Moving to Canada?

[megakid]

I'm wondering if anyone could give me some reasoned advice here. My girlfriend and I are looking for to move abroad for a year or two before we settle down, get married etc. I've lived abroad before - in Sydney for 2.5 years - returning to London about 4.5 years ago. My girlfriend has never lived abroad.

I'm an experienced software developer (.NET is, and has been, my language of choice but have done a little C++ and JavaScript/TypeScript in my time) of 10 years and have worked on full stack for pretty much my entire career - generally in-house software products that get used for trade execution and pricing. I'm passionate and hardworking...all of that and I've been well regarded in all my jobs. Currently I earn considerably above market rate in London but have been here for 4-5 years and would consider a considerable pay cut to make this happen.

I was initially thinking of applying to work for companies in the Bay Area but am having second thoughts after seeing just how many (~66%) H1B Visas get turned down (I've been through that process 4 years ago and pulled out). Given this is less of a lifelong plan to emigrate and more of a 18 month plan, I'd like something a little more surefire (albeit I know any relocation is filled with uncertainty). If that rules the USA out then CA might be an option, Vancouver or Toronto are the main two cities we're considering. We visited Toronto last year and loved it.

I'm filled with questions but some of the mains ones are: Is this at all realistic? Are working VISAs easier to come by in Canada? Is there some kind of skilled migrant VISA that applies to software devs which I can get personally (without a company sponsorship)? If not, do companies tie you into a minimum period after getting a sponsorship VISA? Could my long term (not married/engaged but been together since 2011) girlfriend be able to seek work if she moved with me?

 

[the_r_sole]

when i went there was a 12 month visa that you could get which allowed you to work in the country, so you didn't need a job/sponsorship etc - I think you had to have a certain amount of money and a return ticket booked or something, and there is a limit to how many get released every year.

I actually applied for it though bunac and i think you had to be under 30 to do it, presumably your girlfriend could get the same - I'm sure there is a way to extend it also, after 12 months I ended up going down the route of a sponsored visa as I was working/settled anyway - I got made redundant 1 day before the Visa was issued... but such is life

 

[Bloodshot]

You can get a skilled worker VISA yes; but you need someone to hire you and sponsor the application. It takes from 5-6 months.

As long as you have been living with your girlfriend for over a year she can also get a working VISA.