC permit does have a condition that you cannot work with children, but I think this can be changed as I know a friend who said to the immigation officer "oh thats a mistake its supposed to say CAN work with children" and they changed it for her.

I know why this was - you need to have an optional medical if you want to work with children. I opted to do that as I have a teaching qualification. If you do that, that condition is removed. No medical = a printed condition that says you can't work with children.

 

[scottyxx]

I know why this was - you need to have an optional medical if you want to work with children. I opted to do that as I have a teaching qualification. If you do that, that condition is removed. No medical = a printed condition that says you can't work with children.

Ok this is likely it then, Im pretty sure she never done the medical but she was a nurse, so it is possible. But the BUNAC applications do not open until January, and AIESEC is open all year round.

Bunac costs around 500 pounds, and aiesec costs around 300 i think?