Moving from UK to Canada while working for a UK team within an multinational company

[RRBrigi]

Hi,

I would like to move to Canada with my family (husband and 2 children) from the UK. We all have dual citizenship, British and Hungarian.
I work for an multinational company, which has offices in almost every country in the world. The company has a HR and payroll offices in Canada and in the UK too. I work remotely for one of the UK teams as a software engineer.
The plan is to move to Canada but still work remotely for the same team in the UK. Also we would need some kind of national health insurance and access to local schools for our children in Canada.
I asked my UK manager and he advised me to contact my company's HR team. I would like to do this, but I am not sure what to ask from them exactly.
Can my company help me getting any type of visa so I can live in Canada (if I continue work for a UK team but managed by the Canadian HR/payroll office)?
If not, what kind of visa do I need to live in Canada with my family (to get health care for us and schools for my children)?
I am not sure I can get enough points for the Express Entry Visa (I am 46 years old without any Canadian experience and I do not wish to change my job).

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[furrukhrao]

Hi,

I would like to move to Canada with my family (husband and 2 children) from the UK. We all have dual citizenship, British and Hungarian.
I work for an multinational company, which has offices in almost every country in the world. The company has a HR and payroll offices in Canada and in the UK too. I work remotely for one of the UK teams as a software engineer.
The plan is to move to Canada but still work remotely for the same team in the UK. Also we would need some kind of national health insurance and access to local schools for our children in Canada.
I asked my UK manager and he advised me to contact my company's HR team. I would like to do this, but I am not sure what to ask from them exactly.
Can my company help me getting any type of visa so I can live in Canada (if I continue work for a UK team but managed by the Canadian HR/payroll office)?
If not, what kind of visa do I need to live in Canada with my family (to get health care for us and schools for my children)?
I am not sure I can get enough points for the Express Entry Visa (I am 46 years old without any Canadian experience and I do not wish to change my job).

Thank you very much for your help!

Tell your HR to give you a Job offer in Canada and you will get PR or Work Permit by IRCC. www.cic.gc.ca for more Information.

 

[RRBrigi]

Tell your HR to give you a Job offer in Canada and you will get PR or Work Permit by IRCC. www.cic.gc.ca for more Information.

Thanks for your help.
If they give me a job offer in Canada then do I need to accept it for getting Work Permit or PR? I don't want to change my job, I would like to continue in my current role for the the UK team. Or you mean give me a job offer for my current role?

 

[scylla]

Hi,

I would like to move to Canada with my family (husband and 2 children) from the UK. We all have dual citizenship, British and Hungarian.
I work for an multinational company, which has offices in almost every country in the world. The company has a HR and payroll offices in Canada and in the UK too. I work remotely for one of the UK teams as a software engineer.
The plan is to move to Canada but still work remotely for the same team in the UK. Also we would need some kind of national health insurance and access to local schools for our children in Canada.
I asked my UK manager and he advised me to contact my company's HR team. I would like to do this, but I am not sure what to ask from them exactly.
Can my company help me getting any type of visa so I can live in Canada (if I continue work for a UK team but managed by the Canadian HR/payroll office)?
If not, what kind of visa do I need to live in Canada with my family (to get health care for us and schools for my children)?
I am not sure I can get enough points for the Express Entry Visa (I am 46 years old without any Canadian experience and I do not wish to change my job).

Thank you very much for your help!

A work permit is only going to be possible if your company relocates you to a job in Canada which is with their operations in Canada and which requires you to be physically in Canada. If you are working a remote job then a work permit is not going to be possible. In that case your options are to qualify to immigrate through a program like Express Entry and move here once you and your family are approved for PR - or to find a new employer with operations in Canada who is willing to give you a job offer and go through the LMIA process so that you can qualify for a closed work permit. Since you don't want to change jobs, the second option is not doable. So you need to qualify and be selected through an immigration program.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your help.
If they give me a job offer in Canada then do I need to accept it for getting Work Permit or PR? I don't want to change my job, I would like to continue in my current role for the the UK team. Or you mean give me a job offer for my current role?

It's a remote job so you won't qualify for a work permit and it won't help you for PR. You'll need to qualify for PR without relying on a job offer.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thanks for your help.
If they give me a job offer in Canada then do I need to accept it for getting Work Permit or PR? I don't want to change my job, I would like to continue in my current role for the the UK team. Or you mean give me a job offer for my current role?

