No direct path for me

[Harono]

I keep seeing new roadblocks whenever I dig deeper, and some things aren't clear, so maybe this board could help.

I'm in the US. No degree. No job. I'm not a child and not a senior, I have no relatives in Canada. I want to eventually become a Canadian citizen with full benefits. I want to move to Canada next year (probably Toronto or Ottawa), rent an apartment, do volunteer work, and get a job, but I don't know what job I will get. I have no licenses to show I'm skilled at anything, but I'd ace an English test and I'm healthy and have a clean record.

So, should I get my passport and apply for a work permit, then they'll send me a Visa as well as the permit and I'll be able to live and look for a job in Canada and then I could renew the Visa and work permit until I've worked full time for a year and then I could be a citizen? Or what?

 

[Naturgrl]

I keep seeing new roadblocks whenever I dig deeper, and some things aren't clear, so maybe this board could help.

I'm in the US. No degree. No job. I'm not a child and not a senior, I have no relatives in Canada. I want to eventually become a Canadian citizen with full benefits. I want to move to Canada next year (probably Toronto or Ottawa), rent an apartment, do volunteer work, and get a job, but I don't know what job I will get. I have no licenses to show I'm skilled at anything, but I'd ace an English test and I'm healthy and have a clean record.

So, should I get my passport and apply for a work permit, then they'll send me a Visa as well as the permit and I'll be able to live and look for a job in Canada and then I could renew the Visa and work permit until I've worked full time for a year and then I could be a citizen? Or what?

How are you getting a work permit if you are not skilled and have no degree? You are not eligible for a work permit. Having a passport and being US citizen doesn’t give you any benefits. You cannot move to Canada.

 

[scylla]

I keep seeing new roadblocks whenever I dig deeper, and some things aren't clear, so maybe this board could help.

I'm in the US. No degree. No job. I'm not a child and not a senior, I have no relatives in Canada. I want to eventually become a Canadian citizen with full benefits. I want to move to Canada next year (probably Toronto or Ottawa), rent an apartment, do volunteer work, and get a job, but I don't know what job I will get. I have no licenses to show I'm skilled at anything, but I'd ace an English test and I'm healthy and have a clean record.

So, should I get my passport and apply for a work permit, then they'll send me a Visa as well as the permit and I'll be able to live and look for a job in Canada and then I could renew the Visa and work permit until I've worked full time for a year and then I could be a citizen? Or what?

No, not how it works.

You don't qualify for a work permit without securing a job with an employer in Canada first and most likely also having that employer obtain an approved LMIA. Very difficult to find employers willing to go through this process unless you have specialized experience, education or skills.

Immigration to Canada is extremely difficult without a degree. Start by completing a degree in the US. You could also consider coming to Canada as an international student to complete a degree here if you have the funds.

Without a degree or any other licence, etc you should assume moving here won't be feasible.

 

[Harono]

Very difficult to find employers willing to go through this process unless you have specialized experience, education or skills.

Specialized experience I have, but unpaid. I intend to acquire more of the same in Canada, and try to get hired by who I volunteer for. I don't want to go the degree route.

 

[steaky]

Specialized experience I have, but unpaid. I intend to acquire more of the same in Canada, and try to get hired by who I volunteer for. I don't want to go the degree route.

@forevermore76 said CUSMA is actually fairly easy compared to any other WP. So perhaps you should go to that path.

 

[Harono]

@forevermore76 said CUSMA is actually fairly easy compared to any other WP. So perhaps you should go to that path.

I'll look into it. I have some money so I can do some stuff requiring a modest investment. I may consult an immigration attorney too.

 

[forevermore76]

@forevermore76 said CUSMA is actually fairly easy compared to any other WP. So perhaps you should go to that path.

OP would need to secure a job in Canada first. LMIA is waived under CUSMA for certain trades and professions. OP has no schooling and probably no experience either, it would still be an uphill battle.

 

[Naturgrl]

I'll look into it. I have some money so I can do some stuff requiring a modest investment. I may consult an immigration attorney too.

CUSMA is not an option. You need a lot of money for investment programs plus Ontario entrepreneur program is closed.

 

[Copingwithlife]

I keep seeing new roadblocks whenever I dig deeper, and some things aren't clear, so maybe this board could help.

