Entering in Canada for the first time

[giovino]

Hi there,
I would like to come to Canada, Vancouver, visit the country and find out whether there is any chance, if I like the place, and I' sure I will, to find a job opportunity. I am Italian, opera singer with a degree in architecture. I have a high standard English, spoken and written, and I speak with British accent. I would like teaching in the opera field and maybe work as chorister in the Opera house, but open to a wide range of job offers of different kinds. What is the best thing to do at first? Asking for a Visitor Visa and while visiting the place search for a job opportunity and apply for it? And in a second istance, with the invitation from the company that would hire me, ask for a Permanent Visa while beeing in the country? Or ask for a permanent visa before coming? Another question: I know there are some restrictions for HIV positive people regarding PR visas. I am HIV positive but negative to the test as I have been taking anti-retroviral drugs for ten years, and I currently take drugs. I am choosing with my physician the less expensive and efficient combination of drugs and this would not cost, using generics, more than $210 up to $310 per month. Would there be any chances to be declared "medically inadmissible", even with so low cost of drugs I should use and an invitation to work from a company?
Many thanks

 

[scylla]

In order to obtain a work permit, you will first have to find an employer who is willing to offer you a permanent job and also apply for an approved LMIA (approval to hire a foreign worker). The LMIA process is long (can take over six months to complete) and costs the employer $1,000 in fees + advertising costs. Consequently the majority of employers in Canada aren't willing to go through the process. Having said that, some people are successful in finding employers and jobs in Canada. If you come to Canada as a visitor to look for a job, make sure you have enough money to support yourself here without working for a minimum of 8 months. Assume it will be impossible to obtain a job offer or LMIA as either an opera teacher or choirster since we have plenty of Canadians who are available to fill these roles.

Your HIV status may create challenges obtaining a work permit and/or PR. Keep in mind that the costs of your HIV treatments in Canada many not be the same as the costs of these treatments in Canada. Also, when evaluating whether you will be a burden on the health care system, Canada also evaluates other related expenses (not just the drugs) like visits to the doctor, tests, etc. Ultimately it's really impossible for any of us to say if your health condition will create complications for any application to Canada.

 

[giovino]

Hi Scylla,
looks like a "better stay where you are" answer. Or maybe choose another place either than Canada. Sad to know there are higher and higher barriers being built in between countries and even sad to realize that being HIV positive or having any desease that requires certain assistance can be a reason not to be accepted in another country, as if the person could be guilty of having caught it. Plus, HIV positive people leave now a very normal life except from the fact that still have to face (may I dare?) a sort of discrimination.
Very nice of you to answer my question. Still want to immagine a world that will live as one, yes I am a dreamer!

 

[scylla]

Hi Scylla,
looks like a "better stay where you are" answer. Or maybe choose another place either than Canada. Sad to know there are higher and higher barriers being built in between countries and even sad to realize that being HIV positive or having any desease that requires certain assistance can be a reason not to be accepted in another country, as if the person could be guilty of having caught it. Plus, HIV positive people leave now a very normal life except from the fact that still have to face (may I dare?) a sort of discrimination.
Very nice of you to answer my question. Still want to immagine a world that will live as one, yes I am a dreamer!

No - it's not discrimination. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's HIV. It could just as easily be a serious heart disease or kidney failure or cancer. It has to do with what it will cost Canada (and Canada's tax payers) to pay for your care (projected / anticipated costs). If you or one of your dependents in your application has a medical condition, CIC will assess to see what the potential costs will be to cover your care for either a 5 year or 10 year period. They won't just look at what your medication and doctors appointments / test cost now - they will also project into the future what they believe your health may be and what different care (if any) you'll need then. If they believe, the costs of your care will exceed $6,500 in any year, they will let you know that they intend to refuse your application and provide you with the opportunity to try to prove that the costs won't exceed the maximum. Pretty much every country with a well established immigration process has similar checks in place.

 

[giovino]

Dear Scylla,
besides one person in bad health conditions would probably avoid to move so far away from his country (talking about Italian people in this case) except from someone following someone else he or she could have a relationship of any kind with, and in this case it looks like there wouldn't be any problems, I think that any other person with any disease apart from HIV, would feel the same as I feel. If not dicriminated, feeling rejected is not such a nice sensation. It's true that on the other side in front of burocracy we cannot consider feelings but simply bills and papers. It is clear that nowadays countries like Canada and Australia are making things quite easy in matter of immigration for young and healthy people and this will surely not have any impact on people who were born in these countries. But allow me to say that, apart from me and my specific case, this is discouraging many other people who, condidered their background, age and experience, could bring an important added value to these countries. This is not the place to argue about what is discrimination and what impact such a refuse, even not having anything to do with discrimination but simply with the cost of someone's healthcare, would have on a person's life and feelings. Here we are talking about burocracy and concerning this, your answers to my first questions have been totally comprehensive. Many thanks