Confused

[Crimbly]

Hello all!

As I guess plenty of others do, I'm posting because I'm a tad confused about the immigration process vis a vis my own situation.

A little about myself: I'm a 28 y/o British Citizen who is currently in his final year studying a BSc in Biological Science (Biotechnology, to be exact). Once I graduate next summer, I am looking to move to either Vancouver or Toronto to try my hand at finding work in the biotech or biomedical sector as a research scientist or lab technician. Disclaimer: this isn't my first degree - I have a BA in German & History too. Work-experience wise it's been the usual smatter of student retail jobs during my first degree, after which I spent 7 months training as an officer cadet in the Royal Navy (I left prior to commissioning because I found I really didn't like military life at all). I have been working part-time as a customer service representative for the past 4 years (NOC category C) to support my studies.

From what I understand, as a Britisher, I am "visa-exempt" and able to come to Canada for (usually) a max of 6 months based on fulfilling certain criteria (I think it's the electronic Travel Authorization as of March next year?). However, I would like to search for work - does an eTA equal a temporary resident permit, and could I apply for an open work permit while I hunt for work? I get that a closed work permit needs me to actually have found work in the first place. Say I do find work - would I then be able to apply for a permanent residence status? In the parlance of the CIC I hold "dual intent" in that respect.

Long story short: graduate-to-be wishes to come to Canada and find work in his field (would be NOC category A or B I suppose). I can't apply to the Express route as I do not have the requisite experience as a biologist, but do have experience in other categories - although part-time mostly and not in the desired worker categories.

I'd really appreciate some advice - what's usually the situation with recent graduates immigrating and finding work?

 

[scylla]

The only open work permit you qualify for is a Working Holiday Visa / IEC. These are available only a few times a year and are snapped up extremely quickly (within minutes of becoming available). I'd recommend you start researching now and be ready to apply the minute the program opens next year. Understand there is no guarantee you will get one due to the very limited supply.

Otherwise you would need to find an employer in Canada willing to offer you a full time job and able to obtain an approved LMIA - so that you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer. As part of this process the employer must prove they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian for the role. Finding an employer this way is typically extremely difficult to do as the vast majority employers aren't willing to go through the expense and waiting time of the LMIA process.

An ETA is not a TRP. It's the equivalent of a TRV. A TRP is a special permit that is difficult to get and is issued to those who are otherwise inadmissible to Canada (often due to a crime). You do not qualify for a TRP and consequently don't qualify for an open work permit under the related rule.

 

[Crimbly]

Hi Scylla,

Thanks for the reply!

I'll certainly take a look at the working holiday visa, although I guess I was hoping to find more stable, continuous work rather than taking a "holiday". I have submitted an application and I guess I'm on the waiting list for the 2016 round.

I read about the LMIA requirements too, they seem quite onerous. I guess I'm used to EU regulations here having to consider all applicants to work equally without regard to their nationality.

Thanks for clarifying the TRP/TRV issue. Perhaps it would be a good idea to find work in my field here for at least a year before applying on the skilled worker pathway.

That's put a bit of a dampener on my hopes.

 

[scylla]

I read about the LMIA requirements too, they seem quite onerous. I guess I'm used to EU regulations here having to consider all applicants to work equally without regard to their nationality.

It's no different in the EU. A Canadian would have to jump through similar hoops to work there. We can't just walk in and take any job.

EU regulations say you have to consider all applicants who have EU residency or citizenship. This doesn't apply to foreigners (like Canadians and Americans).

So it's actually the same. It's just feels different to you since you are legally allowed to work in the EU.

 

[Crimbly]

Sorry, should have qualified, that's what I meant - within the EU, not internationally.

Thanks for the reply anyway!

 

[PMM]

Hi

The only open work permit you qualify for is a Working Holiday Visa / IEC. These are available only a few times a year and are snapped up extremely quickly (within minutes of becoming available). I'd recommend you start researching now and be ready to apply the minute the program opens next year. Understand there is no guarantee you will get one due to the very limited supply.

Otherwise you would need to find an employer in Canada willing to offer you a full time job and able to obtain an approved LMIA - so that you can then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer. As part of this process the employer must prove they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian for the role. Finding an employer this way is typically extremely difficult to do as the vast majority employers aren't willing to go through the expense and waiting time of the LMIA process.

An ETA is not a TRP. It's the equivalent of a TRV. A TRP is a special permit that is difficult to get and is issued to those who are otherwise inadmissible to Canada (often due to a crime). You do not qualify for a TRP and consequently don't qualify for an open work permit under the related rule.

1. The IEC processing is changing for 2016. No longer the mad rush, apply early will not guarantee a work permit: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/pools.asp

 

[Leon]

I'll certainly take a look at the working holiday visa, although I guess I was hoping to find more stable, continuous work rather than taking a "holiday". I have submitted an application and I guess I'm on the waiting list for the 2016 round.

Since it's an open work permit, a working holiday visa would also allow you to take a serious permanent job and not just a holiday job. You can use it as a foot in the door. If you do end up with a serious permanent job and an employer who wants to keep you, they can apply for your LMIA so you can get a closed work permit and you would have options to apply for permanent residency.

 

[Crimbly]

Since it's an open work permit, a working holiday visa would also allow you to take a serious permanent job and not just a holiday job. You can use it as a foot in the door. If you do end up with a serious permanent job and an employer who wants to keep you, they can apply for your LMIA so you can get a closed work permit and you would have options to apply for permanent residency.

Cheers Leon and PMM. I've applied to be placed in the pool and am waiting on CIC now.