Hello, need some help with a few things

[fredde587]

Hi, okay so I have a few questions that I need help with. Today I went to the canadian embassy in Finland (Helsinki) and they were not really able to help me whatsoever, they just told me to apply online on unitedkingdom ( apparently not allowed to post links) and it is really frustrating and confusing for me because I would rather meet up with them and discuss it with them face to face. I'm not sure which visa I would qualify for that's the problem, I guess I could go there with a tourist visa and then just find a job and re-apply for a work permit?

Okay, so I'm 19 years old, borned and raised in Finland so I'm a finnish citizen, I graduated from trade in 2013 in plumbing, got about 6 months work experience ( paid ) , I have roughly 13,000 canadian dollars at the moment which should be enough, so again my question is which visa should I apply for without having to return to this *censored word*hole every now and then?

Edit: Would like to stay there and apply for cizitenship/PR in the end.

 

[scylla]

You can visit Canada using your passport alone (you don't need a visa). However you're only allowed to visit - not come to Canada to live. When you arrive - you should be allowed in for the default six months. However how long you're actually allowed to visit will be up to the immigration officer you encounter. If you wish to stay longer than your allowed visit, then you can apply for an extension from within Canada (as with all things immigration, no guarantee it will be approved).

To apply for a work permit you will first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a job. As a first step, that employer will have to advertise the job for a minimum of 4 weeks to prove that no Canadian could be found for the role. The employer will then have to apply for something called a Labour Market Opinion (effectively, something that gives the employer permission to hire a foreign worker). If the LMO is approved (not all are) - you can then apply for a work permit either by going to a US/Canadian land border crossing or by submitting an application. If the work permit is approved, you will then be issued a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

It can be quite difficult to find an employer willing to go through the LMO process. It costs money and there's a fair amount of paperwork to complete. Also, on top of the 1 month advertising requirement, there's also around a 2 month processing time for the LMO. Finally, there's no guarantee of approval. So you can certainly come to Canada as a visitor temporarily to look for an employer - however you should expect this will be quite challenging since many/most employers aren't interested in going through the LMO process.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[fredde587]

You can visit Canada using your passport alone (you don't need a visa). However you're only allowed to visit - not come to Canada to live. When you arrive - you should be allowed in for the default six months. However how long you're actually allowed to visit will be up to the immigration officer you encounter. If you wish to stay longer than your allowed visit, then you can apply for an extension from within Canada (as with all things immigration, no guarantee it will be approved).

To apply for a work permit you will first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a job. As a first step, that employer will have to advertise the job for a minimum of 4 weeks to prove that no Canadian could be found for the role. The employer will then have to apply for something called a Labour Market Opinion (effectively, something that gives the employer permission to hire a foreign worker). If the LMO is approved (not all are) - you can then apply for a work permit either by going to a US/Canadian land border crossing or by submitting an application. If the work permit is approved, you will then be issued a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

It can be quite difficult to find an employer willing to go through the LMO process. It costs money and there's a fair amount of paperwork to complete. Also, on top of the 1 month advertising requirement, there's also around a 2 month processing time for the LMO. Finally, there's no guarantee of approval. So you can certainly come to Canada as a visitor temporarily to look for an employer - however you should expect this will be quite challenging since many/most employers aren't interested in going through the LMO process.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Yep, thank you, I would really appreciate if you could tell me if there are any other visas I should apply for or guide me through this all and help me find another way of doing this.

And what if I find a company that is willing to go through this process would I have to apply for something before the LMO has been approved?

 

[scylla]

If you want a work permit in Canada, then the first step is to find an employer who is willing to give you a job offer and then the second step is for that employer to obtain an approved LMO. There is nothing you can do until you have the job offer and approved LMO. Once you have these - you can apply for a work permit. You can do all of these things either from inside Canada (as a visitor) or from outside of Canada.

If your aim is to work in Canada, then the above is really your only option.

Start looking for an employer now. It might take a while.

 

[fredde587]

If you want a work permit in Canada, then the first step is to find an employer who is willing to give you a job offer and then the second step is for that employer to obtain an approved LMO. There is nothing you can do until you have the job offer and approved LMO. Once you have these - you can apply for a work permit. You can do all of these things either from inside Canada (as a visitor) or from outside of Canada.

If your aim is to work in Canada, then the above is really your only option.

Start looking for an employer now. It might take a while.

Yep, that's my goal, I don't think it will be that hard, apparently it's way easier to get a job there than here and it is really hard to get a job here due to the bad economyn ( that's what the lady from the embassy told me ) but yeah, pretty much willing to take any job, also if I got a job for example on an oil rig would I have to stay with them until my work permit expires or can I just quit whenever I want and get another job without having to do this process again since I already have a work permit?

 

[fredde587]

I did an application online and this is the result.

"Open work permit (Outside Canada)

You may be eligible to come to Canada to work with an open work permit."


So I could appy for an open work permit? I noticed that you don't need an LMO for every job.

This group can include:

- professionals,
- traders,
- investors and
- business visitors.

I'm guessing traders mean you been to trade school and graduated in something?

 

[scylla]

No - you can't apply for an open work permit. You do not qualify to apply for an open work permit.

Only the following people qualify:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=177&t=17

 

[scylla]

I'm guessing traders mean you been to trade school and graduated in something?

Individuals who completed school in Canada qualify for a post graduate work permit (a type of open work permit). Since you completed your schooling outside of Canada - you don't qualify for a post graduate work permit.

If you want a work permit, you need to find an employer and that employer must obtain an approved LMO.

 

[scylla]

also if I got a job for example on an oil rig would I have to stay with them until my work permit expires or can I just quit whenever I want and get another job without having to do this process again since I already have a work permit?

If you want to get another job after reaching Canada, then your new employer needs to get a new approved LMO and then you will need to get a new work permit before you can start the new job. You can't use the original work permit to work for a different employer.

 

[fredde587]

Alright, thank you, it's pretty clear to me now what I have to do, just hoping that I have enough money to survive a few months.

 

[Kiwisteph]

There is the new Federal skilled trades program which is a fast tracked residency process which lists plumbers as an eligible occupation. You might like to read that to see if you qualify? - good luck.
We had hoped tilers would be on the list for my husband but no luck.

Couldn't post a full link but put the usual web start to this:
cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/index

 

[fredde587]

There is the new Federal skilled trades program which is a fast tracked residency process which lists plumbers as an eligible occupation. You might like to read that to see if you qualify? - good luck.
We had hoped tilers would be on the list for my husband but no luck.

Couldn't post a full link but put the usual web start to this:
cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/index

Thanks but I think you need a minimum of 1 year experience which I dont have have right now

 

[scylla]

You actually need two years of full time work experience as a plumber to qualify to apply. You also either need to have a permanent job offer in Canada OR hold the license/certification that allows you to practice as a plumber in the province you will be living in.

 

[fredde587]

You actually need two years of full time work experience as a plumber to qualify to apply. You also either need to have a permanent job offer in Canada OR hold the license/certification that allows you to practice as a plumber in the province you will be living in.

How could I get the license/certification for that? At the moment it looks like I just gotta go get there find a company that is willing to go through the LMO process, and after I have the amount of experience needed while being in canada I could still apply for the program right?

 

[scylla]

I can't answer your question about the license/certification. It's typically specific to each province. You'll have to do some research on google.

Yes - you can apply from within Canada once you meet the application criteria.