Hi everyone,
I'd studied in Canada since i was in gr.10 (in 2004) and I graduated from a canadian university in Ontario last spring (Exams were done in April, 2012 but the the convocation was in June which I did not attend). So I was living in Canada for quite a long time on a study permit. I now have an engineering degree with some canadian work experience from co-op.
I came back to South Korea right after my exams to have a few months of vacation. I was planning to go back to canada for work. I applied for the PGWP my mail from Korea (I had all the requirements met including the timeframe). However the response from CIC arrived to my aunt's place in Ottawa saying that my PGWP was rejected because I applied from abroad, not from Canada. When I'd received the response, it was already past the timeframe I could re-apply for my PGWP (my study permit had expired). I didn't know applying from abroad was a problem and i still can't find that information on CIC website! Currently, my study permit and work permit(for co-op) have all been expired. So I have no valid visa.
ANYWAYS, that was already half an year ago and i've accepted and moved on. Since I got rejected, I took the opportunity to work part time in Korea and travel. I didn't really do anything about my visa situation. Now that I'm back from my travels, back to reality :'( I'm starting my research.
I still really want to go back to Canada and work in engineering. Here are the options I 'think' I have.
1. Go to Canada as a tourist (Koreans get a 6-month visitor's visa upon entry) and find a job, then apply for the work permit.
Problem A: I might even be rejected at the border because it's suspicious for me to visit canada for that long when i'd lived there for 8-9years
Problem B: Even if I get to stay there for 6months, Looking for a job as a foreigner is difficult. And I'm only a junior engineer with minimal experience.
Problem C: Even if I get an offer, my potential employer will have to go through all the LMO stuff.. which takes long with a high probability of rejection
2. Apply for Working Holiday visa and find a job in Canada, then extend/change the working holiday visa to the real work permit.
Problem A: Would I get a Working Holiday visa when I've lived in Canada for so long? It's really for people who want to explore canada while working.
Problem B: Again, I'm afraid I won't find a job in my field
3. Find a Canadian job from Korea, apply for the work permit then enter Canada.
No problem!! as long as I manage to find a job in the first place. This would be the ideal option but the most difficult one, I suppose.
What do you think is the most feasible and less risky option? Or do you have any other ideas?
The rejection of my PGWP application surely destroyed the plans I had for the few years after my graduation. I did enjoy the last 1year, doing something other than engineering related work but I really want to get back now. I Had no idea that going back to a country where I lived and studied for 8years (with expensive tuition!!) was this hard!!
I thought maybe anyone here could give me some advice? Any input will be much appreciated!
Thank you for reading this long post : )
I'd studied in Canada since i was in gr.10 (in 2004) and I graduated from a canadian university in Ontario last spring (Exams were done in April, 2012 but the the convocation was in June which I did not attend). So I was living in Canada for quite a long time on a study permit. I now have an engineering degree with some canadian work experience from co-op.
I came back to South Korea right after my exams to have a few months of vacation. I was planning to go back to canada for work. I applied for the PGWP my mail from Korea (I had all the requirements met including the timeframe). However the response from CIC arrived to my aunt's place in Ottawa saying that my PGWP was rejected because I applied from abroad, not from Canada. When I'd received the response, it was already past the timeframe I could re-apply for my PGWP (my study permit had expired). I didn't know applying from abroad was a problem and i still can't find that information on CIC website! Currently, my study permit and work permit(for co-op) have all been expired. So I have no valid visa.
ANYWAYS, that was already half an year ago and i've accepted and moved on. Since I got rejected, I took the opportunity to work part time in Korea and travel. I didn't really do anything about my visa situation. Now that I'm back from my travels, back to reality :'( I'm starting my research.
I still really want to go back to Canada and work in engineering. Here are the options I 'think' I have.
1. Go to Canada as a tourist (Koreans get a 6-month visitor's visa upon entry) and find a job, then apply for the work permit.
Problem A: I might even be rejected at the border because it's suspicious for me to visit canada for that long when i'd lived there for 8-9years
Problem B: Even if I get to stay there for 6months, Looking for a job as a foreigner is difficult. And I'm only a junior engineer with minimal experience.
Problem C: Even if I get an offer, my potential employer will have to go through all the LMO stuff.. which takes long with a high probability of rejection
2. Apply for Working Holiday visa and find a job in Canada, then extend/change the working holiday visa to the real work permit.
Problem A: Would I get a Working Holiday visa when I've lived in Canada for so long? It's really for people who want to explore canada while working.
Problem B: Again, I'm afraid I won't find a job in my field
3. Find a Canadian job from Korea, apply for the work permit then enter Canada.
No problem!! as long as I manage to find a job in the first place. This would be the ideal option but the most difficult one, I suppose.
What do you think is the most feasible and less risky option? Or do you have any other ideas?
The rejection of my PGWP application surely destroyed the plans I had for the few years after my graduation. I did enjoy the last 1year, doing something other than engineering related work but I really want to get back now. I Had no idea that going back to a country where I lived and studied for 8years (with expensive tuition!!) was this hard!!
I thought maybe anyone here could give me some advice? Any input will be much appreciated!
Thank you for reading this long post : )
