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Stuck between a rock and a hard place? Could use some tips!

Kajnn

Newbie
Jan 13, 2016
9
0
Hey everyone, so I've got a question and I'm not sure if I should be posting it here? It's kind of a 2-way?

So as of last year I decided I'd love to live in Canada with my girlfriend, she's Canadian as well.

Now this is one part of it, I think I'm going to have some major issues even getting a visa to work there, I'm 23 and I don't have much experience in a major job field they are looking for, and I wouldn't be able to afford school although if I could go back I would.

One of my friends who is currently around the area I'd like to be in (Vancouver) mentioned working on an oil rig and I'm honestly taking this into serious consideration with how desperate I'm feeling.
On the other hand, I do have 4 years hands on experience with home health care, the not so great side is that I was doing this sort of under the table for my uncle, and not for any companies. I was primarily making sure he was taking medicines, and being transported back and forth from doctor appointments and dialysis, which usually had taken about 8-9 hours a day for 3-4 days a week. I've also been driving with a clean record for a little over 5 years now if that could make any difference.

I guess my other problem sort of ties into this one, and I've done a lot of research and I could live there, but it would just be getting some sort of work visa, and I don't have any family up there, my girlfriend and I are planning on marriage but it's just hard with me not being able to find a sustainable job where.

I hope this all makes sense to anyone that would care to give me some sort of pointers or tips to where I could look with limited job experience that I guess can't really be used on my resume or job application? Basically I'd do anything I can to be there at this point to start working and build up a new life there as silly as that may sound.

Edit: I'm from the United States and I currently possess a regular passport booklet and card.
 

HoPe90

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Nov 19, 2015
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Re: Stuck between a rock and a hard spot?

is your gf canadian ?
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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Re: Stuck between a rock and a hard spot?

Where are you originally from (what passport do you hold)?
 

Kajnn

Newbie
Jan 13, 2016
9
0
Re: Stuck between a rock and a hard spot?

scylla said:
Where are you originally from (what passport do you hold)?
Oh sorry, sort of got ahead of myself. I'm from the United States in Ohio currently.

It's just a regular passport book and card.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,856
22,116
Toronto
Category........
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Pre-Assessed..
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VISA ISSUED...
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Re: Stuck between a rock and a hard spot?

If you recently graduated from college then you should look into something called a SWAP visa which would make it much easier for you to obtain a work permit.

If you don't qualify under the SWAP program, getting a work permit will be a lot more difficult.

To start, you will need a full time job offer from a Canadian employer. If the job qualifies under NAFTA, then you'll be able to apply for the work permit based on the job offer alone.

If the job does not qualify under NAFTA, your employer will first have to obtain something called an approved LMIA (permission to hire you) before you can apply for the work permit. The LMIA process is long and expensive.
 

Kajnn

Newbie
Jan 13, 2016
9
0
Re: Stuck between a rock and a hard spot?

scylla said:
If you recently graduated from college then you should look into something called a SWAP visa which would make it much easier for you to obtain a work permit.

If you don't qualify under the SWAP program, getting a work permit will be a lot more difficult.

To start, you will need a full time job offer from a Canadian employer. If the job qualifies under NAFTA, then you'll be able to apply for the work permit based on the job offer alone.

If the job does not qualify under NAFTA, your employer will first have to obtain something called an approved LMIA (permission to hire you) before you can apply for the work permit. The LMIA process is long and expensive.
sadly I haven't recently graduated but I was mentioning that if I was capable of going back to school and able to be in Canada at the same time I would, but I just can't afford going back to school right now.

As for the full time job that's what I was looking into with possibly working on an oil rig, just waiting on some more information from my friend over there, I'm hoping I can find out something.
 

taffy7

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May 23, 2013
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The only other way is apply spousal . If you marry you could apply inland and get a work visa after 4 months but it takes about 2 years to get your full Pr . Or you marry and apply outland and stay in the US and come back when you get PR which is about 8-1o months. Have you looked into Holiday working visa. Also if you apply outland you can apply and stay in Canada .

You may also want to look into the PSW which is a personal home worker. You will have to go to school for it but once you get PR i believe its covered.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
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taffy7 said:
Have you looked into Holiday working visa.
US equivalent of the holiday working visa program is SWAP. As discussed above, OP does not qualify since a college education is a requirement.
 

taffy7

Champion Member
May 23, 2013
2,482
69
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10th April 2014/June 10th 2014 application complete
Doc's Request.
09 June 2014 same doc's requested again 6th Oct 2014. docs not needed again mistake by cic
AOR Received.
sponsorship approval 05 Aug 2014
File Transfer...
05 Aug 2014
Med's Request
28 July 2015
Med's Done....
30th Dec 2013
Passport Req..
in process 18th July 2015/ DM 5/12/2015
LANDED..........
28/12/2015
scylla said:
US equivalent of the holiday working visa program is SWAP. As discussed above, OP does not qualify since a college education is a requirement.
Oh really i never knew that .. Thank you.
 

Kajnn

Newbie
Jan 13, 2016
9
0
taffy7 said:
The only other way is apply spousal . If you marry you could apply inland and get a work visa after 4 months but it takes about 2 years to get your full Pr . Or you marry and apply outland and stay in the US and come back when you get PR which is about 8-1o months. Have you looked into Holiday working visa. Also if you apply outland you can apply and stay in Canada .

You may also want to look into the PSW which is a personal home worker. You will have to go to school for it but once you get PR i believe its covered.
Yeah, marriage is what we were planning honestly, it's just a matter of wanting to get some sort of income first before planning that. Thank you for the information though!