How are you supposed to get a job before PR?

[CWilson]

What's the best way to go about getting a job before PR to get the extra 600 points? There are jobs out there I think I'd stand a good chance of getting but surely no one will give me a job if I don't have PR even if I'm perfectly qualified.

"When can you start?"
"Not sure exactly, probably about 6 months... "
.... that's not gonna fly.

So, do I need a work permit first so I can start straight away? I've heard they're not easy to get and they've already issued all of them this year. I've only got 422 points so I'm not sure I'll get an ITA, might need a job lined up... or PNP, but that's another topic.

 

[scylla]

In order to get a job before you have PR, you will first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a full time job. That employer will then have to obtain an approved LMIA. As part of this process, the employer will have to advertise the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role. The processing time for the LMIA could be 2-4 months. If the LMIA is approved, you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

So the first step is to find an employer in Canada who is willing to give you the full time job.

No - they have not already issued all of the work permits for this year. Whoever told you that doesn't understand the process and has no idea what he/she is talking about. Don't take any advice from them.

 

[Jaxon911]

What's the best way to go about getting a job before PR to get the extra 600 points? There are jobs out there I think I'd stand a good chance of getting but surely no one will give me a job if I don't have PR even if I'm perfectly qualified.

"When can you start?"
"Not sure exactly, probably about 6 months... "
.... that's not gonna fly.

So, do I need a work permit first so I can start straight away? I've heard they're not easy to get and they've already issued all of them this year. I've only got 422 points so I'm not sure I'll get an ITA, might need a job lined up... or PNP, but that's another topic.

Chris,

Getting a job without PR is certainly tough. It's impossible to answer your question. It's up to you if you're able to find a job before PR, no one else can help!

However, your score is good, you might get an ITA in one of next 4-5 draws!

 

[CWilson]

In order to get a job before you have PR, you will first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a full time job. That employer will then have to obtain an approved LMIA. As part of this process, the employer will have to advertise the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role. The processing time for the LMIA could be 2-4 months. If the LMIA is approved, you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

So the first step is to find an employer in Canada who is willing to give you the full time job.

No - they have not already issued all of the work permits for this year. Whoever told you that doesn't understand the process and has no idea what he/she is talking about. Don't take any advice from them.

That is a really hard sell to a Canadian employer, they'd have to be really stuck to be willing to wait that long for the LMIA to come through. Plus waiting for the work permit to come through.

Can you get an open work permit that isn't tied to an employer and lets you start working for anyone once they've done the LMIA assessment? I suppose employers might have done the LMIA assessment already so if I had a work permit I'd be able to start within a month or so?

 

[AshesNdust]

That is a really hard sell to a Canadian employer, they'd have to be really stuck to be willing to wait that long for the LMIA to come through. Plus waiting for the work permit to come through.

Can you get an open work permit that isn't tied to an employer and lets you start working for anyone once they've done the LMIA assessment? I suppose employers might have done the LMIA assessment already so if I had a work permit I'd be able to start within a month or so?

It depends on your field and job. In my field, you get the LMIA in under a month and other types of TWP in weeks. Most people, myself included, went the route of getting a temporary job, like a contract for 6 months to a year, and then got offered either a full time position with a LMIA or just worked contract to contract and now qualify under the CEC. They don't get the extra 600 points, but they'll probably get an ITA in uncoming draws.
I'm not sure about the open work permit. The only people I know who have those got them through their spouses, which is kind of ironic. The spouse with the original job offer has a closed permit, but their partners are offered an open one through the CIC.

 

[scylla]

Can you get an open work permit that isn't tied to an employer and lets you start working for anyone once they've done the LMIA assessment?

No - based on the information you've provided you do not qualify for an open work permit.

There are very specific criteria for qualifying for an open work permit and it doesn't sound like you meet any of them:

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

 

[CWilson]

It depends on your field and job. In my field, you get the LMIA in under a month and other types of TWP in weeks. Most people, myself included, went the route of getting a temporary job, like a contract for 6 months to a year, and then got offered either a full time position with a LMIA or just worked contract to contract and now qualify under the CEC. They don't get the extra 600 points, but they'll probably get an ITA in uncoming draws.
I'm not sure about the open work permit. The only people I know who have those got them through their spouses, which is kind of ironic. The spouse with the original job offer has a closed permit, but their partners are offered an open one through the CIC.

