Stressed finding work (WHV)

[simonvee]

Hi all,

I am planning to apply for a WHV to enter Canada in April 2010. I am from Australia, thus my WHV will be valid for 2 years. I am 26 so I can renew it once it expires because I can still apply given that I am under 30 years of age. My area of concern is will employers want to hire someone who is there on a WHV. I.e. Employers may think "You are just here for 2 years, why should I hire you". Ofcourse ppl on WHV work in hospitality (e.g. ski resorts) but I want a job in the white-collar industry. I am concerned for this reason. Does anyone have any ideas or story to share? That will be appreciated.

 

[Leon]

I don't think it will be too much of a hurdle. The job market in Canada is fast. It's a hire and fire market so it is not very common to stay with the employer for years and years. A friend of mine who was taking a course for the unemployed told me that it's actually considered unhealthy for your CV in Canada if you stay in one place for more then 3-5 years.

If you were asked about the two years, you can tell them that after the two years, you will have options to extend your work permit (change to a regular work permit) or apply for your PR. If the employer likes you, he can even sponsor you for PR through a PNP while you are on your WHV.

You should start setting up interviews a couple of months before you plan to go. Then you can tour different cities and look for jobs until you find one.

 

[simonvee]

Thanks Leon for the tips and support. I like the idea of the PNP program. However, this raises 2 questions

1. To apply for the PNP, must the job be on the NOC list (i.e. skilled)?
2. For an employer to apply for the PNP, doesn't he must initially search for foreign workers first? E.g. For a period of 6 months. Thus, it is quite unlikely the employer won't find a Canadian to fill the vacancy if that is the case.

Ps. Yes, that's a good idea, I should apply for jobs prior to landing in Canada.

 

[Leon]

1. Usually they need to be skilled but there are a few semi-skilled jobs accepted in BC and AB but they are subjected to other rules like requiring having worked for 6-9 months before getting sponsored etc.
2. No, that is a requirement when applying for an LMO to get a regular work permit. It is not a requirement to sponsor someone under PNP.

Apply for jobs or just set up interviews. Make sure you tell them that you are coming with a 2 yr. open work permit so there is nothing they need to arrange for you.

 

[simonvee]

Hi Leon,

In that case a PNP appears so much easier than a LMO given that I have a NOC list occupation and sponsorship from an employer. In that case, I am wondering why would anyone apply under an LMO??

I want to maximize my time in Canada because the law wont allow applicants over 30 years of age to apply. My question is, can I renew my WHV before it expires (e.g. 6 months before it expires)? Hypothetically, if I am 29.9 years old and my WHV has not yet expired, can I renew my WHV so that I will be in Canada till I am 31.9 years of age (2 years = Australian WHV). That is for the circumstance that I cannot find a skilled job whilst on a WHV, I would like to MAXIMIZE my the time in Canada with a WHV so that I find a skilled occupation for P.R.

And lastly, how long from the time of applying for a WHV till it gets approved?

 

[Leon]

People will apply for an LMO to get a regular work permit when they:

1. Don't qualify for a WHV either because they are too old or because there is none in their country.

2. Because their WHV is expiring and they can't renew it and don't qualify to apply for PR yet.

The employer can apply for a PNP nomination for a worker who is already working for him on a work permit or a worker who is still overseas but he wants to get but if you put yourself in the employers shoes, he wants to get the worker as fast as possible and keep him as long as possible. Therefore, he will prefer work permit to applying directly for PNP when the worker is overseas because a work permit gets him there faster. He also has no guarantee that the worker will come work for him or stay working for him after he gets PR. Many employers therefore do not want to apply for PNP for their workers right away.

The processing time for WHV is usually 4-6 weeks according to http://www.whpcanada.org.au/processing_times.shtml I do not know if you can renew it 6 months early. You can ask them.

 

[simonvee]

Hi Leon,

Does the immigration department limit how many employees an employer, the state, or the country apply for P.N.P per year? Does it cost money for the employer to apply for PNP?

Hm..yeh, realistically speaking getting a PNP by an employer is not easy. Like you said, they do not know whether the employee will stick with the company after they have become a P.R. In that case, can they make an employment contract (e.g. stay with employer for 3 years after P.R)?

 

[Leon]

I don't know if there is a limit on PNP applicants. I suppose there is some kind of limit but no hard cap like they now have on the occupations for skilled worker. It is paperwork for the employer to apply for PNP but I do not think they pay any fees.

The employer will apply for your PNP if he wants to keep you. Some employers might make you wait, let you work for 6 months, see how you are doing and do they want to keep you before they apply for you. I suppose you can make some kind of contract to stay for 3 years but you can always break it.

A former employer of mine used to make 2 year contracts for temporary workers he had coming on a work permit. The contract stated that if the employee broke it and went to another Canadian employer (with a new LMO etc.) that they would have to pay the employers cost of employment agency to get them to Canada. Some people did and the company tried to charge them some $3000 that they claimed to have paid an employment agency to do the paperwork for each of these employees. One of these people went to the labour board in AB and one went to a lawyer and in both cases, they were told that the contract was illegal and there would be no consequences for breaking it. That may not be the case with all such contracts so if an employer asks you to sign one, you may want to get it looked over by a lawyer before you decide if to sign.