Moving to Canada to work with no education past high school

[jforbus]

I live in Texas, USA, I'm 23, and I've been in a long-distance relationship with a girl for nearly 3 years now and I'm finally making the move up to Canada to come live with her in Ontario. I've never even BEEN outside of the country before and beyond getting a passport, I'm not sure how I'd be able to live and work there when I've only worked unskilled jobs my whole life and have no education past high school. She claims she's known people that have immigrated to Canada to work unskilled jobs before, and I was wonder what the best way to go about figuring this out would be.

I'm sure someone out there's been a situation similar to mine. Any ideas?

 

[wilson]

I live in Texas, USA, I'm 23, and I've been in a long-distance relationship with a girl for nearly 3 years now and I'm finally making the move up to Canada to come live with her in Ontario. I've never even BEEN outside of the country before and beyond getting a passport, I'm not sure how I'd be able to live and work there when I've only worked unskilled jobs my whole life and have no education past high school. She claims she's known people that have immigrated to Canada to work unskilled jobs before, and I was wonder what the best way to go about figuring this out would be.

I'm sure someone out there's been a situation similar to mine. Any ideas?

It is better that you get married with her when both are ready.
Then she will be able to sponsor you as her spouse to get you to Canada.When you arrive in Canada, she should take care of you.
Mean time, if interested, you could learn how to live and work according to the situation. There are also lot of unskilled jobs in Canada, if you are willing to do any work.

 

[jforbus]

It is better that you get married with her when both are ready.
Then she will be able to sponsor you as her spouse to get you to Canada.When you arrive in Canada, she should take care of you.
Mean time, if interested, you could learn how to live and work according to the situation. There are also lot of unskilled jobs in Canada, if you are willing to do any work.

I would be more than willing to work an unskilled job in Canada to help support her while she goes to college (which she plans to do in september), the only problem is it seems like they only give work visas to people with an education or with some sort of skilled occupation. I'm not sure what my options are, and I've been to several websites trying to figure this out, but there is a ton of information to take in and a lot of it seems to be conflicting. It seems like I'd have to become a permanent resident before I could start working, but I read that that takes about 9 months and she doesn't have the money to support both of us for that long. We had thought about marrying to get me in, but only if there was no other way of going about it.

 

[Ayinka]

I would be more than willing to work an unskilled job in Canada to help support her while she goes to college (which she plans to do in september), the only problem is it seems like they only give work visas to people with an education or with some sort of skilled occupation. I'm not sure what my options are, and I've been to several websites trying to figure this out, but there is a ton of information to take in and a lot of it seems to be conflicting. It seems like I'd have to become a permanent resident before I could start working, but I read that that takes about 9 months and she doesn't have the money to support both of us for that long. We had thought about marrying to get me in, but only if there was no other way of going about it.

Hi there,

there are only a few options when it comes to immigrating to Canada. Student and tourist visas are only temporary and don't allow you to work and you would be illegal past the expiration of the visa. Work visa would be difficult to obtain in your situation. Family sponsorship or skilled worker programs. Given these options as the person above recommended, family sponsorship would be your best bet. You would have to get married and then she would sponsor you as her husband; which means that she's applying for your permanent residency. so yes, you would move as a resident already and yes it does take a while to get that. When it comes to immigration processes it is a waiting game...

i would not recomment you trying the skilled worker program if you are not skilled...obviously you'd be wasting lots of money and most likely be rejected. Good luck to you.

 

[scylla]

In order for your girlfriend to sponsor you, you either have to be married or common law (common law = you have lived together for a minimum of one full year before you apply). You can live and work in the US while you wait for the sponsorship application to be processed.

In order to hire you (a foreign worker), an employer must prove that they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian for the role. They must then apply for something called a Labour Market Opinion (LMO). If the goverment approves the LMO, you would then have to apply for a work permit. If the work permit is approved, you would then be able to start working. This entire process typically takes months to complete and there is also no guarantee the LMO will be approved (chances are significantly lower for unskilled jobs since it's very difficult to prove that a Canadian could not be found to fill the role). This is why many employers aren't willing to consider foreign workers for jobs and why you will probably have a very difficult time finding a position before you become a PR. (Although there's no reason you can try.)

 

[jforbus]

"...family sponsorship would be your best bet. You would have to get married and then she would sponsor you as her husband; which means that she's applying for your permanent residency. so yes, you would move as a resident already and yes it does take a while to get that. When it comes to immigration processes it is a waiting game..."

From what I've read, it looks like a family sponsorship is my best, if not my ONLY option for getting into Canada within a reasonable amount of time. What is the family sponsorship process like? Would I have to visit Canada to marry her, or is there some way of going about an international long-distance marriage? How long would it take for me to get my permanent residency once she sponsors me, and once I get that, am I allowed to live and work in Canada freely, just without some of the benefits of being a full-blown citizen?

 

[scylla]

Read through the first post in the following thread. It should answer many of your questions:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

To answer a few more - you can get married anywhere. And yes, once you have PR, you will be able to live and work in Canada freely provided you maintain your PR status by living in Canada for a minimum of two out of every five years.

 

[AAL1984]

Just some very general advise, obviously I don't know you or your situation in any personal manner. However, generally speaking I would think it would probably just be easier for your girlfriend to move to Texas, for you to marry, and for you to sponsor her for a Green Card.

Spousal sponsorship tends to be faster in the States, though not always but usually its faster. Further, I really think you should go to Canada first before you decide to quit your job and move up there. See if you even like it and can get a job.

Do you realize Texas has a much better economy than Ontario? Things in Texas are cheaper, Canada is very liberal with very high taxes to fund all sorts of socialist programs, plus are you sure you can adjust to the brutal winter climate?

