Terrified and confused!

[Charliesaurus]

I apologise for what the length of this topic is most likely going to be - but if ANYBODY could help me, I will be forever in your debt.

First of all let me tell you a little about myself, I am a young student studying in the United Kingdom, in my final year of university. I study Drama, not at all an academic subject - but I needed it as a base foundation for my initial career path. I am currently with a man, a Canadian citizen, whom I really do love and with to begin a life with - in Canada, Ontario, Hawkesbury to be specific. Before I met him, in the UK I wished to be a Drama teacher or a Drama therapist - but to do both of these things, I needed to take more time in University either for a PGCE or a Masters.

Now, I know this is starting to seem like a really typical cliché story, girl falls in love with a boy - wants to move to his country for a perm visa, no, not at all. He could be in England and it would still be the same!

Never the less, I've been looking at my opportunities for going over to Canada and it is all just utterly overwhelming. I'll explain the things I have been looking at.

I visited Canada from August the 20th till September the 8th to get a feel of the country, and it is just utterly beautiful. Whilst over there - I made a visit to a school board, which explained to me - to be a teacher, I needed to be a part of "The Order." Which is the main school board for Ontario teachers. I gave them a call and asked their requirements, and they told me I'd need a teaching equivalent qualification (Like the PGCE I was to take in England). I then contacted the Dramatherapy center to see my options - they too required a Masters in Dramatherapy etc - which I noticed courses were offered locally...

This brought me on to my first option - studying there. However, after finding out information on *HOW* to study there, there were multiple combatants which stood in my way. The first, the money... You guys don't have a form of "Student Finance England" where students are financed whilst in school, and then don't pay anything back until they are earning £21,000 a year (or the $ equivalent). These courses were around $24,000 a year - and they were two year courses! Where do I find $48,000!? So! This brought me onto my second idea, work first - study later.

I looked into getting a working visa, to get a working visa I'm sure you guys know just how much plays a part - and the many companies which you can get a working visa through. This was my main confusion, on just *HOW* I would get one, and how long I'd be waiting for. Now, I am no skilled worker, the longest job I have had - is my current one, for little over a year I have worked as a PA (like a carer) for children with autism, asberges, and other needs. Prior to that I worked as a home carer for only around 3 months (thanks to a ridiculous company whom messed me around to the point of quitting), but that was mainly my field. Prior to this the only other paid work I had was working as a Retail assistant in a home department store. All other jobs have been voluntary - and are in their numbers. So, finding an option for work is so difficult.

Here was my game plan - and I wanted to know if anyone has had similar cases of this, etc...

- Go over to Canada as a visitor (I can stay up to 6 months on a passport)
- Whilst in "Visitor" mode, find a job over there - and contact CIC for a workers permit. (Question)

• Would that allow me to stay longer as a visitor until my application was processed?
• How long exactly could I stay - until that application is processed?

- After finding the work (whether it be perm or temporary) hopefully apply for permanent residency.

• How do I do that? What are the conditions?
• Would I even find permanent work without being a skilled worker?

- OR would a faster option be to get married?

• Could this cause complications and investigation by the government?

- Save up the money from the job to eventually go to school!

Thank you so much - please can you try answer in the simplest way, I'm not the brightest bulb in the box... Thank you so much!

 

[on-hold]

I'm not going to comment on the mechanics of getting a work permit, because they are complicated -- but I think that is a weak reed to rest your hopes on, because rural Ontario is not filled with jobs. I have a second suggestion.

Your background qualifies you to work as a live-in caregiver, and your history of working with high-needs kids should make you in high demand. Try to find a job like that in the area where your boyfriend lives. You wouldn't be able to live with him (which is good, in my opinion, because you don't want to be forced into common-law/marriage before you actually have a chance to get to know the guy), you'd earn money, you'd make other friends besides him, and in two years you could apply for Canadian citizenship. Far preferable, in my opinion, to going through the extensive and slow process of trying to find a foothold here without getting married, then getting married, and spending years in the sponsorship process. Just a suggestion. If you're interested, look at:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/work/caregiver/index.asp

Teaching in Ontario is highly regulated, don't even think about it without the necessary degree. There is no financial aid for foreign students. Because you would likely be doing a professional masters, there will be very little funding there as well.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You wouldn't be able to live with him (which is good, in my opinion, because you don't want to be forced into common-law/marriage before you actually have a chance to get to know the guy), you'd earn money, you'd make other friends besides him, and in two years you could apply for Canadian citizenship.

The bolded statement above is incorrect. After 2 years as a Live-in Caregiver, a person can apply for Permanent Residency, NOT Canadian citizenship.

- Go over to Canada as a visitor (I can stay up to 6 months on a passport)
- Whilst in "Visitor" mode, find a job over there - and contact CIC for a workers permit. (Question)

• Would that allow me to stay longer as a visitor until my application was processed?
• How long exactly could I stay - until that application is processed?

- After finding the work (whether it be perm or temporary) hopefully apply for permanent residency.

• How do I do that? What are the conditions?
• Would I even find permanent work without being a skilled worker?

- OR would a faster option be to get married?

• Could this cause complications and investigation by the government?

- Save up the money from the job to eventually go to school!

Hi

Finding a job does not mean you can apply for a work permit. Your potential employer must first apply for an LMIA, Labour Market Impact Assessment; they must meet strict advertising requirements and show that they were not able to find a Canadian citizen/PR for the job. They must also pay $1000 to apply for the LMIA, non-refundable even if the LMIA is refused. Read here for more information on LMIAs http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/reform/restrict.shtml.

It will be very difficult for you to find an employer willing to go through that process. Some people do have success but your chances are low.

Given the above, your work permit --> PR idea is not something you should count on. I suggest you research more about the different immigration streams http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/.

