Scottish man wants to be with his girlfriend!

[qber]

Hi, I am a 30 year old Scottish guy who has a 25 year old Canadian girlfriend of 2 1/2 years. We met when we were both living abroad and have been living in our respective countries for about 1 1/2 years now.

She just got a good job in Canada so we decided it would be better for me to try move there. I need some advise on how this can be done. I was planning on getting a work holiday visa for a year then possibly going down the marriage route. But I'm not sure how easy that would be and i think i would need to leave the country to do it. The other option is i think a conjugal visa but I'm not sure if i would qualify.

any advise would be greatly appreciated

 

[chelley]

not sure if canada has the equivilent of a working holiday visa.... working visas are a different category and you might want to pop a question on that board to find more information... i don't think it's as simple as in the UK, but i could be wrong.

 

[iarblue]

Well go on immigration Canada under visit canada it will give you all the info you need to visit,a work visa you need to have a job offer here that no one else can fill.So look at the site check out the requests then you can ask more questions if you dont understand it.
A visitors visa will give you a 6 months stay where you will have to extend it if you do get married and apply for a PR visa.But we dont have work holiday visas.

 

[rrdiggy76]

Hi,

There is a working holiday visa available (tier 5 youth mobility scheme as it's now called) that operates between UK, Canada, USA, Australia and Japan (i think).

You are sponsored by your own government, the visa allows temporary residence up to two years and working for a total of 1. The 2 years are a fixed date, so if you travel away for 3 months and return to the issued country (say Canada), then those 3 months are 'lost'. With work, it's a case of 12 months employment, so you could work for 6, take a break, then complete another 6 (all within the 2 years though)...

The visa scheme is a one time use, ie if you've used it before, you can't qualify again and there is an age limit. I think 30 is the maximum when you apply (although you may be able to be 31 by the time it's issued).

The visa is also non-negotiable on any extension and transferring to another visa scheme is not allowed without returning home and applying from your country of residence. You cannot bring dependants (spouses/children etc) with you on it, unless they qualify for a visa of their own etc etc...

It is however, fairly easy to get, you just need to meet a few basic criteria and have about £x amount proof of funds in your bank account (actual numbers i'm unsure of).

Search for tier 5 youth mobility scheme in a search engine...

My Canadian wife has used this option to come to England before.

 

[chelley]

i wasn't aware that canada was included in the program.... my husband was in the UK on a working holiday visa (from jamaica).... however during his stay, i believe the visa type was changed, he said after the change, he would have been unable to extend it... he thought it was discontinued completely, but i guess not...

 

[Siouxie]

What you are seeking is a Bunac 1 year visa. It allows you to live and work in Canada. (UK residents). It is available to non-students, however, the age cut off is 31 and so depending on your birthdate you may not qualify. Bunac Visa's are issued normally in January of each year - this years quota was filled in days. If you get a Bunac Visa you can "transfer" to the Low Skills Pilot project for 2 years... or just get married!

You will find it here: http://www.bunac.org/uk/workcanada/

The tier 5 youth mobility scheme is for people who want to work in the UK, not visa-versa. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/youthmobilityscheme/

Edit: having checked the Bunac website, the cut off age is 30.

" I'm 30 now but turn 31 soon can I still apply?
The High Commission must approve your Work Authorisation whilst you are 30 but you can enter Canada after you have turned 31. "