I'm in the US. No degree. No job. I'm not a child and not a senior, I have no relatives in Canada. I want to eventually become a Canadian citizen with full benefits. I want to move to Canada next year (probably Toronto or Ottawa), rent an apartment, do volunteer work, and get a job, but I don't know what job I will get. I have no licenses to show I'm skilled at anything, but I'd ace an English test and I'm healthy and have a clean record.

So, should I get my passport and apply for a work permit, then they'll send me a Visa as well as the permit and I'll be able to live and look for a job in Canada and then I could renew the Visa and work permit until I've worked full time for a year and then I could be a citizen? Or what?

“I'd ace an English test and I'm healthy and have a clean record.”

That’s nice , but it’s not the ticket to get PR or a passport

 

[scylla]

Specialized experience I have, but unpaid. I intend to acquire more of the same in Canada, and try to get hired by who I volunteer for. I don't want to go the degree route.

Only paid experience counts for the purposes of Canadian immigration.

If you want to acquire specialized experience in Canada on a volunteer basis, this will still require a job offer from an employer in Canada and a work permit (and likely also an approved LMIA). Assume it will be very difficult to find an employer.

It's obviously your choice whether you go the degree route or not. Just be aware that without a degree, your options for getting PR in Canada will reduce drastically. Ultimately it depends how important this is for you. I would start learning French now.

Ultimately the reason why you keep seeing roadblocks to immigrating is because your profile is extremely weak and you don't meet the requirements of Canada's immigration programs. It's really quite competitive.

Good luck.

 

[canuck78]

I keep seeing new roadblocks whenever I dig deeper, and some things aren't clear, so maybe this board could help.

I'm in the US. No degree. No job. I'm not a child and not a senior, I have no relatives in Canada. I want to eventually become a Canadian citizen with full benefits. I want to move to Canada next year (probably Toronto or Ottawa), rent an apartment, do volunteer work, and get a job, but I don't know what job I will get. I have no licenses to show I'm skilled at anything, but I'd ace an English test and I'm healthy and have a clean record.

So, should I get my passport and apply for a work permit, then they'll send me a Visa as well as the permit and I'll be able to live and look for a job in Canada and then I could renew the Visa and work permit until I've worked full time for a year and then I could be a citizen? Or what?

You said you are in the US but are you a US citizen?

 

[Harono]

You said you are in the US but are you a US citizen?

Yes

 

[Harono]

Only paid experience counts for the purposes of Canadian immigration.

If you want to acquire specialized experience in Canada on a volunteer basis, this will still require a job offer from an employer in Canada and a work permit (and likely also an approved LMIA). Assume it will be very difficult to find an employer.

I'd need the volunteer work to not require a paid job offer. The little info I found on that isn't firm. I'd be interested in reading more on that on a canada.ca page. I want to volunteer for a large, well known charity and I haven't yet asked them whether being a non-Canadian matters. If it matters to them, then I'll try other orgs unless volunteering without a paid job offer/work permit isn't allowed anywhere.

In the tangled web of canada.co I found this page which asks if I'm a skilled worker without defining the term. Elsewhere, it looked like I could get a temporary resident permit which could allow me to get an open work permit, which sounded like it didn't require a job offer, but then I read "a temporary resident permit is only granted in exceptional circumstances to a person who does not meet the requirements of Canada’s immigration law to enter or stay temporarily in Canada" so I guess I can't get a temporary resident permit or open work permit.

This page says "Visa-required travellers: The following travellers need a visa to come to Canada by any method of travel—plane, car, bus, train or cruise ship. Holders of a foreign national passport and stateless individuals need a visa to visit or transit through Canada." Foreign to who? It could be interpreted as, if I have a US passport (I'm a foreigner to Canada), then I need a visa, but the US isn't on the list. I'm thinking I don't need a visa to travel to Canada, but I have to do more research now.

BTW, my volunteer experience and skill (unrecognized to Canada) is precise technical/instructional writing. Canada needs me to clean up their website, and I'd do it for free.

...ChatGPT helped me find this. I think it's encouraging but I'll analyze it tomorrow. I may be able to get a work permit without an impact statement if I have an offer of an unpaid volunteer job.

