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moving from Portugal to Canada WITHOUT a job offer (yet)

R

Riq85pt

Member
Jun 26, 2013
18
0
Hello there !
I trust some of you are or have been in a similar situation and will be able to provide me with some information.

I'm a 27 year old Portuguese male citizen with two UK degrees in Music and Audio Production (Bsc and MSS). I'm strongly considering moving to Canada this year. I have successfully completed my IELTS General Test.
Thing is, I am not entirely sure I fall in the 'Skilled Worker' category as of yet. Besides, my course and/or profession are not part of the Eligible occupations' list. This wouldn't be a problem if only I had a job offer from a Canadian employer. However, there is no way in the world I'm going to be offered a job in Canada whilst still living abroad. That's pretty much common sense.
A Canadianvisa.com lawyer told me he wouldn't represent me as there is a very slim chance of being granted a permanent visa, because I do not have a job offer.

On the other hand, I was informed a while ago that if I tried to move to Canada as a tourist and then try to look for a job, I could be deported as it is illegal to do so. So my question is, how on earth is it legal and viable for me to move to Canada to look for work ? Can I ask for a work permit or a temporary visa ?

Any help would be appreciated. Most people I have contacted via e-mail have told to me to go to the CIC website and look for information but this has proven insufficient. I need a straight answer I am not going to find (easily) on these websites.
Thank you very much in advance.

Kind regards,

Ricardo
 
Riq85pt said:
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On the other hand, I was informed a while ago that if I tried to move to Canada as a tourist and then try to look for a job, I could be deported as it is illegal to do so. So my question is, how on earth is it legal and viable for me to move to Canada to look for work ? Can I ask for a work permit or a temporary visa ?
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I don't think it is illegal for you to look for a job in Canada while you are on a tourist visa. You could even meet with potential employers and discuss the potential job with them

It is illegal for you to work at a job in Canada without having the necessary work permit (or permanent residency permit or Canadian citizenship).

"Can I ask for a work permit or a temporary visa ?"....you can ask for anything in life, it does not mean you are going to get it (but then again, it doesn't mean you would not get it either).

You would ask your potential for a job, if your potential employer is willing to hire you, the potential employer has to then facilitate applying for the necessary work permit / temporary residency visa for you.

You can only (legally) work in Canada if/when you are eventually issued with the work permit / temporary residency visa.
 
But to get a work permit or temporary visa you need to have an offer of employment from a Canadian company right? And what are the chances of a foreign person getting that? They employ Canadians first so the chances are slim.
 
stealth08 said:
But to get a work permit or temporary visa you need to have an offer of employment from a Canadian company right? And what are the chances of a foreign person getting that? They employ Canadians first so the chances are slim.
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But to get a work permit or temporary visa you need to have an offer of employment from a Canadian company right?. Yes.

And what are the chances of a foreign person getting that? They employ Canadians first so the chances are slim.. Yes, they are required by law to always try to hire Canadians first. If there are no Canadians who can fill the position they can then try to employ a foreigner. Most Canadian employers do not want to go through the process of trying to employ a foreigner.

Usually the first step in an employer starting the process of facilitating you applying for a work permit or temporary visa is for the employer to get a "positive LMO" (Labour Market Opinion). It should be noted that there are some job types/categories that a potential employer will not be able to seek a LMO for.


You can read more about LMO by searching the forum and checking out these link:

Labour Market Opinion Basics

See if you need a labour market opinion

Fact Sheet — Temporary Foreign Worker Program

How to Hire a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW)



Topic: Processing Times for LMO (CanadaVisa forum thread)


***It all depends on the employer, but yes, generally speaking, the chances of a Canadian employer employing a foreigner are slim.
 
You can just have a go to visit Canada on a tourist visa and look for a job. You're not violating any immigration law.

Anyway, some of the job application online ask you what is your current visa status and who knows, one employer is just looking for you.

Good luck.
 
SanRoque said:
You can just have a go to visit Canada on a tourist visa and look for a job. You're not violating any immigration law.

Anyway, some of the job application online ask you what is your current visa status and who knows, one employer is just looking for you.

Good luck.
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As a Portuguese citizen he does not even need a tourist visa, he is exempt.

I agree, go and have a look, network, meet people, good luck.
 
NOC code is 6474 - Live-in caregiver

In Canada, both husband & wife, work outdoors 9am-5pm. So, most families are in need of a "NOC code is 6474 - Live-in caregiver".

So, anyone who applies as "NOC code is 6474 - Live-in caregiver" LMO can easily get a job in Canada.
 
thank you all so much for the replies :)
I guess that, besides looking for a job opportunity online I would definitely need to go to Canada for a couple of months to see if anything unfolds. I thought it was illegal to simply look for a job in Canada as a tourist. It all makes sense now.
Cheers guys !
 
A. Khan said:
NOC code is 6474 - Live-in caregiver

In Canada, both husband & wife, work outdoors 9am-5pm. So, most families are in need of a "NOC code is 6474 - Live-in caregiver".

So, anyone who applies as "NOC code is 6474 - Live-in caregiver" LMO can easily get a job in Canada.
Click to expand...

To qualify for LCP, you must have minimum one year official training (college) for childcare and/or six months paid full time experience in childcare. You must also have CPR and First Aid training and pass a medical exam.

LCP program is little more than legalized slavery, IMO. Someone from Portugal wouldn't like the program. They would feel degraded.
 
i wouldn't feel 'degraded' but it's just not something I'd be willing to do as I have no experience in the field.
So, I could move to Canada as a tourist, try to hand on for a couple of months and look for work while I'm there ? And I would then need a work permit in order to be able to work, right ? Would the employer take care of such bureaucracy ?
 
Riq85pt said:
And I would then need a work permit in order to be able to work, right ? Would the employer take care of such bureaucracy ?
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Yes - you will need a work permit.

No - the employer can't and won't take care of this. You are the one who must apply.
 
Riq85pt said:
i wouldn't feel 'degraded' but it's just not something I'd be willing to do as I have no experience in the field.
So, I could move to Canada as a tourist, try to hand on for a couple of months and look for work while I'm there ? And I would then need a work permit in order to be able to work, right ? Would the employer take care of such bureaucracy ?
Click to expand...

You'll be scrubbing toilets for capable adults for almost minimum wage, doing all their dishes, all their cooking, and other housekeeping.
 
I know. What I mean is, I don't think it's 'degrading'. may not be the greatest job in the world but someone has to do it. but hell, I wouldn't do it unless I was desperate. not because I feel its degrading but because I've invested a lot in my education only to be scrubbing toilets.
 
so for somebody with academic degrees byt no guarantee to find a suitable job right away, I could pretty much do anything right ? Say, work at Startbucks to get me started ? I wouldn't mind doing something else in the beginning while settling down.
 
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