IT professional without bachelors degree

[coffeebeanz]

Hi,

I'm a German citizen who's currently working in Taiwan and I'd like to work in Canada for a couple of years. I've completed a three year dual vocational training as computer science expert with focus on systems administration in Germany and worked afterwards for 10 months in New Zealand. After that I moved to Taiwan where I work now for already 1.5 years. I'm currently employed as Linux Systems Administrator.

I was wondering if it's possible to obtain a normal work permit. I can get the working holiday for sure, but I'd rather have a real work visa.

Does anyone have experience with a case like that?

I'd appreciate your help. Thanks.

 

[scylla]

Obtaining a regular work permit is a difficult process.

First you have to find an employer in Canada who is willing to hire you (as a foreign worker) for a full time job. That employer must then obtain an approved LMIA (permission to hire you). Getting an approved LMIA involves advertising the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be hired for the role. The employer must then pay a $1K fee and submit the LMIA for processing. Processing can take up to 4 months. If the LMIA is approved (not all are), you then qualify for a work permit tied to that specific employer (closed work permit).

It tends to be very difficult to find employers willing to go through the process due to the fee involved, the wait times, and the uncertainty about whether the LMIA will be approved or not. Additionally, it's difficult to get approved LMIAs for IT jobs right now since there are more Canadians looking for IT jobs than IT jobs available.

If you qualify for a working holiday visa - this is probably a far more realistic route.

 

[coffeebeanz]

Thanks for your help. I didn't consider that the visa doesn't allow to change jobs. The working holiday visa sounds more flexible in this case.

Do you know if it's a hard process to go from a working holiday visa to a normal work visa or is it the same? I'd expect it to be easier if I'd have an employer already and go from there.

 

[scylla]

If you want to go from a working holiday visa to a normal work permit - the process will be the same and you'll still need to find an employer who is willing to go through the LMIA process. Even if you are already working for that employer, they will still have to go through all of the steps including advertising the job to prove no Canadian could be found for the role and paying the $1K fee. It may be easier if you are already working for a particular employer or it may not (some employers are simply unwilling to go through the LMIA process).

Anyway, in the short term, the working holiday visa is definitely the way to go.

 

[anarsoul]

If you want to go from a working holiday visa to a normal work permit - the process will be the same and you'll still need to find an employer who is willing to go through the LMIA process. Even if you are already working for that employer, they will still have to go through all of the steps including advertising the job to prove no Canadian could be found for the role and paying the $1K fee. It may be easier if you are already working for a particular employer or it may not (some employers are simply unwilling to go through the LMIA process).

Anyway, in the short term, the working holiday visa is definitely the way to go.

And if you were working on a job with NOC 0,A,B for 1 year you can apply for PR under CEC program, and while waiting for a PR, you can apply for a bridging open work permit.

 

[anarsoul]

As for looking for an employer who's willing to apply for LMIA (heh, too optimistic - even to invite a foreigner for an interview!), it's really hard, especially if you're not in Canada. I've got an invitation for an interview only after recommendation from canadian employee.

 

[fkl]

As for looking for an employer who's willing to apply for LMIA (heh, too optimistic - even to invite a foreigner for an interview!), it's really hard, especially if you're not in Canada. I've got an invitation for an interview only after recommendation from canadian employee.

Although it is certainly hard and not very common, it does happen and there are tons of examples - specially in IT.

The main thing is, a Canadian employer is looking for a specific skill set / experience, which is not easily found in Canada and the applicant has that.

And yes, working on work holiday visa for a year (in a skilled Job - NOC 0, A or B which it should be for a system administrator like role) qualifies one for CEC for PR which is the most likely route here

 

[Shipmint2020]

HI, I'm a Filipino, I got a LMIA, it was approved but my work permit was refused, the reason was I did not meet the requirements with a saying that I need to leave Canada right away ,so my parents sent me home right away because my visa also expired 4mos ago before I received the result of my work permit. Now I am working here in one of the food chain in the Philippines to get more experience, would you think that I will qualify and my work permit will be approve even I am not a Bachelors degree graduate?
Thank you.
JC

 

[Naturgrl]

HI, I'm a Filipino, I got a LMIA, it was approved but my work permit was refused, the reason was I did not meet the requirements with a saying that I need to leave Canada right away ,so my parents sent me home right away because my visa also expired 4mos ago before I received the result of my work permit. Now I am working here in one of the food chain in the Philippines to get more experience, would you think that I will qualify and my work permit will be approve even I am not a Bachelors degree graduate?
Thank you.
JC

You are replying to a post from 2015. What was the NOC for your LMIA and from what company? What were the reasons for refusal and did you order GCMS notes? How old are you?

 

[scylla]

HI, I'm a Filipino, I got a LMIA, it was approved but my work permit was refused, the reason was I did not meet the requirements with a saying that I need to leave Canada right away ,so my parents sent me home right away because my visa also expired 4mos ago before I received the result of my work permit. Now I am working here in one of the food chain in the Philippines to get more experience, would you think that I will qualify and my work permit will be approve even I am not a Bachelors degree graduate?
Thank you.
JC

It's really not possible to say without knowing a lot more details about your case such as the NOC of the job offer, your past work experience and education, and the detailed refusal reasons.