Hi there! I’ve been lurking here profusely and I’ve been swamped researching all of the immigration documents for weeks now. It’s quite a lot of work. However, having been here, I know I’d like to stick around in Canada for a little longer. So I wanted to get permanent residency.
I’m currently on a 12-month IEC Working Holiday in Vancouver. I’m from Belgium, which does not allow for the extension of a WHV nor does it allow me to apply for a new IEC. Participation is one-time only.
I’ve been in the country for six months now, having worked part-time at a Safeway during the first three months of my stay, switching over back-to-back to a full-time job at a tech company downtown.
With half the duration of my permit in front of me, I was thinking of dedicating it fully to maximizing my chances for/researching immigration. However, a lot of stress and panic has risen from possibly not meeting all of the qualifications for immigration and I’ve been trying to crack my head over the realism of me getting in. I’m just very unsure of my chances of getting it; the duration of my work permit also doesn’t exactly allow for enough experience to accrue before it expires.
Practical details:
I’m also building my Express Entry profile, according to the Come to Canada survey, I am eligible to apply.
Several people (including an exchange/immigration specialist) have reassured me they value my chances of securing a nomination/invitation to apply to be pretty realistic. I’d like to believe they are right but I just can’t shake this very uncertain, negative gut feeling.
I figure if I submit my EE profile, I'll probably make the cut-off point.
I guess my question is, given the information I have provided, which is as accurate and comprehensive as I can make it right now: is it at all likely that I can make PR? I realize it might not be the right question to ask, or if it has a readily available answer.
I’ve read stuff about inland and outland applications too. Outland seems to be getting a preference from a lot of people on the internet. Is this also a thing I have to factor in once I put in the application?
Thanks a thousand times. I hope this gets some replies as I can sure use extra insights.
tl;dr: I am halfway through my 1-year WHV, I won't have enough seniority for most streams but I have billingual language tests, a CompSci degree and I am currently employed in tech. What are my chances or suggestions for planning this out?
I’m currently on a 12-month IEC Working Holiday in Vancouver. I’m from Belgium, which does not allow for the extension of a WHV nor does it allow me to apply for a new IEC. Participation is one-time only.
I’ve been in the country for six months now, having worked part-time at a Safeway during the first three months of my stay, switching over back-to-back to a full-time job at a tech company downtown.
With half the duration of my permit in front of me, I was thinking of dedicating it fully to maximizing my chances for/researching immigration. However, a lot of stress and panic has risen from possibly not meeting all of the qualifications for immigration and I’ve been trying to crack my head over the realism of me getting in. I’m just very unsure of my chances of getting it; the duration of my work permit also doesn’t exactly allow for enough experience to accrue before it expires.
Practical details:
- I arrived in Canada in October 2017, so my permit expires in October 2018. (12-month total)
- I finished a CompSci/Web Development Bachelor’s degree in Belgium in August 2017, I practically moved over to Canada two months after.
- I’m in the process of getting an ECA for my Belgian diploma.
- I have done about three and a half months of part-time work at a Safeway, usually working between 18 - 24hrs a week, NOC is irrelevant since it doesn’t meet the skill level for any immigration stream, however it is Canadian work experience.
- Immediately after leaving Safeway, I started working full time as SQA Engineer (NOC is ambiguous, I could be 2286, 2171 or 2173). I also do some UX/UI designing for them, though not part of my official capacity.
- If I can register under NOC 2171 or 2173, I might be eligible for the BC PNP Tech Pilot, which is LMIA-exempt.
- Realistically, I can attain a maximum of 9 months professional experience at the tech company before my current permit runs out.
- My employer is willing to sign a letter that proves me being an employee at the company, detailing my position, responsibilities and financial/benefits data.
- My employer seems unwilling to do an actual sponsorship with LMIA.
- I have taken an English language test (CELPIP) with good results.
- I will be taking the French test (TEF) in the coming weeks.
- have a clean crime record.
I’m also building my Express Entry profile, according to the Come to Canada survey, I am eligible to apply.
Several people (including an exchange/immigration specialist) have reassured me they value my chances of securing a nomination/invitation to apply to be pretty realistic. I’d like to believe they are right but I just can’t shake this very uncertain, negative gut feeling.
I figure if I submit my EE profile, I'll probably make the cut-off point.
I guess my question is, given the information I have provided, which is as accurate and comprehensive as I can make it right now: is it at all likely that I can make PR? I realize it might not be the right question to ask, or if it has a readily available answer.
I’ve read stuff about inland and outland applications too. Outland seems to be getting a preference from a lot of people on the internet. Is this also a thing I have to factor in once I put in the application?
Thanks a thousand times. I hope this gets some replies as I can sure use extra insights.
tl;dr: I am halfway through my 1-year WHV, I won't have enough seniority for most streams but I have billingual language tests, a CompSci degree and I am currently employed in tech. What are my chances or suggestions for planning this out?