Don't get me wrong, moving up to Ontario might be the best thing for you, I don't know. However just from what you said it kind of sounds like you are not ready for a big move like that, since you've never even been out of the states.

Canada seems to be great for people from Asia, Europe, Africa etc.. but I don't think most Americans (or anyone who has lived in the States) would really like it up here or could live here permanently, just my honest humble opinion.

 

[YorkFactory]

However, generally speaking I would think it would probably just be easier for your girlfriend to move to Texas, for you to marry, and for you to sponsor her for a Green Card.

Spousal sponsorship tends to be faster in the States, though not always but usually its faster.

I don't agree with this at all. Sponsoring an American spouse/partner to Canada is faster in general, from the cases I've seen. Also, there's no minimum income requirement for a Canadian sponsor, while there is for an American sponsor.

Do you realize Texas has a much better economy than Ontario?

Per-capita income in Texas is just shy of $20,000. In Ontario, it's well over $35,000. Yes, things in Texas are cheaper, but they have to be, with more jobs at the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) than any other state. And frankly, if either of you has a chronic health condition, you're rather likely to have your finances consistently strained by medical bills. Not as true in Ontario.

 

[ambatai]

Enquiries on Graduate admission and student visa to Canadian university

am a nigerian with 5 years working experience in Administration and a 3.52 CGPA( second class upper) from a Nigerian University in History and International studies. am currently applying to read MA in Political Science at the Memorial University Newfoundland. pls what are my chances. thank you

 

[Ayinka]

Just some very general advise, obviously I don't know you or your situation in any personal manner. However, generally speaking I would think it would probably just be easier for your girlfriend to move to Texas, for you to marry, and for you to sponsor her for a Green Card.

Spousal sponsorship tends to be faster in the States, though not always but usually its faster. Further, I really think you should go to Canada first before you decide to quit your job and move up there. See if you even like it and can get a job.

Do you realize Texas has a much better economy than Ontario? Things in Texas are cheaper, Canada is very liberal with very high taxes to fund all sorts of socialist programs, plus are you sure you can adjust to the brutal winter climate?

Don't get me wrong, moving up to Ontario might be the best thing for you, I don't know. However just from what you said it kind of sounds like you are not ready for a big move like that, since you've never even been out of the states.

Canada seems to be great for people from Asia, Europe, Africa etc.. but I don't think most Americans (or anyone who has lived in the States) would really like it up here or could live here permanently, just my honest humble opinion.



I know it's a matter of opinion but thought I'd give mine too when it comes to people living in the US not liking Ontario. I've been living in the US for the past 11 years and am getting ready to move to Ontario and I just can't wait! I've been to Canada, Ontario most specifically, a multitute of times and I love it there and I plan on leaving the US permanently for Canada in a few months. Also, spousal sponsorship is not faster in the US and I don't agree with the economy statement either.

My advice would be for you to do your own research. I'm assuming you are American if you've never traveled outside the US...how about visiting your girlfriend? take a few trips to canada and see for yourself what Ontario has to offer. I've been in a long distance relationship myself for close to 3 years now and I know how frustrating it can be...you need to get moving on your immigration paperwork...it takes a while to get anything. Good luck again.

 

[jforbus]

And frankly, if either of you has a chronic health condition, you're rather likely to have your finances consistently strained by medical bills. Not as true in Ontario.

She does have a chronic lung issue and is in and out of the hospital every so often, and that's one of the reasons I'm going up there instead of the other way around. Also, I have no ties to Texas, while she just got accepted to college in Ontario. As for the winter climate, I see it as a challenge that I'm excited to try and adapt to. Plus, it seems like its much easier for someone working a low-end job to support themselves in Ontario than in Texas, based on our separate experiences. Also, I am planning on paying her a visit before I move up there or anything, as soon as I get my passport here in the next couple months.

 

[hclarke]

I'm the girlfriend in question; figured I'd throw a little bit more information out here in case it may help any.

I do have health issues, chronic bronchitis being a major one. I usually wind up in the hospital between 3-6 times a year because of this. Not only this, but I suffer from chemical imbalances that require medical attention/doctor's visits multiple times per year.

Although I am not completely sure on the validity of this statement, I've read online before that if you come to America with a known, preexisting medical condition, it is harder (if not impossible) to obtain health insurance. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong-- I'd actually love to have that clarified if at all possible.

If he were to come to Canada, he already has a definite place to stay if he has issues obtaining employment for the first year of his residency. This is also a huge benefit, I believe. My family is welcoming him with open arms and if he is unable to work for the first while and cannot afford to live with me in my apartment, my parents are more than happy to have him stay with them while everything boils over. In saying that, I'm not too sure if there would be any legal issues with this? If we were to get married and if I were to sponsor him, can we live in separate residences? This may sound like a dumb question, but I am (embarrassingly) uneducated when it comes to the legalities of immigration.

What MY perfect plan would be, would be for him to first come to visit me AT LEAST once (preferably more than once), and for him to make the decision on whether or not he truly wants to make the move and become a citizen. After this, and after we verify that this will work out, I'd be honored to legally marry him and sponsor him as my husband.

If someone is able to clarify anything in this post for me, it'd be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[AAL1984]

Ok good luck to you guys. One important piece of advise, even if he is living in Canada, please file your application outland in Buffalo, you can do this. Outland for Americans is much much faster than inland, please read up about this before you file, it will make things much quicker, DO NOT FILE AN INLAND APP

 

[hclarke]

Ok good luck to you guys. One important piece of advise, even if he is living in Canada, please file your application outland in Buffalo, you can do this. Outland for Americans is much much faster than inland, please read up about this before you file, it will make things much quicker, DO NOT FILE AN INLAND APP

Thank you and we'll definitely keep this in mind. I appreciate all of the input everyone has made so far, you really have made a huge change in the situation. :3