Not that simple. Your employer has to file for a LMIA exemption proving you have the technical knowledge that no one in their Canadian offices have. Once LMIA exemption is approved with job offer then you apply for a closed work permit. Having a LMIA exemption doesn't give you PR or extra points for Express Entry until you have worked in Canada for at least a year. You cannot continue to work remotely with the UK office. You need to be transferred to the Canadian office.

So you need to talk to your employer to file for LMIA exemption first. They need to fill out the paperwork.

 

[scylla]

Not that simple. Your employer has to file for a LMIA exemption proving you have the technical knowledge that no one in their Canadian offices have. Once LMIA exemption is approved with job offer then you apply for a closed work permit. Having a LMIA exemption doesn't give you PR or extra points for Express Entry until you have worked in Canada for at least a year. You cannot continue to work remotely with the UK office. You need to be transferred to the Canadian office.

So you need to talk to your employer to file for LMIA exemption first. They need to fill out the paperwork.

ICT might also be possible which doesn't require the LMIA. But either way this won't work for a remote job. The job has to be with the company's operations in Canada. If the OP isn't willing to change jobs, then a work permit is a non starter.

 

[RRBrigi]

It's a remote job so you won't qualify for a work permit and it won't help you for PR. You'll need to qualify for PR without relying on a job offer.

Thank for your help.
How can I qualify for PR without relying on a job offer?

 

[scylla]

Thank for your help.
How can I qualify for PR without relying on a job offer?

You need to score enough points through Express Entry to be selected ahead of other applicants. The last draw was for 490 points. Or you need to explore the PNP immigration programs.

Your age is unfortunately a disadvantage.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank for your help.
How can I qualify for PR without relying on a job offer?

Research Express Entry based on your age, education, language and skilled work experience. IELTS for language and ECA for education is mandatory. If you are over 46, you may not even be eligible for EE. You need 67 points to even submit your name. Then you need a high CRS score. Honestly if you don't have a Master and know French/English you will not have a high enough CRS score to be invited.

Eligibility to apply as a Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) - Canada.ca

 

[RRBrigi]

Is there any other visa that I can apply and live in Canada, that makes possible for the children to go to school?

 

[RRBrigi]

Research Express Entry based on your age, education, language and skilled work experience. IELTS for language and ECA for education is mandatory. If you are over 46, you may not even be eligible for EE. You need 67 points to even submit your name. Then you need a high CRS score. Honestly if you don't have a Master and know French/English you will not have a high enough CRS score to be invited.

Eligibility to apply as a Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) - Canada.ca

Thanks.
I checked and I can't reach 67 points because of my age and because me or my husband does not have any Canadian work or study experience.

 

[Naturgrl]

Is there any other visa that I can apply and live in Canada, that makes possible for the children to go to school?

You need a job offer with LMIA from a Canadian employer. The LMIA proves that no Canadian or PR could be hired. Then you can apply for a closed work permit. Still want to get ECA for your education and IELTS to prove you can do the job. Your kids may be eligible to study in Canada based on your closed work permit. The job needs to be skilled - TEER 1-3. Working in Canada will not guarantee PR. You still need to points to be eligible and high enough CRS scores to be invited.

How old are your children?

 

[RRBrigi]

You need a job offer with LMIA from a Canadian employer. The LMIA proves that no Canadian or PR could be hired. Then you can apply for a closed work permit. Still want to get ECA for your education and IELTS to prove you can do the job. Your kids may be eligible to study in Canada based on your closed work permit. The job needs to be skilled - TEER 1-3. Working in Canada will not guarantee PR. You still need to points to be eligible and high enough CRS scores to be invited.

How old are your children?

My children are 8 and 14 years old.

 

[scylla]

Is there any other visa that I can apply and live in Canada, that makes possible for the children to go to school?

No, there is no such temporary visa.

The only other option I can think of from a temporary visa perspective is if your spouse was able to secure a job offer in Canada from a Canadian employer along with an approved LMIA from that employer. The job must be full time and in a skilled occupation. This would allow your spouse to apply for a closed work permit and then you could qualify for an open work permit based on your spouse's closed work permit.