Visa to find a job or job to find a visa

[victorserge79]

Hi there, Im in category C of work. Been trying to find a way to get a job offer from abroad, but I always end up within this loop: How to get a visa and go look for jobs in Canada if I need a job to apply for the visa, and how to get a job if I dont have the visa. Is there a way of applying for a visa that permits me go to Canada and look for jobs there? Or a kind of permit that I can remotely (still abroad) show to a potential employer, in a way that it shows its just a matter of me flying into Canada and Im already legalized to work?
Thanks

 

[scylla]

Hi there, Im in category C of work. Been trying to find a way to get a job offer from abroad, but I always end up within this loop: How to get a visa and go look for jobs in Canada if I need a job to apply for the visa, and how to get a job if I dont have the visa. Is there a way of applying for a visa that permits me go to Canada and look for jobs there? Or a kind of permit that I can remotely (still abroad) show to a potential employer, in a way that it shows its just a matter of me flying into Canada and Im already legalized to work?
Thanks

Generally speaking you need a job offer from an employer in Canada and that employer needs to obtain an approved LMIA in order for you to qualify for a closed work permit (a closed work permit is linked to a specific employer). Most employers are unwilling to go through this process since it is a lot of effort, time (4-6 months to process), money and there's no guarantee of approval. As part of the LMIA process, an employer must also advertise the job to prove no Canadian could be found for the role. I would guess that very few LMIAs are going to be approved in the next number of months given COVID-19 related job losses. There are plenty of Canadians looking for work right now and generally no need for employers to hire a foreign worker.

An open work permit allows you to work for an employer but they are only issued in very specific circumstances (e.g. if you have a spouse who is in Canada as an international student on a study permit, if you yourself complete a full time program of study at least 8 months in length in Canada at a recognized insitution on a study permit).

Long story short, unless there's something you haven't shared, you dont' qualify for an open work permit. Your only option in that case is a closed work permit which requires you to secure a job offer from an employer in Canada and for that employer to get an approved LMIA before you can apply for the work permit.

 

[scylla]

Edit to the above: You can certainly come to Canada on a TRV / eTA (i.e. tourist visa) to look for a job. However to get a work permit and be able to work, you would still need to get a job offer / approved LMIA which is the part that is next to impossible to do.