If you and your partner are in a genuine relationship, you can get married and apply for sponsorship.

 

[on-hold]

The bolded statement above is incorrect. After 2 years as a Live-in Caregiver, a person can apply for Permanent Residency, NOT Canadian citizenship.

Sorry, didn't mean to be misleading -- canuck_in_uk (will you change your name if Scotland secedes?), is correct.

 

[scylla]

The Live-in Caregiver route is a poor choice if you are trying to establish a relationship with someone in Canada since you must live with your employers full time (or be in violation of your work permit).

You could look into getting an IEC (working holiday visa) when CIC begins issuing them next January. This would allow you to come to Canada to work and live for a year without finding an employer first. The one big downside is that IEC visas are in extremely high demand and only a limited number are offered. So it can be quite difficult to get your hands on one (it comes down to timing and luck).

 

[Leon]

Getting a work permit isn't very easy and depends on the employer getting an LMO/LMIA for you first. In order to get that, they'd need to prove that they've advertised the job for so-so long and haven't found any qualified Canadians or PR's willing to do it.

If you qualify for a working holiday visa, you should look into that instead. It can get you a 1 year open permit, see here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/experience_canada_experience/

However, for the future, the best way to stay in Canada long term would be for your boyfriend to sponsor you for PR. In order to do that, you would have to have lived together for at least 12 months or get married.

 

[Charliesaurus]

This is all.. well kind of discouraging.

I'm hearing "it's hard to get an employer who has an LMIA, it costs $1000, and you only get it if they can't hire a Canadian."
I'm also hearing, "only route is live-in-carer." Which I do *not* want to do, what so ever.
Then there's the, "no school openings."
That one year working/travelling experience, isn't that in specific resorts where they pay for your accomodation (so you can't get your own, i.e: his house)?

or, be forced into marriage via the sponsor route. - I want to get married to him, but when we have enough money to do it nicely I mean.

Is there any other way? This is majorly distressing.

 

[scylla]

There is absolutely nothing stopping you from coming to Canada as a foreign student starting in January. However you do have to be able and willing to pay the foreign student fees (which as you've seen, are very high). But again, nothing stopping you from going this route.

There is also nothing stopping you from trying to apply for a working holiday visa come January. You will have to be on your toes. If I remember correctly, these visas were offered up in three groups this year. I believe all available visas were taken within 1/2 hour for the first group and within 15 minutes or so with the second two groups. So you literally have to be at your computer when they open the caps to apply. I would not count on this as a sure thing - it's far from that and many people miss out each year. And no - this has nothing to do with resorts (not sure where you got that idea). You can work for any employer with this visa.

You can also look for an employer in Canada (again, nothing stopping you there). However do expect this process to be difficult because most employer don't want to go through the cost / trouble / wait time.

I think the live-in caregiver route is a bad idea for you and doesn't fit with your future plans - so I'll leave it at that.

If you're not ready / willing to get married now, then another option is for you to come here as a visitor for six months and then apply to extend your visit for another six months. Once you've lived together for a year you'll qualify to be sponsored as a common law partner. The downside is that you won't be able to work or attend school while here as a visitor. Even your volunteer options will be extremely limited (e.g. you would not be able to teach drama for no pay or take care of children for no pay.

 

[Charliesaurus]

There is also nothing stopping you from trying to apply for a working holiday visa come January. You will have to be on your toes. If I remember correctly, these visas were offered up in three groups this year. I believe all available visas were taken within 1/2 hour for the first group and within 15 minutes or so with the second two groups. So you literally have to be at your computer when they open the caps to apply. I would not count on this as a sure thing - it's far from that and many people miss out each year. And no - this has nothing to do with resorts (not sure where you got that idea). You can work for any employer with this visa.

I believe it was my brothers girlfriend who informed me of the company she did this through (something like BUNCA? Along those lines..) And they were just jobs at the resorts there. So, you mean, I could get this kind of visa - and be hired by anyone? Without the LMIA? And live with my boyfriend too? I was just wondering - are we alerted as to when the "slots" open?

If you're not ready / willing to get married now, then another option is for you to come here as a visitor for six months and then apply to extend your visit for another six months. Once you've lived together for a year you'll qualify to be sponsored as a common law partner. The downside is that you won't be able to work or attend school while here as a visitor. Even your volunteer options will be extremely limited (e.g. you would not be able to teach drama for no pay or take care of children for no pay.

Would they allow me to apply for another 6 months visit? Is that actually an option?

 

[scylla]

Yes - you can take any job. It's an open work permit. There is no way to be "alerted" to when the slots open up. You just have to watch the web site religiously.

None of us can tell you if you will be allowed in for six months. That's an unknown and up to the immigration officer you encounter when you enter Canada. If you are allowed in for six months and then apply for an extension saying that you're working on becoming common law - chances are very high you will be approved.

 

[Charliesaurus]

Yes - you can take any job. It's an open work permit. There is no way to be "alerted" to when the slots open up. You just have to watch the web site religiously.

None of us can tell you if you will be allowed in for six months. That's an unknown and up to the immigration officer you encounter when you enter Canada. If you are allowed in for six months and then apply for an extension saying that you're working on becoming common law - chances are very high you will be approved.

That sounds really positive, gives me some more hope..

Do you know anything about how my boyfriend would become a sponsor? What are the requirements? Does he need to be earning a certain amount? Etc etc..

(Thank you so much for this.)

 

[scylla]

That sounds really positive, gives me some more hope..

Do you know anything about how my boyfriend would become a sponsor? What are the requirements? Does he need to be earning a certain amount? Etc etc..

(Thank you so much for this.)

You can read up on the requirements here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse.asp

I would also suggest you move over to the Family Class section of the forum if you want to discuss this specific topic further.