Seeking advice

[woodthrush]

Hi there! My husband and I are determined to make the move from the U.S. with our two kids, but we're unsure of the best way to go about it. A Canadian immigration lawyer provided us with an assessment and said we qualify for Canada's federal skilled worker class, and express entry would be our best option. I'm pretty certain we would score well on the language assessment too (as long as we study, of course ). The two-step process for EE has been explained to me, but I am still having trouble visualizing how this will work exactly. A big concern of mine is finding employment. Is it easier to to find a career path remotely, prior to making the move? Or move there first and get a temporary job while searching for a job in your field? Would the self-employment be a good route to try? Our kids are young and I am very hesitant to make a big move like this without a career secured for one or both of us first.

Some more info on my husband and myself, if it's helpful:
We both have master's degrees in the environmental field, 4 years of professional experience, and we're in our late 20s. I work for the federal government managing water resource data, and my husband works in the private industry as an environmental consultant. The company he works for is international with offices in the Great North, so we're hoping there may be some options there too.

I am really just beginning this process and this is all very new to me, so any advice or success-stories would be much appreciated. Especially if anyone has any advice on things we could do to increase our odds of getting in

Thanks so much!

 

[kryt0n]

Hey. Have a read of this post first:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/express-entry-in-a-nutshell-t394158.0.html

Next you need to follow what needs to be done step by step here http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/express-entry-step-by-step-instructions-t273928.0.html (education creditable converted to Canadian, etc)

Once you've read all this and converted your qualifications and taken your language tests you can create an express entry profile. Then you just wait to receive an invitation to apply (ITA).

 

[fordori]

Your age and education make you solid candidates for express entry, given that you also have strong english skills. Now you need to do a lot of research because this process can throw many surprises to your face if you are not well informed. In my case, I had all my documentation ready and suddenly learnt about the settlement funds requirement. I had to sit back for 6 months and save up. So read, read, read.... then go for it!

If I was a foreigner with kids in the US right now, I would be doing exactly what you are doing. Good luck

You can start here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/perm/express/intake-complete.asp

 

[woodthrush]

Thank you for these links! KrytOn I was actually reading up on that post- super helpful! And fordori thanks, that’s good to hear we’d be strong candidates . May I ask what the settlement funds requirement is, if you still know off the top of your head? We could easily be in the same boat with that!

The U.S. really is falling apart. I hate to jump ship while my country is at such a low point, but the way I see it I can still keep advocating/ providing supporting in small ways remotely from Canada. Really my priority is to give my kids the best life I can, and that can no longer happen in the U.S. anytime soon. I suspect many others in the U.S. are doing the very same thing right now, so I am worried the process will now be even more competitive than it already was. Also might be harder considering Canada is picking up our slack with taking in refugees &immigrants. But I have to try. Thanks so much for the well wishes, advice, and resources! All the best to you two, too

 

[kryt0n]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/funds.asp

$22,856 for a family of 4. That needs to be unencumbered funds (excluding a mortgage) so cold hard cash. They money should be in your account for six months or you need to have a clear reason for suddenly acquiring it (proof of saving each month gradual increments are ok if you provide pay slips).

This process is hard but essentially right now do your IELTS test and get your education assessed. Can't do much without those.

 

[vensak]

Thank you for these links! KrytOn I was actually reading up on that post- super helpful! And fordori thanks, that’s good to hear we’d be strong candidates . May I ask what the settlement funds requirement is, if you still know off the top of your head? We could easily be in the same boat with that!

The U.S. really is falling apart. I hate to jump ship while my country is at such a low point, but the way I see it I can still keep advocating/ providing supporting in small ways remotely from Canada. Really my priority is to give my kids the best life I can, and that can no longer happen in the U.S. anytime soon. I suspect many others in the U.S. are doing the very same thing right now, so I am worried the process will now be even more competitive than it already was. Also might be harder considering Canada is picking up our slack with taking in refugees &immigrants. But I have to try. Thanks so much for the well wishes, advice, and resources! All the best to you two, too

You will need that plus around 5KCAD for all kind of documents expenses (ECA, documents, paperwork, language tests, medicals, application fees and such)

 

[woodthrush]

Aha, ok! Thanks- I think we would need to do a little more saving and re-prioritize some of our major planned expenses first then. But I suppose we have time, because sounds like we have a lot of work to do before our Canada-dream becomes reality
Will definitely be worth all the headache and expenses

 

[poutine]

My wife and I are in the same boat! It is great to see others that are just starting the process. Good luck!!

 

[woodthrush]

Yay!! Best of luck to you poutine!

 

[g126]

I've heard that US Citizens (and PRs) have a fast track for obtaining WP (work permits) for Canada... So perhaps the fastest path for you guys is to obtain WPs, come over and start working and then join EE a year from now as CEC. You'll have more points and you'll already be living in Canada.

Surprised your immigration lawyer did not tell you that. Or may be I've got it wrong and it's not that easy to get a WP...

 

[vensak]

I've heard that US Citizens (and PRs) have a fast track for obtaining WP (work permits) for Canada... So perhaps the fastest path for you guys is to obtain WPs, come over and start working and then join EE a year from now as CEC. You'll have more points and you'll already be living in Canada.

Surprised your immigration lawyer did not tell you that. Or may be I've got it wrong and it's not that easy to get a WP...

What they have is NAFTA agreement. so for certain jobs they do not need LMIA and they will get temp. work visa upon simple job offer. However I think their problem are kids. Also kids will get tourist visa, that will also mean problem with school (paid school most likely). What they can do is that one parent will try to anchor in Canada while other will stay back. Then after 1 year with running job, the first one can use CEC stream and the fact that he has work already. that way they will be exempt from the need to show enough funds (they will show his salary instead).

 

[Jameszhaoh]

Off-topic... But just a friendly reminder. Don't forget to do some research on the average salary/ career path for your types of work in Canada. Because there could be a jump at the beginning, also considering the exchange rate :'(

 

[g126]

What they have is NAFTA agreement. so for certain jobs they do not need LMIA and they will get temp. work visa upon simple job offer. However I think their problem are kids. Also kids will get tourist visa, that will also mean problem with school (paid school most likely). What they can do is that one parent will try to anchor in Canada while other will stay back. Then after 1 year with running job, the first one can use CEC stream and the fact that he has work already. that way they will be exempt from the need to show enough funds (they will show his salary instead).

Very true, was not considering kids...

 

[vensak]

Off-topic... But just a friendly reminder. Don't forget to do some research on the average salary/ career path for your types of work in Canada. Because there could be a jump at the beginning, also considering the exchange rate :'(

Yes that as well. Most likely your salary in Canada will be lower. Plus you can count that at the start you you might be in lower position.

 

[woodthrush]

Thank you guys!! This is a lot of really great info. I am just starting this process and I know very little on this topic, so the more input the better. Please keep it coming . The immigration lawyer we spoke with provided us with a free assessment, so we didn't hire his services or anything. He may have just been giving us really basic information to get us hooked, maybe that option would have come up later. The kids are a really complicating factor though and I wish we had set up camp up north before starting our family. Especially since moving to Canada is something we've been talking about for a long time.
And that's a good point about salary too. I think it's something we're willing to live with. We're both still pretty low in our career ladders anyway, and we really just want to make enough to have a comfortable lifestyle. I think the move would be worth any of those costs, because I think moving forward the economy (among other things) in the U.S. will become increasingly unstable.