Hello, I'm from the USA and I would like to work in Canada.

[Nanami]

So here's my situation. I'm currently in Canada and I would like to work here. I'm staying with my girlfriend and I have a temporary resident visa. Can someone please give me any advice? I'm trying to sign up to take the CELPIP test but in the registration survey it asks me "What sector do you work in?' and "What is your normal role at work?" Since I'm not currently working, I'm not sure what to pick... my last recent employment was Pizza Hut. I graduated from High school in the year of 2006 and I have a certificate for Veterinary assistant but no experience. I live in a small town and I applied many many times for vet assistant the closest I got was Volunteer work at the animal shelter and all I did was clean cats at Petco. I moved to Phoenix AZ for 6 months worked there as an event specialist at Sams club in 2012 and I tried to look for vet assistant work and no luck. I;m stressing out because of my work history, I don't think it'll be good enough to qualify to work here or live here with my gf. Please can someone give me some advice to what I should do... or could do.. I desperately need your guidance.

​

Thank you so much for your time, in advance.
B.

 

[scylla]

If you are looking to work in Canada temporarily (rather than immigrate here) - then you don't need to take a language test. You do however need to find an employer who is willing to offer you a full time job. That employer must then obtain something called an approved LMIA (permission to hire a foreign worker). You should expect the LMIA process to take several months and cost the employer $1,000 in fees. As part of the process, the employer will have to advertise the job to prove that no Canadian could be found to fill the role. If the LMIA is approved, you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

If you are instead interested in immigrating to Canada, you can read about some of Canada's immigration programs here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp

Another option would be for your girlfriend to sponsor you (assuming she is either a Canadian citizen or PR). In order for her to sponsor you, the two of you would have to be married or common law (meaning that you have lived together for at least one full year).

 

[Nanami]

If you are looking to work in Canada temporarily (rather than immigrate here) - then you don't need to take a language test. You do however need to find an employer who is willing to offer you a full time job. That employer must then obtain something called an approved LMIA (permission to hire a foreign worker). You should expect the LMIA process to take several months and cost the employer $1,000 in fees. As part of the process, the employer will have to advertise the job to prove that no Canadian could be found to fill the role. If the LMIA is approved, you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

If you are instead interested in immigrating to Canada, you can read about some of Canada's immigration programs here:



Another option would be for your girlfriend to sponsor you (assuming she is either a Canadian citizen or PR). In order for her to sponsor you, the two of you would have to be married or common law (meaning that you have lived together for at least one full year).

I am looking to immigrate here as well. That's why I applied to take the language test. My Temp resident visa expires on Nov 8th. She is a Canadian Citizen.
I came last year and stayed with her for about 5 months then I went back to the USA.

 

[hulahoop]

If you are looking to work in Canada temporarily (rather than immigrate here) - then you don't need to take a language test. You do however need to find an employer who is willing to offer you a full time job. That employer must then obtain something called an approved LMIA (permission to hire a foreign worker). You should expect the LMIA process to take several months and cost the employer $1,000 in fees. As part of the process, the employer will have to advertise the job to prove that no Canadian could be found to fill the role. If the LMIA is approved, you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

If you are instead interested in immigrating to Canada, you can read about some of Canada's immigration programs here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp

Another option would be for your girlfriend to sponsor you (assuming she is either a Canadian citizen or PR). In order for her to sponsor you, the two of you would have to be married or common law (meaning that you have lived together for at least one full year).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't they apply as conjugal partners: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3900ETOC.asp

Considering they've presumably not been able to live together for a full unbroken year?

 

[scylla]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't they apply as conjugal partners: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3900ETOC.asp

Considering they've presumably not been able to live together for a full unbroken year?

No - they can't. The conjugal category is reserved for couples who face immigration barriers to marrying and/or becoming common law (in other words, where it is impossible for the couple to marry or live together). Since he's from the US, they face absolutely no barriers becoming common law (and presumably no barriers to getting married). A conjugal application would be refused by CIC.

