Application chances for self-employed freelance software engineer from the UK > Canada

[magicmark]

Hello

I've scoured the internet for answers to my question before posting, as I feel our situation is slightly unique (although hopefully someone can tell it's not that unique ).

I'm set-up in the UK as a self-employed freelance designer and software engineer. (NOC 2173 - A) I have very little higher education (college 1 year certificate in Art and Design) My wife and I along with our 2 young children are wanting to immigrate, ideally in 2021.

My main source of income is from a San Francisco tech company. I am a contractor in every way, and they also give international contractors benefits such as paid time off, sick pay etc (basically they treat us like employees, in a good way and they also pay really well). I have a few other external clients, and I can pick up external work anytime I wish.

Everything is setup in the UK as expected, I have an accountant and I pay taxes. I have just over 2 years experience in this industry as of right now.

I don't really want to apply for a job in Canada, and give up my well paid contract from the US company where I have a great future ahead of me, and I also don't want to move to the US either, any suggestions ar advice would be welcomed.

I'm not sure the best way to apply for immigration in Canada. It seems all the references to Self-Employed are only if I am going to work in the arts or athletics, and on the other hand, I see Software engineers are in demand there.

Do you have any advice or suggestions, or do you know anyone who has been in a similar situation?

 

[Naturgrl]

Your situation isn’t unique. You want to keep your business & contracts in the US and live and work remotely in Canada. So you look at immigration through the express entry stream - federal skilled workers. However you will not have enough points with your education. Does your wife have a degree and skilled work experience? You need to see if you are eligible (67 min) and then calculate your CRS score.

 

[magicmark]

> Your situation isn’t unique

That's good to know, I think the way I was phrasing my search was the issue.

My wife doesn't have a degree, the same as me just a couple years of college with no university education, and no skilled work experience either.
Thanks for clarifying that the Express Entry stream is the route to take.

 

[Naturgrl]

> Your situation isn’t unique

That's good to know, I think the way I was phrasing my search was the issue.

My wife doesn't have a degree, the same as me just a couple years of college with no university education, and no skilled work experience either.
Thanks for clarifying that the Express Entry stream is the route to take.

Unfortunately you will not have enough points. I am not sure if you are even eligible. Express entry is designed for those with masters, skilled work experience. If you don’t have a masters, then if you are fluent you will have enough points. You or your wife can look at taking a Canadian degree...it is expensive.

 

[magicmark]

I've had a run through at the Express Entry elegibilty test, and it seems if we learn more French it could get us both over the pass mark, other than that, you're right, we wouldn't be eligible.

We both scored max in the IELTS test, but didn't take any secondary language tests as our French is very basic.

Based on my job experience, having a job offer would be the only other way to move there as when I put "yes" to the "Do you have a job offer" question, it immediately gave me a reference number and said I was eligible to apply.

Looks like a job search could be under way!

 

[scylla]

I've had a run through at the Express Entry elegibilty test, and it seems if we learn more French it could get us both over the pass mark, other than that, you're right, we wouldn't be eligible.

We both scored max in the IELTS test, but didn't take any secondary language tests as our French is very basic.

Based on my job experience, having a job offer would be the only other way to move there as when I put "yes" to the "Do you have a job offer" question, it immediately gave me a reference number and said I was eligible to apply.

Looks like a job search could be under way!

I would strongly encourage you to focus on increasing your points through something other than a job offer.

It is next to impossible to secure a qualifying job offer from Canada due to the expense and effort required on the part of the employer. In order to qualify for the job offer points, you not only need to get a written job offer from the employer but also an approved LMIA. Suggest you research this process to understand what the employer needs to do. This includes advertising the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role. Effectively, the employer has to make the case they couldn't find a Canadian to hire and therefore had to hire a foreigner. This is especially difficult to do now with COVID-19 related unemployment. And even before COVID-19, it was generally extremely difficult to find employers willing to go through the process.

If learning French gives you enough points, that's the more realistic option.

Good luck.

 

[scylla]

I've had a run through at the Express Entry elegibilty test, and it seems if we learn more French it could get us both over the pass mark, other than that, you're right, we wouldn't be eligible.

We both scored max in the IELTS test, but didn't take any secondary language tests as our French is very basic.

Based on my job experience, having a job offer would be the only other way to move there as when I put "yes" to the "Do you have a job offer" question, it immediately gave me a reference number and said I was eligible to apply.

Looks like a job search could be under way!

Also note that you need to score around 470 CRS points in order to be selected. So that's the target you need to be aiming for. It's unfortunately not enough just to be eligible by achieving the 67 FSW points. Whether you are selected depends on your CRS points (which is where you're aiming for 470). Good luck.

 

[magicmark]

This includes advertising the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role.

Ah thank you for this, a very good point. I was under the (maybe wrong) impression that Tech jobs are high in demand there and there wasn't enough Canadians to fill those positions, but I guess COVID would have changed that somewhat.

We both want to learn more French anyway, so it makes sense investing more time in doing so. I appreciate the responses and advice.

Gracias.

 

[Naturgrl]

Ah thank you for this, a very good point. I was under the (maybe wrong) impression that Tech jobs are high in demand there and there wasn't enough Canadians to fill those positions, but I guess COVID would have changed that somewhat.

We both want to learn more French anyway, so it makes sense investing more time in doing so. I appreciate the responses and advice.

Gracias.

French is an option. You must be at least at B2 to make it work it so fluent not just beginner French. All the best.

 

[magicmark]

My spoken French is fairly fluent, but written French is terrible, we will put the effort in to learn it to a higher level for sure.