Choosing a post-secondary education - Ways to become a canadian citizen

[Skally11]

Hey,
So most of you here are already in the middle of the immigration process.
I'm just starting.

I'm a 22 yo german citizen with work experience in canada and australia but I'm not a skilled worker.
I would like to become a canadian citizen in the future and move to BC. I'm planning on choosing my post-secondary education based on the chances of getting a canadian citizenship.
In your opinion, what would be the safest and fastest path to go in my situation:

Getting qualified in a trade, find a employer for my temporary work visa and apply for the Experience Class Immigration Program?
Getting qualified in a trade and apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program?
Getting a bachelor and/or masters degree in one of the eligible occupations and apply for the Federal skilled workers Program?
Or maybe try to get my post-secondary education in canada and apply after? (although i would probably end up with some serious dept after)

All opinions and tips are appreciated
Thank you in advance

 

[Skally11]

There also seem to be quite a lot of LMO offers for semi-skilled jobs like "food counter attendant" or "cooks".
Is it possible to apply for the Experience Class Immigration Program (in BC) with a job like this?

 

[Leon]

Learning a trade is a good way to be a wanted person in Canada. You could do that, get a job offer and either apply for your PR through the federal trades program or get a work permit and apply for your PR later.

Being a cook is actually considered a skilled position. If you enjoy cooking, you can learn the trade and immigrate to Canada as a cook. However, I am sure you realize it is not among the best paid jobs to have.

Food counter attendant is considered low skilled but BC allowed some low skilled occupations under their PNP. If you have food counter experience and you can get an LMO and a work permit, you could ask your employer to sponsor you for PR. However, you would not be allowed to apply under Canadian experience class as a low skilled worker so if your employer wont sponsor you under PNP or doesn't qualify for some reason, you'd be out of luck.

 

[Skally11]

Thank you
I've seen quite a few offers for LMO in hospitality (I worked 2 years as a cook). I don't really enjoy cooking enough to actually get qualified to be honest and if i can't apply for the Experience Class Immigration Program it seems a bit risky.
Just because an employer offers you a LMO doesn't automatically mean he will sponsor me under PNP, or does it?. It just doesn't really seem likely to me that someone would go through all that trouble for somebody working a non-skilled job.

I guess learning a trade and trying to get a LMO + apply for the Experience Class Immigration Program or the federal trades program would be best.

Got any suggestions for trades that will be likely to get a LMO?

 

[Leon]

A cook is a skilled profession so as a cook, you would be able to apply for PR under CEC. As a food counter attendant, you would not because that is not skilled.

Some employers do sponsor low skilled workers if they want to keep them. There is of course no guarantee that the worker will stay if they sponsor them for PR but they will at least stay during the PR processing so they get to keep a good worker for at least that long.

I think it would be easy for you getting an LMO as a welder, plumber, gas fitter or electrician and you would also make good money. However, these trades are certified in most provinces so you would have to pass an exam in English proving your skills. A trade like a carpenter or a cabinetmaker, it would be harder to get an LMO but it's not regulated so you do not have to pass a test.

 

[Skally11]

Thanks leon.

Just one more question:
If i would decide to get a bachelors degree instead of learning a trade it would be in mechanical engineering.

There seem to be a lot of ways of getting my citizenship after that (Federal skilled workers Program, find an employer with LMO and apply for PR under CEC)

Any difficulties I might run into if i choose to go this path?
What would be the smartest way to go after uni?

 

[scylla]

Any difficulties I might run into if i choose to go this path?
What would be the smartest way to go after uni?

It's difficult to say this far in advance since the rules for the various application programs do change. Right now I would say that CEC is your best bet (once you gain a year of experience after your classes). While engineers are on the list of desired occupations now for FSW - the FSW program is changing to an EOI (expression of interest) system in 2015 which will really change things up for applicants. Having said that - the CEC program could change between now and then as well. So again, a bit difficult to say this far in advance. But likely CEC assuming the rules for this program don't change.

 

[Leon]

Engineers also have to get certified in Canada before they are able to work as engineers.

By the way, you do not get citizenship through federal skilled worker, CEC etc. You get permanent residency. In order to apply for citizenship, you must live in Canada for 3 years after getting your PR.

 

[Skally11]

Thanks guys.
So i guess the bottom line here is:
no matter wether i get my bachelors degree or get qualified in a trade it will be a long and hard way to my citizenship.

And my best bet will probably always be to find an employer first (LMO) and then apply for CEC or PNP (or maybe the new FSW program with a bachelors degree)

Did i miss anything? ;D