best route/length

[[]LifeIsFair[x]DealWithIt]

Hello.
I apologize for an overly general questions but I really never thought I'd be in this situation and I want to get moving fast.
I am a holder of an UG and an G (not PhD level) advanced degree (top school) from US (but not a US citizen).
I have 7 years of work experience in high tech in US. I am an author on a US patent and have 1 minor conference paper. I do not have a job offer in Canada nor do I have any relatives there. I speak English at native level, but my French is beginner level.

What is the fastest route for me to immigrate to Canada? Federal skilled? Experienced? Something else?
Is it possible to gain any sort of temporary pre-PR status while looking for a job there. I would think I'd be pretty competitive given that I was competitive enough to get through all the stages of EB-2 category in US.

 

[scylla]

With the limited information you have provided, it's not possible to say if you qualify to apply to immigrate to Canada at this time. To answer this question, I would recommend that you complete the following online questionnaire:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/eligibility.asp

I would also recommend that you read through the details of the various immigration programs available to determine if you qualify to apply:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply.asp

If by "high tech" you mean a job that is technology related - then the Federal Skilled Worker program is out for you unless you can obtain a job offer in Canada. The FSW program is accepting applicants without job offers for certain technology occupations. However they are only accepting 300 applications for each of these occupations and the caps have surely been filled several times over since CIC began accepting applications in May. Canadian Experience Class is also out since you have no Canadian experience. Again, you'll need to spend quite a bit of time researching your options. Alternatively, if you don't have the time to research yourself, you can hire an imimgration consultant or lawyer to assist you.

In terms of temporary permits... A work permit is one option. To qualify for a work permit, you will first need to find an employer who is willing to offer you a job and who is also willing and able to obtain an approved Labour Market Opinion. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/lmo-basics.asp Once your employer has an approved LMO, you qualify for a work permit.

Another option would be to come to Canada temporarily as a tourist. Whether you require a tourist visa (TRV) will depend what passport you hold. To be approved for a TRV, you will have to demonstrate that you have strong ties to the US, are a genuine tourist to Canada and have no plans to remain in Canada long term.