The right steps to take

[CarstenIQ]

Hello,

first, I like to express my thanks to those dedicating the time to assist in difficult questions.

Now, to my situation. I'm German citizen with a Electronic-Mechanic Trade Certificate. I live since over 10 Years in Mexico and work here as Graphic Designer and Web Application Developer. I have two beautiful children, one daughter and one son. Both are born here and have dual citizenship. My wife is Mexican citizen. My Parents live in Halifax Nova Scotia and there are in the process of getting there permanent residence. My parents offered me to help to move to Canada.

Under there understanding, they recommended me to just pack my bags and fly up with my whole family to Canada and stay to search for a job there. I'm not that kind of person that just could fly blindfolded with his whole family. There are many pitfalls and wrong steps to take. To be honest I don't want to start a new live with the wrong foot.

As I have read and understood there are different processes and steps of immigration depending upon the persons nationality, specially those from North America. As I have read Canada, USA and Mexico have special agreements and a thready. I think Mexicans can only stay for a short time of period in Canada and also there visa status is no changeable while in Canada. Is that true?
Additional question is, how about Germans? How long could I and my children stay in Canada and is my tourist visa transferable to a working permit? I remember that it wasn't changeable and that the person had to leave the country first. The process of immigration always had to be done in the country of residence. But my parents try to convince me that some immigration law have changed recently.

I would highly appreciate any inside on this. I consider it unacceptable to be separated from my wife. We have different citizenships and therefor our situation is more difficult.

Thanks,
Carsten

 

[ghiaskhan]

Visitor Visa Exemptions

Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada. These include:

citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;
persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;
British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom;
citizens of British dependent territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands;
persons holding a British National (Overseas) Passport issued by the Government of the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
persons holding passports or travel documents issued by the Holy See.
Date Modified: 2008-05-15

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/recent-unread-topics/-t11817.0.html;topicseen

 

[CarstenIQ]

Thanks ghiaskhan for replying,

That means that they have a kind temporary permission to stay in the country. So I could use the time to find work. But can I start the application of the working permit inside of Canada and also continue staying in Canada with my family at the same time? This is the big question. I just don't like to sell all my stuff and leave everything behind. And later, I end up at a point where I need to return to Mexico because of immigration requirements. Also I don't know if the differences in citizenship will be treated differently by the Canadian Immigration.

Looking forward to more input... thanks

 

[ghiaskhan]

Its said ,Precaution is better than prevention. Do things when its the right time to do.taking immature action at premature stages can only land you in trouble. Once you are successful to get a job, you may sell you household stuff and dispose off whatever you want to.NOT NOW or during your visit as a tourist.Only on successful achivement of teporary residence. GOOD LUCK

 

[CarstenIQ]

I know what you mean and I do understand. Thanks ghiaskhan. I do appreciate your words.

My parents and I, just were hopping to find a fast solution to move to Canada especially since the situation in Mexico is getting more tense. The war between the drug cartels and military/police forces are getting new heights. I'm worried about the security of my family, especially my children. You need to live here to understand. If I can't find work soon in Canada, I might have to consider to move back to Germany. A country I can't identify myself anymore and lesser my wife and children. I haven't set foot in Germany since over 12 Years. My closes family are spread all over the North American Continent and so of my wife. Let's see what other option where are. Someone has to stay positive and maybe something comes up. Who knows?

Thanks and have a great day!

 

[Leon]

Hi Carsten,

you have a couple of options with this. You can try to feel out for jobs online first, see where it looks like you will have the best options, call some employers, maybe you will even find a job right away. Otherwise you might at least be able to line up some interviews. You could bring your whole family like your parents said and use your parents home as a base to work from but NS might not be the place where you end up living in the end. You could also start off by coming yourself, look for jobs, then send for your family when you get a job.

Some job websites for you:

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/
http://www.eluta.ca/
http://www.monster.ca/
http://www.workopolis.com/

You need your prospective employer to get a labour market opinion for the job, basically allowing him to hire a foreigner. Some bigger companies already have labour market opinions on hand so they can be ready to hire if somebody comes along. When you have a labour market opinion and you come from a visa exempt country, you can apply for a work permit at the border, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible.asp#enter so all you have to do to change your status is take your LMO, leave the country, even just across the US border, come back with your LMO and apply for work permit.

You can include your family on your work permit application as coming with you. Your wife as a Mexican citizen also does not need a visa to come to Canada. She is under the same rules as you. As the wife of a temporary foreign worker, she can get an open work permit. Depending on her skills, maybe she should be looking for a job too. If she finds one before you, she can get the work permit and you can go along as the spouse on open permit.

Later you can apply for permanent residency for your whole family. Immigration Canada will not require you or your wife to go back to Mexico.

 

[cchabert]

Also if your wife find a job before you as Leon mention she MAY not need the LMO because the NAFTA treatment with Mexico, there is a list of professions. here is more info:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-business.asp#nafta

 

[ghiaskhan]

I hope you will get some help from the above views."A little advise" Please do read origional/first hand information about immigration from CIC sites.You will be able to learn a lot about Canadian Immigration Rules and thier application in various directions. Good luck

www.cic.gc.ca

 

[CarstenIQ]

Hello cchabert and ghiaskhan,

thanks for the additional information. I start to get the whole picture more and more. Let's see what can be done and archived. For sure cchabert, the information regarding my wife might open up more option. So I will see that we get her resume up to date and in English.

Thanks guys!