Completely clueless! Please Help.

[Larkin22]

I have recently been looking at many different websites about immigrating to Canada. However, i am completely clueless and would really appreciate if someone explained this to me in a way I could understand. I will give you my details and hopefully you could explain to me my chances please?

I would be moving with my girlfriend. We are both 22. We would be leaving Glasgow, Scotland.

I work in a pub and I am a supervisor there. I have worked there around a year but it will be around 2 and a bit years by the time we leave. I seen something about skill levels but I couldn't quite see where i would fit in. I have done 4 years at Secondary and 2 years at college. I do not have the best qualifications from my time in education with my highest level being Intermediate 2's. Money wise i seen we would need roughly 15000 Canadian dollars and in that sense we will be fine having just over double that.

My girlfriend will have a degree and 2-3 years post secondary education by the time we leave. She also works in a shop but this is only part time.

I am sorry if this sounds a bit simple but I really do need any help and information I can get here please and I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

Thanks!

 

[scylla]

Based on the information provided, one of you would first have to secure a full time and permanent job offer in Canada in order for immigration to be possible for you. The job will most likely have to be skilled or semi-skilled. So I would recommend you start there.

 

[scylla]

Oh - and just to add, in order to immigrate together (one application) you would need to be either married or common law. Common law means you have lived together for a minimum of one full year.

 

[Larkin22]

Thanks for the help. We will need to do a lot of research.

If i were to get a similar job in Canada do you think that would be acceptable or would I need to look elsewhere?

 

[scylla]

If it was a supervisor job, that would probably work. However there is a fair amount of effort required on the employer's side to make this happen. As part of the process, they will have to prove they need to hire a foreigner for the role and there are insufficient qualified Canadian. So you have to find an employer who's willing and also able to go through the process.

If one of you was willing to return to school for a couple of years - this might also be a path to immigration (although a longer and more expensive one since you would have to pay foreign tuition fees).

 

[Larkin22]

If we were to go study in Canada it would help our application? I would be looking to going back to studying after a while but if it would help our chances then I would definitely consider it. What type of Visa would we apply for in that case? Sorry for all the questions but we really do need all the help we can get. Thank you.

 

[scylla]

If you study in Canada at a recognized college or university you will be given an open work permit at the end of your studies (the length of that work permit will be determined by how long you study in Canada). This work permit makes it easier to find an employer and job (an open work permit allows you to work for any employer without further paperwork), gain Canadian work experience, and potentially qualify for permanent residency. You will need to apply for a study permit to study in Canada (and before this be accepted by a program and school). But again, a very expensive option (with no guarantee of a positive outcome).