UK Journalist - Do i qualify?

[Kuz]

Hi,

I was wondering if i qualified as a skilled worker immigrant. I've been practicing as a journliast in the UK for around 8 years. The NOC number for journalist is 5123, which i take it is skill level A (the "1" indicates skill level "A" to my knowledge).

Does this qualify me?

K

 

[scylla]

To qualify for the federal skilled worker program, your occupation needs to appear on the following list:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/complete-applications.asp

Since your occupation does not appear on this list, you will need to secure a job offer in Canada first to qualify to apply.

Alternatively, you can also take a look at the provincial nominee programs to see if you might qualify for one of those. I believe most require a job offer in Canada in order to qualify as well. Further information is available here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/provincial/apply-who.asp

 

[Kuz]

Damn, is tehre no other way that i can immigrate as a journalist? Even if i score the relevant pass mark on the skilled worker test??

K

 

[scylla]

Damn, is tehre no other way that i can immigrate as a journalist? Even if i score the relevant pass mark on the skilled worker test??

K

If you're interested in the federal skilled worker program, then scoring sufficient points isn't enough due to your occupation (i.e. because your occupation does not fall on the list of desired occupations for immigration). You need a job offer in Canada as well.

 

[cocknbull]

Damn, is tehre no other way that i can immigrate as a journalist? Even if i score the relevant pass mark on the skilled worker test??

K

you can get an AEO (arranged employment offer) or you can try as Provincial niminee...

AEO

Skilled workers and professionals - Who can apply

Skilled workers are people who are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada.

Federal skilled worker applications are assessed for eligibility according to the criteria set out below.

For your application to be eligible for processing, you must:

have a valid offer of arranged employment


Provincial Nominee

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/provincial/index.asp


mmigrating to Canada permanently is an exciting opportunity. However, there are several things you should consider before you apply to be a permanent resident.

If you want to immigrate to Canada, there are a few different ways to apply. You will need to decide which immigration program will work best for you and your family



Quebec-selected skilled workers
For people selected by the Quebec government to settle and work in Quebec

Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people
For people who want to start a business in Canada

Provincial nominees
One of Canada's provinces or territories can nominate you to settle and work there

 

[Kuz]

how hard will it be to get a Arranged Employment Offer for someone who only has a temporary work permit? Would that be too much headache for most employees?

I was thinking of doing the International Experience Canada thing for UK citizens which will give me a 1 year working visa, so will employees likely give me a permanent job offer based on that?

Also, I wanted to work as a freelance writer/journalist in Canada. I would essentially be self-employed, but will have "contractual" work with Canadian news organisations. Will that count as a "job offer"? Or could i qualify under some "self-employed" scheme this way?

Thanks,

K

 

[scylla]

Also, I wanted to work as a freelance writer/journalist in Canada. I would essentially be self-employed, but will have "contractual" work with Canadian news organisations. Will that count as a "job offer"? Or could i qualify under some "self-employed" scheme this way?

Thanks,

K

No - self employed does not constitute a job offer. You need an actual job offer from an employer in Canada.

There is a self-employed immigration program. Details are here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/apply-who.asp

 

[scylla]

Just to add, here are the occupations that qualify under the self-employed immigration stream:

http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/Occupations.aspx?val=5

 

[cocknbull]

how hard will it be to get a Arranged Employment Offer for someone who only has a temporary work permit? Would that be too much headache for most employees?

pretty hard


I was thinking of doing the International Experience Canada thing for UK citizens which will give me a 1 year working visa, so will employees likely give me a permanent job offer based on that?

this seems feasible for you

Also, I wanted to work as a freelance writer/journalist in Canada. I would essentially be self-employed, but will have "contractual" work with Canadian news organisations. Will that count as a "job offer"? Or could i qualify under some "self-employed" scheme this way?

Thanks,

K

 

[Kuz]

Just to add, here are the occupations that qualify under the self-employed immigration stream:

Hey! Journalist DOES qualify as a Self-Employed person criteria!

Looks like that's a better way for me then, no?? As a "free-lance" journalist, i can spend this year building a Canadian business as a freelance writer then apply for the Self-Employed visa?

I know "journalist" and "writer" is listed there - so that means if i'm a Freelance, just working for myself with a significant income stream, i qualify? Or would i need to EMPLOY someone Canadian to qualify?

K

 

[cocknbull]

Hey! Journalist DOES qualify as a Self-Employed person criteria!

Looks like that's a better way for me then, no?? As a "free-lance" journalist, i can spend this year building a Canadian business as a freelance writer then apply for the Self-Employed visa?

I know "journalist" and "writer" is listed there - so that means if i'm a Freelance, just working for myself with a significant income stream, i qualify? Or would i need to EMPLOY someone Canadian to qualify?

K

Self-employed persons: Who can apply

To be eligible as a self-employed person, you must:

have relevant experience
meet the selection criteria for self-employed persons and

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/selection.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/definitions.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/definitions.asp#self

Self-employed persons

In order to qualify, you must first meet the definition of a self-employed person. The following terms are defined in the regulations:

Self-employed person
Relevant experience
Specified economic activities
Self-employed person means a foreign national who has relevant experience and has the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada and to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada.

Relevant experience in respect of

a self-employed person, means a minimum of two years of experience, during the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a decision is made on the application. The experience must consist of:
in respect of cultural activities,
two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in cultural activities, or
two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in cultural activities, or
a combination of a one-year period of experience described in (A), above, and a one-year period of experience described in (B), above,
in respect of athletics,
two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in athletics, or
two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in athletics, or
a combination of a one-year period of experience described in (A), above, and a one-year period of experience described in (B), above, and
in respect of the purchase and management of a farm, two one-year periods of experience in the management of a farm.
Specified economic activities, in respect of

a self-employed person, means cultural activities, athletics or the purchase and management of a farm; and
a self-employed person selected by a province, has the meaning provided by the laws of the province.