 

[scylla]

I'd need the volunteer work to not require a paid job offer. The little info I found on that isn't firm. I'd be interested in reading more on that on a canada.ca page. I want to volunteer for a large, well known charity and I haven't yet asked them whether being a non-Canadian matters. If it matters to them, then I'll try other orgs unless volunteering without a paid job offer/work permit isn't allowed anywhere.

In the tangled web of canada.co I found this page which asks if I'm a skilled worker without defining the term. Elsewhere, it looked like I could get a temporary resident permit which could allow me to get an open work permit, which sounded like it didn't require a job offer, but then I read "a temporary resident permit is only granted in exceptional circumstances to a person who does not meet the requirements of Canada’s immigration law to enter or stay temporarily in Canada" so I guess I can't get a temporary resident permit or open work permit.

This page says "Visa-required travellers: The following travellers need a visa to come to Canada by any method of travel—plane, car, bus, train or cruise ship. Holders of a foreign national passport and stateless individuals need a visa to visit or transit through Canada." Foreign to who? It could be interpreted as, if I have a US passport (I'm a foreigner to Canada), then I need a visa, but the US isn't on the list. I'm thinking I don't need a visa to travel to Canada, but I have to do more research now.

BTW, my volunteer experience and skill (unrecognized to Canada) is precise technical/instructional writing. Canada needs me to clean up their website, and I'd do it for free.

...ChatGPT helped me find this. I think it's encouraging but I'll analyze it tomorrow. I may be able to get a work permit without an impact statement if I have an offer of an unpaid volunteer job.

Temporary resident permit is a special permit for individuals who are otherwise inadmissible to Canada, typically due to a crime. You don't qualify for this.

Yes, when it comes to finding a position with a charity in Canada it will certainly matter if you are Canadian since this may determine whether you need a work permit. I would recommend reaching out to a large number of charities in parallel.

You don't need a visa to enter Canada as a tourist since you hold a US passport. This is very clearly indicate on the IRCC website. Note that if and how long you are allowed into Canada is determined by CBSA when you arrive. Assuming you are entering as a visitor and don't hold a work permit at the time you enter, you'll want to make sure you look like a visitor and not someone who plans to remain in Canada long term. Pack light and only bring with you want a tourist would normally bring with them. Leave the rest at home.

I haven't looked at the chatgpt info however we've often seen AI produce wildly wrong answers. Do you research through the official IRCC web site.

 

[canuck78]

I'd need the volunteer work to not require a paid job offer. The little info I found on that isn't firm. I'd be interested in reading more on that on a canada.ca page. I want to volunteer for a large, well known charity and I haven't yet asked them whether being a non-Canadian matters. If it matters to them, then I'll try other orgs unless volunteering without a paid job offer/work permit isn't allowed anywhere.

In the tangled web of canada.co I found this page which asks if I'm a skilled worker without defining the term. Elsewhere, it looked like I could get a temporary resident permit which could allow me to get an open work permit, which sounded like it didn't require a job offer, but then I read "a temporary resident permit is only granted in exceptional circumstances to a person who does not meet the requirements of Canada’s immigration law to enter or stay temporarily in Canada" so I guess I can't get a temporary resident permit or open work permit.

This page says "Visa-required travellers: The following travellers need a visa to come to Canada by any method of travel—plane, car, bus, train or cruise ship. Holders of a foreign national passport and stateless individuals need a visa to visit or transit through Canada." Foreign to who? It could be interpreted as, if I have a US passport (I'm a foreigner to Canada), then I need a visa, but the US isn't on the list. I'm thinking I don't need a visa to travel to Canada, but I have to do more research now.

BTW, my volunteer experience and skill (unrecognized to Canada) is precise technical/instructional writing. Canada needs me to clean up their website, and I'd do it for free.

...ChatGPT helped me find this. I think it's encouraging but I'll analyze it tomorrow. I may be able to get a work permit without an impact statement if I have an offer of an unpaid volunteer job.

If the work could be paid work you typically need a WP. The big issue is this is still not a viable pathway to get a WP or PR in Canada given your profile. Not sure if you realize how difficult it is to secure a WP or PR in Canada these days or the high cost of living. Securing an entry level job for a Canadian with a university degree is hard. Even if you are able to legally volunteer you would need to show you have significant savings to support yourself during that time. If you are looking for volunteer experiences would suggest you find a US based charity and consider traveling abroad (not Canada) to gain experience.