1 YEAR WORK PERMIT OFFERED !!

[Shion]

Dear reader,

I am a Sri Lankan and at present working in Dubai – United Arab Emirates. I have about 12 years of working experience in Freight forwarding / Logistics and Shipping field.
I am very much interested on migrating to Canada as a skilled worker....and while working towards it, I came across an organization here who offers a work permit for 1 year to work in Canada.

Questions:-
1) If I grab this opportunity and work for 1 year, how would this benefit or ease me on getting a PR after 1 year?
2) I was told CAD 800 per week + accommodation would be provided. What are the other things I should look
    into before I take this offer?
3) If I get paid said amount of CD$ 800 Per week + transportation, would this suffice for my expenses to take 
    up a 1 year Diploma course, apart from my daily expenses? ( Note – I am considering on following a 1 year 
    part time Diploma to gain required points to be eligible for PR)

I am still new to this topic and my appologise if these questions sounds childish !!

Many thanks for the advises and your patient,
Shion

[BCguy]

Actually get your 1 year visa,Switch to Student after 1 year,You will be eligible to work part time as a student and you can become a Immigrant under a PNP or CEC Class,No need for points at all

[Leon]

Just be careful that you qualify for the PNP or CEC class with your course.  Sometimes they require that you have taken a two year course and afterwards started to work on a post grad work permit.  If you take a two year course and work for one year, you can do CEC.  If you do PNP, you have to look at the requirements in that province.

[Shion]

BcGuy /Leon,

Highly appreciated your prompt responses.

What is PNP and CEC means?
And could you please advise me on the other questions below?

With all due respect,
Shion

Questions:-

2) I was told CAD 800 per week + accommodation would be provided. What are the other things I should look
    into before I take this offer?
3) If I get paid said amount of CD$ 800 Per week + transportation, would this suffice for my expenses to take 
    up a 1 year Diploma course, apart from my daily expenses? ( Note – I am considering on following a 1 year 
    part time Diploma to gain required points to be eligible for PR)

[Leon]

PNP = provincial nominee program
CEC = canadian experience class

You can find both on the CIC website under the immigrate section.

2. Ask about how many hours you are expected to work.  Under Alberta law, the employer can schedule you to work up to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.  Other provinces have their own labour codes.  Have you looked at what kind of accommodation they are offering?  What is included?  Power, heat, internet connection, cable TV, something else you feel you need?  Are you sharing a room, sharing apartment?  Where is the location of the accommodation and job?  If it is in the middle of nowhere, you will find it hard to do anything outside of work.

3. Are you planning to try to take this course at the same time?  Have you looked into if you are allowed to study on your work permit?  I know full time students can be allowed to take a work permit for up to 20 hours a week, no idea if people on work permit are allowed to study and to what extent.  Have you looked into how much the course costs?  Since you are talking about points for PR, are you thinking about skilled worker?  You know that the rules are changing to a list of 38 professions where other professions may not qualify for that program.

[eduardoF]

I wonder if you can count Athabasca University course credits (distance learning) to your education factor. Do you know anything about that, Leon?

[Shion]

Thanks again for the responses.

I rechecked with the said agency on the questions you had raised earlier.....

I was told.....8 Hours per day and 40 Hours per week. Concerns on accommodation would be clarified once the work permit confirms.

About the course.....Yes they informed me it is allowed to study while working.
My only concern is to get the PR...and bring the family later on. I have only 13 years of continuous education.
Apart from points on other 5 selection factors, without getting atleast 15 points for education I am not meeting the 67 points passing mark.
That'swhy I am interested on taking up a course..( Atleast 1 year ) 

For the agency altogether I have to pay AED 23,000/= ( about CAD 7,500/= ) which is inclusive of Visa fee / Lawyer fee / Air ticket.

Questions:-

1)Should I go for a course while I work, or is there any other options available to get the PR?

2)About the agency, how reliable are they? How can I find it out? I have an appointment fixed for tomorrow and suppose to make payment.

3)If I get CAD 800 /= per week + Transportation + accommodation (with basic requirements) would this be suffice for basic living? I have no idea on cost of living in Calgary.

Please advise....

Thank you for your time
Shion

[eduardoF]

I can't answer all your questions, but if you're making 800/week, that should cover all your basic expenses (accomodation + food + transportation + utilities)

To the best of my knowledge (check with others), expect to spend about $800 - $900 for a 2 bedroom apartment in Calgary. If you make all your meals at home, it should not be too expensive (I think I spent about $50 per week for myself). If you want to have an idea of how much food costs in canada, go to www.superstore.ca . There are cheaper places, but that's a good reference in any case.

If you find an online supermarket (I can't think of any right now), then you can "go shopping" and see exactly how much you'd be spending.

Expect to pay up to $100/month on average for utilities and other house expenses (electricity, phone, internet, heating, etc).

I strongly recommend you acquire renter's insurance. Remember, you're in a new country and you don't have a safety net. Should anything happen to your home, it's a big problem. I remember I paid about $150 per year for a 2 bedroom apartment. Prices may have gone up since.

[Shion]

Many thanks....

I am getting a basic idea on Cost of living...
This CAD 800 - 900 for 2 bedroom apartment per month right?

If anyone can answer on questions 1 and 2 as well it would be a great help !!

Thanks / Shion

[Leon]

If you are on a skilled type work permit, you can apply for an open work permit for your spouse and bring your family with you.  You would have the option of applying for permanent residency under the Alberta PNP with the help of your employer.  If you can get your permit extended so that you stay for 2 years, you would qualify to apply under the Canadian experience class after that period.

If you are on a low skill work permit, you might qualify to get PR through PNP in Alberta, depends on what you do.  If you don't, you can get maximum 2 years in Canada and then you would have to leave for 4 months before you can apply low skill again OR if your employer upgrades you to a skilled job or you find another skilled job, you could change to a skilled permit.

As for the reputation of the agency, I think they are charging you a bit much.  You should google them along with the words fraud and scam to see if you get any hits.

[Jewel]

Dear Shion,

Good day.

I am from Bangladesh, applied under skilled worker in March,2006 and now in a queue.
I am also in same profession like you and have 8 years of work experience. Could you pls share/advise in which city/port city of Canada has the potentiality for shipping and freight forwarding job. Understand that you have got the job offer from Calgary. If you don't mind can you pls share,how could you manage the job in the shipping/freight forwarding field from UAE.

Thanks for your sharing experience.

[Shion]

Sorry to say I am not too sure in which city / port it has more potential in freight forwarding jobs...But they told me I will get the offer in Calgary..Nothing has been confirmed as yet...I am trying to do a research about the agent as well before I pay any money....

Are you asking for jobs in Dubai...? If so, you should be able to find a job in freight forwarding. Daily news papers are filled with vacancies...If you have few contacts that might help you as well.

[Jewel]

Thanks for your reply.

Actually I meant that how could you manage the job in Canada from UAE...?

Best regards,

[Shion]

There was a papaer advertisement....and I applied...
This is their web site....www.dubaimcs.com

Sorry I didn't get you clearly earlier...

[Jewel]

Thanks a lot.