Applying for residence to the US or Canada
- Thread starter psd99
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Soldato
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I'm looking at Canada/New Zealand.
I'm in a similar situation to PSD99. I'm 27 this month, got a degree with 4 years relevent experience, unemployed atm :/
What I'm thinking is I need to find a job here within my field first then start emmigrating.
How do you start it off? Simply apply for jobs over the internet and hope you get one which sets off the paperwork process? or do you need the paperwork first before I can apply for jobs?
I'm in a similar situation to PSD99. I'm 27 this month, got a degree with 4 years relevent experience, unemployed atm :/
What I'm thinking is I need to find a job here within my field first then start emmigrating.
How do you start it off? Simply apply for jobs over the internet and hope you get one which sets off the paperwork process? or do you need the paperwork first before I can apply for jobs?
My best friend moved with his family to Calgary and is currently at the univercity. He is having a great time and a few weeks ago i went out and stayed with his family for a while. It is wonderful what they have but completely differant.
The best thing to do is look on some of the expat forums around and check the Canadian immigration website which has lists of what you/they need. Plus the list of jobs which are on the Canadian wanted list.
Just wanted to add don't misjudge me I loved every second and have been offered a chance to play rugby out there with a job and free accomodation by a club and plan to take the chance. It is a great place but as some one said " the grass isn't always greener".
The best thing to do is look on some of the expat forums around and check the Canadian immigration website which has lists of what you/they need. Plus the list of jobs which are on the Canadian wanted list.
Just wanted to add don't misjudge me I loved every second and have been offered a chance to play rugby out there with a job and free accomodation by a club and plan to take the chance. It is a great place but as some one said " the grass isn't always greener".
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Soldato
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Me and my GF, MissMcT on here are currently in the middle of applying for Permanent Residency for Canada. It's a very long and time consuming process, but the dream of getting there keeps me going. I have applied as a skilled worker as I am on the list of 38 required jobs, and am just waiting for the 120 day letter. If that goes through then hopefully it should be plain sailing. The move won't be cheap; Already paid about £1500 for applying, then add about £4000 for a shipping container (May end up selling most things off), flights etc etc and all in all it works out quite pricey, but should be more than worth it.
We are aiming for Vancouver as we should have most chance for work, and the surrounding areas have everything I could want (Photographic beauty, skiing, hiking, wildlife etc). Would love to end up in a decent paid job so I can live in North Vancouver.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56
We are aiming for Vancouver as we should have most chance for work, and the surrounding areas have everything I could want (Photographic beauty, skiing, hiking, wildlife etc). Would love to end up in a decent paid job so I can live in North Vancouver.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56
Fill this in for Canada and see if you are eligible
http://www.workpermit.com/canada/points_calculator.htm
As a guide, I tried filling it in. I'm an Engineer with over 5 years experience, have all the funds required, have a high level of English and a moderate level of French as I can speak/read and listen at a reasonable level and I fall short at 58 points where the cutoff is 67 points.
http://www.workpermit.com/canada/points_calculator.htm
As a guide, I tried filling it in. I'm an Engineer with over 5 years experience, have all the funds required, have a high level of English and a moderate level of French as I can speak/read and listen at a reasonable level and I fall short at 58 points where the cutoff is 67 points.
Man of Honour
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It's the Canadian National Occupational Classification and you're right, it's very handy if you're occupation is on it. Although obviously you can get points for a variety of other things, being able to speak a basic level of French is worth a couple of points at least.
Soldato
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The points system isn't actually that important other than not letting people in. Ie, if you don't get enough points you are unlikely to get in, but also if you do get enough points, it certainly does not guarantee you getting in. It more comes down to your job (certainly through the PR and PNP routes). I fall into the list of 38 jobs (http://dreamofcanada.blogspot.com/2008/12/38-high-demand-occupations-canada.html) so this gives me a route in. If you don't fall into one of those categories, then the other way is to be sponsored by a company, although this can be very hard.
You have a couple of options. Do the application yourself or hire a lawyer to help you. I chose the latter as I had a slightly more complicated case, don't regret spending the extra 2k on it at all. www.canadavisa.com is the company I used.
Depending on what you do (check the link below) it will be pretty difficult to get a job whilst overseas. In particular for IT as there is so much local talent employers don't want to look aboard. I would try go over on a visitors or working visa and go for it.
That's the one. Thanks.
Caporegime
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Nice. Have you married him yet?
Caporegime
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Ohhh...fiancéE!! Not picked up much French since you've been there then 
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Soldato
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Not been to either yet lol.
TBH I just wanna go, if it doesn't work out I can return to the bosom of my mother lol.
I can't afford to go to either atm with no job. Need to get one here again then save and bugger off.
Sorry to dig up an old thread. But I am also thinking of moving to Canada...
As I see many of you have said go for a working visa (6 months I believe?) to see if you like it. I think that is a great idea but I have one question for those people that have done it. Where do you live for that 6 month period?
As I see many of you have said go for a working visa (6 months I believe?) to see if you like it. I think that is a great idea but I have one question for those people that have done it. Where do you live for that 6 month period?
Why the lol? seems a fairly decent place if a bit flat. Mediterranean in the summer months, tons of snow in the winter.
EDIT: Something I never understood - dunno if anyone looking for residence can shed any light on it? - first time I went to Canada (2003) they stamped my passport with an entry date but some symbol in the expiry instead of a date - when I asked about it next time I went the guy said it meant I had 2 years from the entry date to leave or get permanent residency status (I had no visa, etc.).
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a lot of the brits that come back make the mistake of mving to a new country then hanging around with other brits, instead of the people from that country. next thing you know they all get together and start going on about how such and such is better in the UK and what they miss. Then suddenly they are home sick and they end up coming home.
I just moved to the states last month and its great, only downside is the expensive medical insurance.
I just moved to the states last month and its great, only downside is the expensive medical insurance.
Man of Honour
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What makes you think tha the working visa is for 6 months? Unless they've shortened it recently the visa lasts for 12 months, I know absolutely that the student/young persons visa is for 12 months and I'd be surprised if any working visa doesn't last for at least that long in Canada.
Live wherever you want to, you can organise housing before you get out there if you want to try properties sight unseen or what I did was to book a few nights in a hostel then planned to find somewhere locally - Craigslist is quite a good option as there's lots listed on there. In the event I didn't follow that plan and got a place to stay through my job which was somewhat conveniently a homestay company for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. EFL is quite a big thing in Vancouver and probably in Toronto too, I'd suspect Montreal isn't necessarily so big on it, French Canadians eh? It's not particularly hard to find somewhere to stay though if you are willing to compromise a bit, it's not all that unlike the UK.
I think it might be that there is a London in Canada at all that caused the lol but then there's lots of place names where the settlers have been unimaginative or inspired enough by what they've left behind to call the towns after UK placenames.
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