Immigrate to Canada. Nick Noorani
question is: Can he or she communicate well in English? Unfortunately, many immigrants don’t fully understand or want to accept the importance of soft skills in getting ahead in Canada.
My suggestion is to read about developing soft skills or download it for free on the Prepare for Canada website (http://www.prepareforcanada.com/working/nine-soft-skills/nine-soft-skills-no-immigrant-should-be-without/). Note that you will need to sign up as a member to get this and more valuable information.
3. Immigration Categories
If you know for certain that you want to call Canada home, you will be faced with the challenging and often confusing task of applying for permanent immigration. There is not just “one” way of coming to Canada permanently.
Note that Canada’s immigration program has gone through tremendous changes in the past several years. If you have friends or relatives who have immigrated to Canada in the past five years or longer, it is almost certain that the process has changed since then. Be sure to become familiar with the current immigration process.
There are several classes of immigration under which you can apply. It is important to choose your category wisely, as there are many intricate rules and regulations for eligibility. If you apply under a class for which you are ineligible, you will find it difficult if not impossible to switch categories midstream, which will delay the process and you will incur additional expenses. You need to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria so that you are certain you qualify for that category of immigration. The following are the leading immigration categories:
• Federal Skilled Worker Class
• Business Immigration Program
• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Family Class
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Class
Each category has its own set of procedures and criteria that we will explain in the following chapters. However, what is common for all types of applicants (together with their dependants) is that they must undergo a medical exam and a criminal record check (see Chapter 3).
While you are able to apply for immigration on your own, if immigrating to Canada is really important to you, it’s wise to seek help from a qualified immigration lawyer or consultant to help you navigate the application process (see Chapter 4).
Chapter 2
Coming to Canada Temporarily: Workers, Live-in Caregivers, and International Students
If you only want to come to Canada temporarily as a worker, caregiver, or student, the process can be much faster than applying for permanent immigration. Many people choose to first come to Canada with temporary status, before deciding on immigrating permanently. If you’re not totally sure about moving permanently, starting off with a temporary visa could be the right choice for you.
The Canadian government has found that people who come to work in Canada prior to immigrating tend to integrate better into the community, as they already have stable employment and have had an opportunity to become familiar with the Canadian way of life. As a result, there are now special categories of immigration for those who have been here temporarily such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Caution: If you come to Canada with a visitor visa, you cannot change your status to student or worker from within Canada. You need to apply for a visa as a worker or student before you come to Canada.
1. Working Temporarily in Canada
Canadian employers often seek temporary workers to fill labour shortages or to bring in international expertise. While many of these jobs would be considered low-skilled work, in areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, and hospitality, these are not the only opportunities available. In fact, many temporary workers come to work within skilled and professional industries.
In most cases, you will need a job offer from a Canadian employer before applying for your work permit. Some Canadian employers recruit overseas, but you can also approach Canadian employers through your own research. In some instances, Canadian immigration regulations allow for open work permits, which are not specific to an employer. The most notable of these programs is the International Experience Class (IEC), which allows young people to come to Canada to both travel and work. See Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) website for more information on all types of work permits.
1.1 Applying for your temporary visa
In order to work in Canada temporarily, it is necessary to obtain a work permit. When applying for a work permit, you will have to show you qualify to work in Canada via one of the following:
• Have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) showing that your employer can hire a foreign worker.
• You fall under a bilateral trade agreement such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); Canada has such agreements with Chile, Peru, and Colombia which allow for the exchange of workers and is currently negotiating with other countries.
• Inter-company transferees. For example, if you work for an international company, you can transfer to the Canadian company.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination certificate.
• You are part of a youth-exchange program such as the International Experience Canada (IEC) class, also referred to as the Working Holiday Visa, Young Professional, and International Co-op Programs.
In all of the cases listed here (except for the IEC), you will need an employer prior to applying for a work permit (www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-how.asp). To see if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), go to CIC’s website (www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-permit.asp).
1.2 Securing a position with a Canadian employer
It can be quite difficult to get a job in Canada while you are in your home country. Given Canada’s booming oil and gas exploration industry, there has been some overseas recruitment for technical professions. As Canada’s labour requirements grow, employers are scouting international job boards.
In the future, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) wants to allow employers to search a government database of résumés in a proposed program called Express Entry (EE). This system will be in operation in early 2015. (See Chapter 12 for more information.)
The EE program (www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/express/express-entry.asp) shows promise for job seekers worldwide. In principal, you will register your résumés on a Government of Canada authorized website and employers can interview suitable candidates with a job offer. Prospective immigrants will complete an online form indicating their “interest” in coming to Canada as permanent residents. The form may include information that relates to language proficiency, work experience, and assessed education credentials.
Caution: Beware of consultancy companies promising jobs along with visas. Many of them are immigration consultants who are not permitted by the Canadian authorities to do recruiting. While there are some reputed firms who are conducting interviews online and hosting job fairs in various countries, they are not permitted by Canadian law to charge you a fee for this.
In addition, you must also do the following before being granted a temporary worker’s visa:
• Satisfy a visa officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your work permit.
• Show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family while you are in Canada.
• Respect the law and have no criminal