Should I just apply at the Border?

[jetter2]

Howdy from Dallas!

I am trying to relocate to the Toronto area and I am looking for some guidance.

(1) I'm a 24 year old Network Engineer for an ISP. I have a 2 year degree but I am currently working on my 4 year degree
(2) I'm a US citizen
(3) I passed the "practice" immigration exam, so I don't think I would have a problem getting in.

My question, how do you go about coming over? From what I understand, being that I am a US citizen, as long as I get a LMO I can just go to one of the Immigration stations at the border and get a TWP there right? Is this process any faster or more desirable than going through the mail in process?

I have a few job leads and my biggest fear is that I will get a job offer, they will supply the LMO, then we have to sit around and wait for 90 days or something while the TWP goes through the system. Is going to a border station ANY faster for someone in my shoes?  I have heard something about staying away from the Buffalo station as well..is this still the case?

If I am offered full time employment, how long will they typically issue my TWP for? I was hoping it would at least be for a year or more to enable me to get my immigration papers in line, but then again, once I have all that squared away is it easier to do it at the border?

This board has been very helpful, but can anyone let me know what is more beneficial about taking care of everything at the border vs the online system?

Thanks again guys!

[job_seeker]

If you have an LMO, cross the nearest border and get your WP. Finding an employer though would be the hurdle for you because the employer would have to prove that no Canadian or permanent resident applied or qualified for the position. You don't need a visa to enter Canada being a US citizen and you don't need medicals if you're not coming to work in fields that inherently need medical clearance (health industry).

Howdy from Dallas!

I am trying to relocate to the Toronto area and I am looking for some guidance.

(1) I'm a 24 year old Network Engineer for an ISP. I have a 2 year degree but I am currently working on my 4 year degree
(2) I'm a US citizen
(3) I passed the "practice" immigration exam, so I don't think I would have a problem getting in.

My question, how do you go about coming over? From what I understand, being that I am a US citizen, as long as I get a LMO I can just go to one of the Immigration stations at the border and get a TWP there right? Is this process any faster or more desirable than going through the mail in process?

I have a few job leads and my biggest fear is that I will get a job offer, they will supply the LMO, then we have to sit around and wait for 90 days or something while the TWP goes through the system. Is going to a border station ANY faster for someone in my shoes?  I have heard something about staying away from the Buffalo station as well..is this still the case?

If I am offered full time employment, how long will they typically issue my TWP for? I was hoping it would at least be for a year or more to enable me to get my immigration papers in line, but then again, once I have all that squared away is it easier to do it at the border?

This board has been very helpful, but can anyone let me know what is more beneficial about taking care of everything at the border vs the online system?

Thanks again guys!

[jetter2]

If you have an LMO, cross the nearest border and get your WP. Finding an employer though would be the hurdle for you because the employer would have to prove that no Canadian or permanent resident applied or qualified for the position. You don't need a visa to enter Canada being a US citizen and you don't need medicals if you're not coming to work in fields that inherently need medical clearance (health industry).

So the real steps are;

(1) Get a Offer Letter from a Company
(2) Get them to provide me with an LMO
(3) Take the LMO to the nearest Border and I will get a WP issued at the station Immediately?

Step 3 is still kind of hazy for me, will I leave the border station THAT DAY with a WP, or will I of just filled out and application (which I could of done online)? I can't tell if this is a faster route to a WP or not.


Out side of that, can someone point me to the limits on shipping valuables up (such as TV's, Bed's, clothing..stuff you would have in your apartment) or what the transfer laws on a car are(taxes etc)?

[scylla]

(2) is technically: Employer submits LMO request to Human Resources Canada (government body) and approved LMO is then returned.

Note that not all LMOs are approved and the % of LMOs being approved by Human Resources Canada has dropped from last year to this year. Before the employer can even submit the LMO request, they will first have to advertise your job on Canadian job boards for several weeks to prove then cannot find a Canadian resident to do the job.

Good luck!

[jetter2]

I wonder how this would work being that a lot of the offers I hear about are usually from a Canadian headhunter agency.

But assuming everything goes through and I get an LMO, If I take the LMO to the Border can I get a TWP that SAME day?

[job_seeker]

Yes, about 30 minutes. Have you looked into NAFTA?

I wonder how this would work being that a lot of the offers I hear about are usually from a Canadian headhunter agency.

But assuming everything goes through and I get an LMO, If I take the LMO to the Border can I get a TWP that SAME day?

[jetter2]

I don't have my 4 year degree to come over as an Engineer under NAFTA, the closest I could do would be a Computer systems analyst, it's requirements are ;


Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience.


Can someone explain to me what a Post-Secondary Certificate is? I have the experience and if I do that it would make the immigration process much easier to not have to get a LMO.

[job_seeker]

Certificate after graduation from high school (after finishing secondary educ).

I don't have my 4 year degree to come over as an Engineer under NAFTA, the closest I could do would be a Computer systems analyst, it's requirements are ;


Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience.


Can someone explain to me what a Post-Secondary Certificate is? I have the experience and if I do that it would make the immigration process much easier to not have to get a LMO.

[jetter2]

Just so we are clear, Post secondary education/ certificate is a diploma/certificate showing you went to school AFTER you graduated High School (as High School is considered "secondary education") correct?

[job_seeker]

Yup.

Just so we are clear, Post secondary education/ certificate is a diploma/certificate showing you went to school AFTER you graduated High School (as High School is considered "secondary education") correct?

[GoldenArm]

Yes, about 30 minutes. Have you looked into NAFTA?

I went through this process a couple of years ago - picking up my work visa at the point of entry after receiving a job offer and positive LMO.
You are right that you do get the visa then & there but just for everyone's info, it took closer to two hours than 30 minutes.

Not that I cared once I had the WP in my hands. 

[job_seeker]

It was a holiday when I went and it was fast. Probably most people are going to the US than to Canada the time I went and picked up my WP; was nervous cause I don't know if I was doing the right thing but I got my WP .

I went through this process a couple of years ago - picking up my work visa at the point of entry after receiving a job offer and positive LMO.
You are right that you do get the visa then & there but just for everyone's info, it took closer to two hours than 30 minutes.

Not that I cared once I had the WP in my hands. 

[GoldenArm]

It was a holiday when I went and it was fast. Probably most people are going to the US than to Canada the time I went and picked up my WP; was nervous cause I don't know if I was doing the right thing but I got my WP .

I'm about to go through the whole process again.
Still waiting for my new LMO, expecting at least another month for that. Then I'll be straight on a plane.

It's no fun sitting in immigration waiting for a WP after a 30-hour trip from Australia, with my wife and a bored/tired 6 year old in tow so I hope I'm as lucky as you were this time around!