So how can you get a temporary job for 6 months to a year? Don't you need some sort of visa to do that? I'm confused, this sounds like a catch 22. Can't get a visa without a job and can't get a job without a visa.

 

[dobes]

I think your score is high enough that you have a very good chance of getting an ITA before the end of the year. Other than that, a lot depends on your field. If, like me, many Canadians would want to do your job, and could do it (I am a literary agent), you will not be able to get an LMIA. If, on the other hand, you are in a job that not many Canadians are qualified to do, you stand a better chance of getting a job offer and LMIA even from outside Canada.

Open work permits are not freely available. Most people who have them graduated from Canadian universities and are on a post-graduate work permit, which allows them to work in Canada for 3 years after getting their degree. Many others have them through spouses who have closed work permits or who, like mine, are grad students in Canada. Others are intra-company transferees or NAFTA employees from the US or Mexico.

These open work permits don't give you 600 points, and they are all temporary permits. What they really give you is time to figure out if you can find a way to become a permanent resident!

I want to add that I have already filed my PR application, having been invited with a score of 466 and no LMIA.

You can, of course, if you have the time and money, come to Canada on a job-hunting trip. That might work out for you IF you are in a job for which an LMIA is likely to be granted. But getting an LMIA depends on a determination that there are not enough Canadians willing or able to do that job, and that is not an easy thing to demonstrate. Good luck!

 

[scylla]

So how can you get a temporary job for 6 months to a year? Don't you need some sort of visa to do that? I'm confused, this sounds like a catch 22. Can't get a visa without a job and can't get a job without a visa.

It's not a catch 22. You can certainly get a job without a visa. It's difficult but by no means impossible.

As I mentioned in my first post - you need to find an employer who is willing to go through the LMIA process so that you can apply for a closed work permit.

Many employers aren't willing to go through the process. You have to find one who is. That's the trick.

 

[CWilson]

...

Open work permits are not freely available. Most people who have them graduated from Canadian universities and are on a post-graduate work permit, which allows them to work in Canada for 3 years after getting their degree.

...

That's interesting as I had considered doing a Masters degree in Canada if I didn't get an ITA at this stage. It'll give me some extra points as I only have a bachelors degree at the moment and would obviously be a bonus for getting a job in Canada. Does the post-graduate work permit apply to a 1 year Masters degree course? Do you have a link? I've not heard this before.

The obvious downside to this is money, but I'm willing to do pretty much anything to get over there.

 

[pziegler1986]

It's not a catch 22. You can certainly get a job without a visa. It's difficult but by no means impossible.

As I mentioned in my first post - you need to find an employer who is willing to go through the LMIA process so that you can apply for a closed work permit.

Many employers aren't willing to go through the process. You have to find one who is. That's the trick.

Getting an employer willing to go through the LMIA process is half the battle - actually being in a position to receive a +ve decision is a whole new ball game. From what I gather, trades are doing very well with securing +ve LMIAs

 

[scylla]

Does the post-graduate work permit apply to a 1 year Masters degree course? Do you have a link? I've not heard this before.

I think you need to spend some more quality time reading through the information on the CIC web site. You seem to have several basic misconceptions about Canadian immigration. PGWP info is here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp

Also here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-who.asp

 

[mf4361]

That's interesting as I had considered doing a Masters degree in Canada if I didn't get an ITA at this stage. It'll give me some extra points as I only have a bachelors degree at the moment and would obviously be a bonus for getting a job in Canada. Does the post-graduate work permit apply to a 1 year Masters degree course? Do you have a link? I've not heard this before.

The obvious downside to this is money, but I'm willing to do pretty much anything to get over there.

PGWP is a one-in-a-lifetime permit. If you got your PGWP after your bachelor, you can't get it again after your master.

You get a PGWP the same length as your study, max 3 year. So if you did your bachelor outside Canada and do a 1 year Canadian master, you will get a 1 year PGWP.

 

[CWilson]

Ok, that's cool. Not done PGWP before so it is an option.

I've not looked at it before as I've been concentrating on FSW EE. I haven't read the entirety of the CIC website as there's a huge amount on there.

Thanks for your help