Work permit question?

[Someguy92]

I would like to ask few questions.

I am planning to work in Canada either on oil rig or in steel mill. I read about work permits etc. so thats why I have few questions about this whole issue. Temporary residence visa wont be a problem because citizens of Slovakia dont need one, luckily. But I am curious if it will be hard for me to get work permit. I have clear criminal record, good health status, have qualifications needed for fore-mentioned jobs, no language problems, no spouse or family coming with me.

I would like to go with few of my friends, who want to work in the same positions as me, so what would be the most ideal way for them to accompany me, everyone individually or are there some special programs or anything.

I have thought about it and I don't know what would be best course of action. I would like to either:
1. Apply for open work permit online, wait until I get it, then go to Canada and apply for a job there personally, I saw work offers for those jobs and they are abundant.
2. Try to get job offer from outside of Canada, wait for positive LMO and work permit, when it will be accepted then go to Canada.
3. I found a special pilot program for steel mill workers, welders, construction workers, should I apply for it? In future i am planning on doing welder certificate.
4. I found international experience Canada, it will give me one year work permit and its aimed for Slovak citizens. But the problem is I can use it only twice and not in the same category.
Or it would be just better to immigrate to Canada trough skilled worker or other immigration options?

 

[iam_toby]

I would like to ask few questions.

I am planning to work in Canada either on oil rig or in steel mill. I read about work permits etc. so thats why I have few questions about this whole issue. Temporary residence visa wont be a problem because citizens of Slovakia dont need one, luckily. But I am curious if it will be hard for me to get work permit. I have clear criminal record, good health status, have qualifications needed for fore-mentioned jobs, no language problems, no spouse or family coming with me.

I would like to go with few of my friends, who want to work in the same positions as me, so what would be the most ideal way for them to accompany me, everyone individually or are there some special programs or anything.

I have thought about it and I don't know what would be best course of action. I would like to either:
1. Apply for open work permit online, wait until I get it, then go to Canada and apply for a job there personally, I saw work offers for those jobs and they are abundant.
2. Try to get job offer from outside of Canada, wait for positive LMO and work permit, when it will be accepted then go to Canada.
3. I found a special pilot program for steel mill workers, welders, construction workers, should I apply for it? In future i am planning on doing welder certificate.
4. I found international experience Canada, it will give me one year work permit and its aimed for Slovak citizens. But the problem is I can use it only twice and not in the same category.
Or it would be just better to immigrate to Canada trough skilled worker or other immigration options?

If the IEC program is available in your country, getting a WHV would be your best bet. It's easy and fast, what you get is a
one-year open workpermit. You can travel/work for one year all over Canada and do every job. While working in Canada on that
visa you can apply/look into ways of extending it after that year if you still feel like staying.
Don't think about immigration until you've actually been in Canada, worked in Canada and lived in Canada. And to experience all this
hassle free, try the WHP.
You should hurry though, since the IEC program is already open and accepting applications and most of the part taking countries
already ran out of visas.

Cheers

 

[Someguy92]

Yes yes, I have thought about the WHP Canada, but my main problem would be the initial money, it says I must have at least equivalent of 2500 Canadian dollars, I have decent amount money,I could survive a month there without doing anything, but I don't have THAT much. I will have access to my resources from home country,my family, I am planning to work right away, if something screws up backup money from home wouldn't be problem. Mainly I want to go with few friends, with them initial money wouldn't be problem, together we could live in some small bachelor pad and with them initial costs will be way lower, we can cook thats a lot of money saved + sharing one apartment. But my question is if those visa officers or however they are called will acknowledge our total amount of money, if they would allow us to work and stay if our finances will be shared, because if we would have shared pool of money, it would be no problem. I wanted to get job offer from outside, because I have read that you don't need proof of finances when you have arranged job and many oil companies will pay for accommodation. Could you enlighten me on this please?

 

[scylla]

1. Apply for open work permit online, wait until I get it, then go to Canada and apply for a job there personally, I saw work offers for those jobs and they are abundant.

FYI - unfortunately you don't qualify to apply for an open work permit. Open work permits are only granted in specific circumstances (e.g. you have been sponsored inland through the family class program by your Canadian spouse and have obtain first stage approval).

 

[iam_toby]

Yes yes, I have thought about the WHP Canada, but my main problem would be the initial money, it says I must have at least equivalent of 2500 Canadian dollars, I have decent amount money,I could survive a month there without doing anything, but I don't have THAT much. I will have access to my resources from home country,my family, I am planning to work right away, if something screws up backup money from home wouldn't be problem. Mainly I want to go with few friends, with them initial money wouldn't be problem, together we could live in some small bachelor pad and with them initial costs will be way lower, we can cook thats a lot of money saved + sharing one apartment. But my question is if those visa officers or however they are called will acknowledge our total amount of money, if they would allow us to work and stay if our finances will be shared, because if we would have shared pool of money, it would be no problem. I wanted to get job offer from outside, because I have read that you don't need proof of finances when you have arranged job and many oil companies will pay for accommodation. Could you enlighten me on this please?

