Temporary work permit -> study permit -> residence?

[ionutbaboi]

Greetings. Let me give you a quick background and I would really appreciate some advice as to what would be the most easy/optimal route for me to take in order to eventually become a Canadian resident.

I am a 29 year old romanian with a bachelor's in Law and a bachelor's in Advertising and Public Relations.

I understand that Canadian education and Canadian work experience are vital in order to occupy a qualified work spot.

Now what I want to do is to do a Master's degree in Law in Canada and then take the equivalation exam in order to be able to work in that field. However I do realize that I will be working unskilled jobs for a few years until I get my diploma(s).

Now here's the thing: I can only sign up for the Master's (in Alberta) next year. The admissions are either passed or closed for this year. But I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE ONE MORE YEAR in Romania because it's just that, wasted time. So what I was thinking was this:

1. Get a temporary work permit for 1 year, come there, work unskilled jobs.
2. Get a study permit next year (which I understand also includes a work permit) and do my Master's
3. Get another work permit/apply for residence in 3 years time.

Now in theory this all sounds fine and dandy but what I am concerned with is: I have heard that in order to be eligible for a work permit you need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer. How do I go about finding a job in Canada, in order to get the first work permit? Why would Canadian employers take a risk and promise to hire me without even knowing me or my credentials?

What is the best way to go about this?
What is the most optimal route?
What would you do in my place?

ps: I come from a semi-wealthy family and I would afford to live a few months without a job, but I want to start working ASAP in order to get that Canadian work experience.

 

[scylla]

Unfortunately your plan isn't realistic.

You should assume it will be impossible to get a temporary work permit. To qualify for a work permit, you need first a job offer from an employer in Canada and approved LMIA from your employer in Canada. The LMIA process is very long (4-6 months) and expensive with no guarantee of approval - and requires your employer to prove no Canadian could be found for the job. It's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through the process even with many years of work experience.

Most realistic way for you to get work experience in Canada is to complete the Masters in Canada and then to get a Post Graduate Work Permit afterwards. A PGWP is an open work permit so no LMIA is required.

Note that any work experience you gain while studying in Canada is not counted as work experience for immigration purposes. Only the work experience you gain after you finish your studies in Canada will be counted.

 

[ionutbaboi]

Ok, thank you, that clears it up a bit.

But I was living under the impression that the "no Canadian found for the job" only applied for Express Entry cases?

Because at the Canadian Embassy in Bucharest website it says that for a TEMPORARY work permit I need to:

• prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires,
• show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home,
• obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate),
• not be a danger to Canada’s security,
• be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed,
• not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions,
• not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
• give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

And that the processing time is between 3 to 5 weeks. Now this information might be incomplete and I trust you more than what I gather from that website.
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As a sidenote, as to not waste 1 more year until I can apply for that Master's - would Work and Travel ( International Experience Canada ) be an option or again, it takes a while and until then the new year will come and I will be able to apply for that Master's?

 

[scylla]

Ok, thank you, that clears it up a bit.

But I was living under the impression that the "no Canadian found for the job" only applied for Express Entry cases?

Because at the Canadian Embassy in Bucharest website it says that for a TEMPORARY work permit I need to:

• prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires,
• show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home,
• obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (we may ask you to give us a police clearance certificate),
• not be a danger to Canada’s security,
• be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed,
• not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions,
• not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
• give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

And that the processing time is between 3 to 5 weeks. Now this information might be incomplete and I trust you more than what I gather from that website.
-------------

As a sidenote, as to not waste 1 more year until I can apply for that Master's - would Work and Travel ( International Experience Canada ) be an option or again, it takes a while and until then the new year will come and I will be able to apply for that Master's?

The "no Canadian found for the job" is certainly not limited to Express Entry. It's a basic requirement to get an LMIA approved. And you need an approved LMIA to apply for a closed work permit. The processing time listed above is the processing time for the WORK PERMIT. The 4-6 month processing time for the LMIA is a completely separate step that happens BEFORE you can apply for the work permit.

You can certainly apply for an IEC if you qualify (i.e. hold the right passport): http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp

 

[ionutbaboi]

Ok great, now I see you clarified the work permit as being a CLOSED work permit. And I see the IEC offers an OPEN work permit.

What are the differences between the 2? How long can I stay in Canada with the OPEN work permit?

It says here:

"Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada.

The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit.

This category is for you if:

• You don’t have a job offer yet
• You want to work for more than one employer in Canada
• You want to work in more than one location
• You’d like to earn some money so that you can travel"
  
  In theory this sounds pretty good. But instead of traveling I could work unqualified jobs like a warehouse or call center to pass the time/get used to the Canadian way of doing things until next year when the new academical year starts.
  
  For example: if the open work permit is valid for at least 6 months I could travel in December/January, get a temp job and after that the courses for the LLM would start and the study permit would kick in.
  
  Do I need anything else besides the good passport to get that open work permit?
  
  And I promise these are amongst the last questions, I really appreciate you taking this time to be so comprehensive.

 

[scylla]

Ok great, now I see you clarified the work permit as being a CLOSED work permit. And I see the IEC offers an OPEN work permit.

What are the differences between the 2? How long can I stay in Canada with the OPEN work permit?

It says here:

"Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada.

The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit.