 

[dobes]

So here's my situation. I'm currently in Canada and I would like to work here. I'm staying with my girlfriend and I have a temporary resident visa. Can someone please give me any advice? I'm trying to sign up to take the CELPIP test but in the registration survey it asks me "What sector do you work in?' and "What is your normal role at work?" Since I'm not currently working, I'm not sure what to pick... my last recent employment was Pizza Hut. I graduated from High school in the year of 2006 and I have a certificate for Veterinary assistant but no experience. I live in a small town and I applied many many times for vet assistant the closest I got was Volunteer work at the animal shelter and all I did was clean cats at Petco. I moved to Phoenix AZ for 6 months worked there as an event specialist at Sams club in 2012 and I tried to look for vet assistant work and no luck. I;m stressing out because of my work history, I don't think it'll be good enough to qualify to work here or live here with my gf. Please can someone give me some advice to what I should do... or could do.. I desperately need your guidance.

​

Thank you so much for your time, in advance.
B.

If you are from the US, why do you have a TRV? You wouldn't need a visa to come to Canada for up to 6 months. As for the rest, look at this: http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2011/ProfileQuickSearch.aspx?val=3&val1=3213

If your education and duties are as described, then your job falls in NOC B, which is eligible for Express Entry. Your biggest problems are your lack of experience in the job you were trained for, and your lack of a job in Canada. If there is a lack of trained veterinary assistants/technicians in the area where your girlfriend lives, you should try to find a job, and convince them to apply for an LMIA for you. That would be your best route to a work visa.

Another option is to find a job in the US and convince your girlfriend to come live with you there for a year, perhaps on a student visa. You would be building experience in your field, and a year living together would qualify you as a common-law spouse for immigration to Canada.

But, generally, the thing is not to say, "I can't find a job," but to be absolutely determined to find one, and to make your plans work.

I came to Canada in late 2012, with my European common-law spouse, who is a graduate student here. I was given an open work permit, and I had decided before we came to become a literary agent. I am from the US, my degree is in opera performance (music), and my experience was as an ESL teacher and journalist in Europe, so this was a career switch. I must have sent out thousands of resumes and had dozens of interviews before, after 14 terrifying months, I landed a job as a literary agent here. When I realized later that there are only maybe 25-30 such jobs in all of Toronto (I'm originally from NYC, where there are a lot more!), I realized how absolutely crazy my dream was. But I was determined to make it work, and, with a lot of hard work and some good luck, it did. If you feel strongly about being with your girlfriend and living in Canada, you need to find the same kind of determination and willingness to work at it until you find a way.

Good luck!

 

[dobes]

No - they can't. The conjugal category is reserved for couples who face immigration barriers to marrying and/or becoming common law (in other words, where it is impossible for the couple to marry or live together). Since he's from the US, they face absolutely no barriers becoming common law (and presumably no barriers to getting married). A conjugal application would be refused by CIC.

Wait, Scylla - what do you mean they face no barriers? She cannot stay in the US for more than 6 months at a time, and ditto for him in Canada (if indeed he is a US citizen - that part about the TRV makes me question it). If there is a status for couples who cannot live together due to immigration barriers, I would think they fit the criteria!

 

[dobes]

So here's my situation. I'm currently in Canada and I would like to work here. I'm staying with my girlfriend and I have a temporary resident visa. Can someone please give me any advice? I'm trying to sign up to take the CELPIP test but in the registration survey it asks me "What sector do you work in?' and "What is your normal role at work?" Since I'm not currently working, I'm not sure what to pick... my last recent employment was Pizza Hut. I graduated from High school in the year of 2006 and I have a certificate for Veterinary assistant but no experience. I live in a small town and I applied many many times for vet assistant the closest I got was Volunteer work at the animal shelter and all I did was clean cats at Petco. I moved to Phoenix AZ for 6 months worked there as an event specialist at Sams club in 2012 and I tried to look for vet assistant work and no luck. I;m stressing out because of my work history, I don't think it'll be good enough to qualify to work here or live here with my gf. Please can someone give me some advice to what I should do... or could do.. I desperately need your guidance.

​

Thank you so much for your time, in advance.
B.

I just thought of one more thing you might be able to do. I assume that as of November 8 you will have been in Canada for 6 months, living with your girlfriend. If the two of you can afford it, why don't you apply to extend your visitor status by another six months? At that time, you will have been living together for a year, and you can apply for status as the common-law partner of a Canadian citizen. There are some new rules that will allow you to work as you wait for a decision on that status, too. I would just make sure that your girlfriend earns enough money to sponsor you - otherwise, this strategy won't work.

 

[on-hold]

Wait, Scylla - what do you mean they face no barriers? She cannot stay in the US for more than 6 months at a time, and ditto for him in Canada (if indeed he is a US citizen - that part about the TRV makes me question it). If there is a status for couples who cannot live together due to immigration barriers, I would think they fit the criteria!