First of all I just checked the IEC for Slovakia and the quota of 315 WHVs has already been maxed out.
So you wouldn't be able to get a WHV for this year. However, you can still apply end of this year for the
2014 IEC program.
However, the eligibility criteria requires proof of C$2,500 and I'm pretty sure you have to prove C$2,500 per person, and NOT per group.

 

[iam_toby]

FYI - unfortunately you don't qualify to apply for an open work permit. Open work permits are only granted in specific circumstances (e.g. you have been sponsored inland through the family class program by your Canadian spouse and have obtain first stage approval).

Wrong. The IEC Working Holiday visa is an open work permit issued by CIC for certain participating countries and Slovakia
is one of 'em. So yes, he/she DOES qualify.

 

[iam_toby]

More information about the IEC program: http://www.international.gc.ca/experience/intro_incoming-intro_entrant.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

 

[Someguy92]

Ok this sucks...so the answers numb it down to either getting job offer from outside of Canada or the pilot program for workers in Alberta. Is it hard to get work permit this way or its jut a waste of time or should I just wait for the IEC program next year?

 

[iam_toby]

Ok this sucks...so the answers numb it down to either getting job offer from outside of Canada or the pilot program for workers in Alberta. Is it hard to get work permit this way or its jut a waste of time or should I just wait for the IEC program next year?

You can always try and find a job from outside Canada and check on that pilot program while waiting for next years IEC
program. Even if you can't find a job for whatever reason, you have enough time so save up the C$2.500 to meet the
IEC eligibility criteria.

 

[Someguy92]

Or find a job in Canada and make the 2500 dollars until my working permit expires...I looked at the job offers and for the positions I am looking for, there are plentiful so I hope it wont be a problem, shucks even the minimum wage job is good for me, because here in Slovakia, paying jobs are like 2-3 dollars per hour. Here even doctors have lower wage than minimum wage workers in Canada. I want to save some money to get welder certificate, after that work will be absolutely no problem + I just need some experience on oil rigs because I want to start work on oil platforms in Norway, much closer + alot more money. But still I have some questions about the normal work permit, when it expires can I extend it without problem or do I need to issue a new work permit ? Does it take long to get positive Labour market opinion and the work permit once I get job offer? I looked on the site and it said it takes about 1 month and I dont need proof of finances If I have job offer.

 

[iam_toby]

Or find a job in Canada and make the 2500 dollars until my working permit expires...I looked at the job offers and for the positions I am looking for, there are plentiful so I hope it wont be a problem, shucks even the minimum wage job is good for me, because here in Slovakia, paying jobs are like 2-3 dollars per hour. Here even doctors have lower wage than minimum wage workers in Canada. I want to save some money to get welder certificate, after that work will be absolutely no problem + I just need some experience on oil rigs because I want to start work on oil platforms in Norway, much closer + alot more money. But still I have some questions about the normal work permit, when it expires can I extend it without problem or do I need to issue a new work permit ? Does it take long to get positive Labour market opinion and the work permit once I get job offer? I looked on the site and it said it takes about 1 month and I dont need proof of finances If I have job offer.

That sounds pretty strange. Why would you find a job in Canada, get a WP and then save up C$2.500 for the WHP?!
That's nonsense. In case you find a job, your employer applies and gets a positive LMO and you'll be issued
a WP you will need to extend it before it expires. And for what I know, you'd have to apply for a new LMO again to extend the WP.
IEC visas CAN'T be extend.

 

[Someguy92]

I think you misunderstood me, I will work in Canada to get experience and money. I am not planning on throwing the money into wind, of course I will have more than 2500 dollars, but I was thinking of getting work permit and then the IEC next year...if its possible. And thanks a lot for help, much appreciated.

 

[iam_toby]

I think you misunderstood me, I will work in Canada to get experience and money. I am not planning on throwing the money into wind, of course I will have more than 2500 dollars, but I was thinking of getting work permit and then the IEC next year...if its possible. And thanks a lot for help, much appreciated.

If you get a work permit you won't need to apply for IEC the following year, you can just apply for
an extension of your work permit.

 

[Pippin]

I don't know about housing being provided in the oil patch, but my nephew works as a heavy duty mechanic in Fort McMurray and the housing and food costs up there are huge. Renting in Canada also means paying your first and last month's rent at the outset, so that is a big expense before your first paycheque. I don't think you would find $2500 would last very long. Hope you are able to reach your goal. Good luck.

 

[Someguy92]

Yes I have looked at the prices in Canada even rents and it shouldnt be that big problem. And in almost every job offer from oil industry, they were willing to pay for accomodations hotel,meals etc. or they have camps in wich you have everything you need. And thanks, good luck to you too.