This category is for you if:

• You don’t have a job offer yet
• You want to work for more than one employer in Canada
• You want to work in more than one location
• You’d like to earn some money so that you can travel"
  
  In theory this sounds pretty good. But instead of traveling I could work unqualified jobs like a warehouse or call center to pass the time/get used to the Canadian way of doing things until next year when the new academical year starts.
  
  For example: if the open work permit is valid for at least 6 months I could travel in December/January, get a temp job and after that the courses for the LLM would start and the study permit would kick in.
  
  Do I need anything else besides the good passport to get that open work permit?
  
  And I promise these are amongst the last questions, I really appreciate you taking this time to be so comprehensive.

Have you looked at the list of countries that qualify for an IEC? Do you hold one of these passports?

 

[scylla]

Closed work permit is tied to a specific employer. Open work permit allows you to work for any employer. Length of IEC depends on the passport you hold.

 

[ionutbaboi]

It would appear that Romania is not on the IEC list even though we can travel without a visa for leisure purposes up to 6 months of stay if we have a biometric passport.

I did more digging and it would appear that there are certain organizations like "Go West" or "Go International" through which I could still benefit from the IEC but they seem to have quite a few restrictions too, I'll do more digging on that part.

So from what I am gathering my only feasible option would be to indeed wait for the new school year and come with a study permit and then apply for a PWGP.

Guessing besides IEC there's no other way to get a 6 month OPEN work permit to pass time till the new academic year, right?

 

[scylla]

Guessing besides IEC there's no other way to get a 6 month OPEN work permit to pass time till the new academic year, right?

Based on the information you've provided - no. If it was that easy - everyone would be here working.

Open work permits are only granted in very limited situations. For example, if you have a spouse who is in Canada on a study permit as an international student - or if you have a spouse who is in Canada as a foreign worker on a work permit and has a job that is skill level NOC A, B or 0.

Your most realistic path to an open work permit is to complete studies in Canada so that you qualify for a PGWP.

 

[ionutbaboi]

Thank you very much for all the information you provided. You've helped a great deal.

Now one last thing I promise, in case you know, so I avoid opening a new thread.

I've been looking over the requirements for the LLM and it's asking me for my full CV with work experience, education experience, extra curricular activities etc and a full list of all my grades.

Problem is our grading system is from 1 to 10. Univ. of Alberta is asking for a 3.0 average grade. I don't know what that means. What does 3.0 translate into? Also why are they asking for all the other information? Are the places limited and only the most achieved applicants will be allowed entry?

If I for example have an above decent overall grade on both my 4 years or law and my dissertation and also have the money to pay the 12-20.000$ fee is there still a possibility I won't be admitted due to other factors?

 

[ionutbaboi]

Also it says: At present, we will consider applications for visiting graduate students or post-doctoral fellows only for applicants who are fully funded for these positions.

Does that mean I can get the study permit if I am on a tourist visa without having to return to Romania IF I am fully funded? What exactly does that mean?

 

[scylla]

Thank you very much for all the information you provided. You've helped a great deal.

Now one last thing I promise, in case you know, so I avoid opening a new thread.

I've been looking over the requirements for the LLM and it's asking me for my full CV with work experience, education experience, extra curricular activities etc and a full list of all my grades.

Problem is our grading system is from 1 to 10. Univ. of Alberta is asking for a 3.0 average grade. I don't know what that means. What does 3.0 translate into? Also why are they asking for all the other information? Are the places limited and only the most achieved applicants will be allowed entry?

If I for example have an above decent overall grade on both my 4 years or law and my dissertation and also have the money to pay the 12-20.000$ fee is there still a possibility I won't be admitted due to other factors?

Spots in law programs are limited. So you are competing with others and meeting the basic requirement doesn't guarantee you'll be accepted.

I don't know how your grading system compares or converts. You'll have to research this - there's plenty of information online about grade conversions.

 

[scylla]

Also it says: At present, we will consider applications for visiting graduate students or post-doctoral fellows only for applicants who are fully funded for these positions.

What I understand from this is that I can't apply from Romania but by actually being there on a visitor's visa. Does that mean I can get the study permit if I am on a tourist visa without having to return to Romania?

Or does it mean IF i am on a visitor's visa, I need to show that I am "fully funded"?

No - that's not what that means at all. You should apply for the study permit from your home country - not from Canada. Higher chances of being approved if you apply from your home country. Lower if you are already in Canada.

 

[vensak]

Ok so do the following:
1. Check if your country has an access to the Working holiday program. That one unlike IEC has a bi more participating countries.
Just be aware that to be picked for one is a lottery now (it used to be first come first serve). You would have to make a profile and then starting from November they will be inviting batch of people to apply (then you will have just few weeks to apply). They will do that like every week or 2 weeks until they will use all spots for that country for that year.
2. With that you have stated you might have a good chance in EE itself. But you need to have 3 years of skilled work experience (that is to max your points). And a very good IELTS / TEF results.
So if you want to go that way work on those areas rather than rushing to Canada and paying hefty money for an education you do not know if you will need.

And if you are just for a better salary, just check countries like Germany, Italy, Ireland, where you have now direct access to their job market without any visa requirement.

 

[canuck78]

Also it says: At present, we will consider applications for visiting graduate students or post-doctoral fellows only for applicants who are fully funded for these positions.

Does that mean I can get the study permit if I am on a tourist visa without having to return to Romania IF I am fully funded? What exactly does that mean?

That means there aren't any scholarships or grants available for international students.