There is no legal barrier to them getting married. Conjugal partner is for a situation like this -- a Canadian man meets a woman in the Philippines who is separated from their husband. There is no divorce in the Philippines, so they can't get married. They aren't common law no matter how long they live together, because she's married to someone else. They can apply for conjugal partner.

Every application for conjugal partner depends, basically, on insurmountable circumstances: one partner is Canada is disabled and can't travel, the other is a member of a persecuted minority who can't get a passport. Both partners are living abroad in a country where gay people can't marry, and the non-Canadian partner is refused visas to any country where they can.

These two can walk into a courthouse or a church anywhere in North America and get married -- but they don't want to.

 

[scylla]

Wait, Scylla - what do you mean they face no barriers? She cannot stay in the US for more than 6 months at a time, and ditto for him in Canada (if indeed he is a US citizen - that part about the TRV makes me question it). If there is a status for couples who cannot live together due to immigration barriers, I would think they fit the criteria!

Again, there are no REAL immigration barriers. No - they do not fit the criteria for conjugal (almost no Americans do). As an American, he can VERY easily apply for an extension to his visit in Canada to complete one year of living together here. Alternatively, they could live for six months together in Canada and six months together in the US to become common law. Or they could just get married. They have lots of options. Again, a conjugal application will be refused. If you have any further doubts - go ask this question in the Family Sponsorship section of the fourm and see how quickly this idea is shot down. Here's an example of a real immigration barrier where conjugal would be accepted: The spouse is from the Philippines and was previously married - but is now separated. The spouse is now in a relationship with a Canadian. The spouse from the Philippines has been refused a TRV to Canada and can't come to Canada to become common law. The Canadian spouse is not allowed to live in the Philippines for more than a few months - so it's impossible for them to become common law. They cannot get married because it's next to impossible to get divorce in the Philippines and they cannot get legally married without getting the divorce finalized first. Congual is literally the only option.

 

[scylla]

There is no legal barrier to them getting married. Conjugal partner is for a situation like this -- a Canadian man meets a woman in the Philippines who is separated from their husband. There is no divorce in the Philippines, so they can't get married. They aren't common law no matter how long they live together, because she's married to someone else. They can apply for conjugal partner.

Every application for conjugal partner depends, basically, on insurmountable circumstances: one partner is Canada is disabled and can't travel, the other is a member of a persecuted minority who can't get a passport. Both partners are living abroad in a country where gay people can't marry, and the non-Canadian partner is refused visas to any country where they can.

These two can walk into a courthouse or a church anywhere in North America and get married -- but they don't want to.

Ha ha - 1+ for posting the same conjugal example as me at the same time.

 

[scylla]

I am looking to immigrate here as well. That's why I applied to take the language test. My Temp resident visa expires on Nov 8th. She is a Canadian Citizen.
I came last year and stayed with her for about 5 months then I went back to the USA.

Unfortunately you cannot count these 5 months towards the 1 year needed to be a common law couple. The one year of living together needs to be continuous. So if you want to be sponsored by her, then you need to get married or live together for a year first.

Otherwise you need to look into the options available to you to immigrate independently (e.g. through Express Entry). You will need at least one year of paid work experience in a skilled occupation to qualify (i.e. NOC A, B or 0). Based on the information you have provided, I'm not sure you have the one year of experience needed at this time. So the spouse / common law route may be your better option (assuming your relationship with your girlfriend is serious).

 

[on-hold]

'Divorced Philippine partner' is the turtle-on-its-back of conjugal partner examples . . .

But in the example, if they lived together for a year, would they be common law even though she has another husband?

Cheers . . .

 

[Nanami]

Thank you all so much for your advice, It's been completely helpful.
I will have to go over all of this with my girlfriend soon. :]
Mmmm Should I still take the CELPIP or... wait? Look for a job that will do the LMIA and extend my stay for another 6 months? and how or where can I go to request to extend my stay? When's the right time to?

P.s I'm a She. So we're a homosexual couple... Does that change anything?

 

[scylla]

'Divorced Philippine partner' is the turtle-on-its-back of conjugal partner examples . . .

But in the example, if they lived together for a year, would they be common law even though she has another husband?

Yep - then they would be common law. You can still be married to someone and become common law with someone else (provided you demonstrate that you are no longer in a relationship with your spouse).