"Temporary foreign worker" to being a Canadian citizen ?

[donutbox]

My likely entry into Canada will be via a temp work visa, I would like to be able to exploit whatever short/long term opportunities come my way, ultimately I have my eyes on eventually becoming a citizen.



How does one move from being a "Temporary foreign worker" to being a Canadian citizen?

Generally speaking, what is the process and the time line involved?

[Leon]

It depends very much on what kind of worker you are.

Low skilled:

If your job falls under the skill levels C or D (low skilled), it will be very hard.  You would basically have two options then, either you are lucky enough to be in a province where the provincial nominee program allows your employer to sponsor you for PR (permanent residency) and your employer is willing to do that or you must move on to a higher skilled job with the same or new employer and change your work permit to reflect that.

High skilled:

If your job falls under the skill levels A, B or 0, you have many options to get PR.  Your employer can sponsor you through a provincial nominee program but the downside is that if you lose your job or quit, the PNP will usually cancel your application and you would have to start from scratch with a new employer.  You could apply under the skilled worker program using your work permit and a job offer letter from the employer but the downside with that is that your work permit must be valid until your application has been processed.  If your work permit expires and can't be renewed, you lose your application.  Another way would be after 2 years of work as a skilled temporary worker to apply under Canadian experience class.  Aside from needing two years to qualify, it is fast to get processed and even if your work permit expires and you must leave Canada, the processing will still continue.

I would recommend starting with either PNP or skilled worker as soon as you can.  If it falls through, you can have Canadian experience class as a backup.

From PR to citizenship:

After living in Canada as a PR for 3 years, you can apply for citizenship.  Time spent in Canada before getting PR can count at 50% rate but will buy you no more than a years discount so if you were in Canada for the full 4 years before you apply for citizenship, it is enough that you were PR for 2 of those years.  Processing citizenship takes about a year+.  You would have to pass a test and attend an oath ceremony.

[donutbox]

Thanks for the info.

You could apply under the skilled worker program using your work permit and a job offer letter from the employer but the downside with that is that your work permit must be valid until your application has been processed.  If your work permit expires and can't be renewed, you lose your application. 

I am a "High skilled" worker (Telecoms/IT engineer with 6 years experience)

If I decided to use my work permit, is there a way for me to approximate how long the PR application process would take under the skilled worker program?

Also, using my work permit, could I start the PR application process immediately after I land in Canada or is there a "wait"  period before I could start the PR application process while in Canada?

Assumining that I am unsuccessfull under the PNP or the skilled worker application process, would the Canadian experience class still be an option?

[Leon]

A skilled worker application should process in less than a year I would think but it will take you a while to get all the stuff together you will need before you apply.  Complete address and work history since age 18 etc.  Once you get to Canada, if you get a letter from the employer stating that they are offering you continued employment when you become a PR, that letter along with your work permit counts as an AEO which is what you would use if you were applying from outside Canada with just a job offer and no work permit.  With that, you can apply right away.  If that doesn't work out, you can try for PNP with the employer and if that doesn't work out, you can still apply under CEC.

[donutbox]

What if my work permit is for approximately 12 months (or possibly 9-10 months) and it is for working in Quebec, will eventually gaining PR be any easier, difficult or different considering I will be doing the PR application process from Quebec?

My intention would be to start the PR application process as soon as I get to Quebec (considering I would only be in Quebec for only approximately 12 months).

I would not want to count any help from my employer in Quebec either (apart from them probably providing me with a job letter). I would not want to "tip them off" to my PR application process (well, at least not so soon)
 

I came across this site which outline the PR process (via Quebec) and possible time line :

[Leon]

Ahh, if you are in Quebec, that changes everything.  Quebec has their own immigration program.  Talk to Quebec immigration and see if you qualify for Quebec skilled worker.  You don't need a job offer for that if you have enough points without it.  If you speak French, that really helps.

Your work permit might get extended after a year so I don't think you should worry about that right now.

I don't think you would be able to apply under the federal skilled worker program with a job offer from Quebec because the federal skilled worker program is for people who do not intend to live in Quebec.  A PNP in Quebec would also be the Quebec immigration program and aside from their skilled worker, you would have to look into if they have any other programs you might qualify under.

With CEC, I do believe you can apply if you manage to get 2 years work experience in Quebec but again, CEC is for people who do not plan to live in Quebec so you would have to either go back to old country after 2 years and then apply under CEC or if you are still in Quebec, convince them that you are planning on leaving Quebec when you get your PR.

I remember one member on this board who had applied under the skilled worker program previously without a job offer.  His application was being processed.  In the meantime, he managed to get a job offer and a work permit in Quebec.  When he got his PR visa, he asked what he should do because the skilled worker program is not intended for people who want to settle in Quebec and he was told by immigration that he must land outside Quebec, he must give a non-Quebec address to get his PR card mailed to but if he wanted to continue to work in Quebec until the end of his work contract, he could still do that.

[donutbox]

Based on everything that I am reading here, it would almost seem that my work permit for Quebec doesn't really give me any advantage when I apply for PR status.

I was hoping/expecting that the  PR application process would be shorter easier.



Thanks for the information though.

[Leon]

It will give you points if you apply for Quebec skilled worker.

[donutbox]

I think I will simply start CSQ application when/if I land in Quebec if I am successfull with getting CSQ I will simply then start application for PR.


I just hope I will be in Quebec long enough for my CSQ and PR application to go through.