Freaking out about LMOs and, well, everything. So confused!

[dancraggs]

So my partner is going to be moving back to Toronto next month, and my plan after I've finished a Masters degree here is to go ASAP. I know applications from the UK take about 2 months on average, and with my qualification (an MPhil and a BSc, as well as a national society accreditation with letters after my name) I hope I can get a few job offers in.

But the more I read about LMOs the more I'm worried that this will be the stumbling block. Presumably my qualifications will hugely help in the application for this? What likelihood is there that it'll get rejected? Do employers tend to do their best to show you're the best for the job?

Funnily enough, I took the skilled worker self-assessment test for skilled workers and passed by a reasonable margin because of my education, yet they're not taking new applications at the moment.

I'm also looking in the direction of the working holiday scheme which opens in the next few months again, but I don't know if I can apply for the skilled worker scheme whilst I'm doing this.

I'm just worrying about the whole thing, because I have no timeline in front of me, no definitives from anywhere. It doesn't help that the London office take about two weeks to reply to queries, and tend to try and use pre-written replies that don't answer your query well enough.

Can someone give me some reassurance here, or some direction? Perhaps a company that I can pay a minimal consultation fee to that will help me with this?

Many thanks in advance, all.

 

[scylla]

The honest truth is that is can be pretty difficult to find an employer who is willing to go through the LMO process. It's by no means impossible (many have done it) - but it certainly takes a combination of hard work and sheer luck.

As you are most likely aware by now, in order to obtain an approved LMO, an employer must prove that they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian to hire for the role (and therefore have to hire a foreigner). And keep in mind that it's not that the employer must prove that you were the BEST candidate for the job. Instead, they must prove they could not find a Canadian to do the job (i.e. they have to prove you are the only candidate - not the best candidate). Because of the amount of time it takes to go through the LMO process and because there's no guarantee that the LMO will even be approved - many employers are quite hesitate to consider foreign candidates for open positions. All you can really to is apply to jobs that suit your qualifications/experience and hope you get lucky.

Are you and your partner married or common law? Is your partner planning on sponsoring you for PR through the spousal sponsorship process?

 

[dancraggs]

Damn. That's really not the news I wanted to hear.

Would you recommend that I apply to the skilled worker process as soon as it reopens then? That and the Canada experience, I guess.

Is there anything I can do to improve my chances here, particularly as a British citizen?

 

[scylla]

If you've never worked in Canada then you won't qualify for CEC at this time. CEC requires that you have full time paid work experience in Canada.

There's no way of knowing if you will qualify for the federal skilled worker (without job offer) stream once it opens again next year because the requirements haven't been published yet. Typically they publish a limited occupation list and only accept people with work experience in those specific occupations. Also, there are caps and some of the occupations fill up extremely quickly (i.e. within days of the process opening). So whether this is an option for you or not is an unknown. If you want to try this option - you should start preparing the application immediately (it takes time). Also, it's not clear if you have actual full time work experience in your field or are have just completed your studies. If you have no work experience - the federal skilled worker route isn't for you.

You should spend some time checking out the provincial nominee streams (they all have different requirements). Many do require that you have a job offer in Canada to qualify - but some don't.

The only advantage you have in being British is access to the IEC. This could definitely be one way to go once they start accepting applications again late this year / early next (although the IEC visa will only let you stay in Canada temporarily, not permanently).

 

[PMM]

Hi

If you've never worked in Canada then you won't qualify for CEC at this time. CEC requires that you have full time paid work experience in Canada.

There's no way of knowing if you will qualify for the federal skilled worker (without job offer) stream once it opens again next year because the requirements haven't been published yet. Typically they publish a limited occupation list and only accept people with work experience in those specific occupations. Also, there are caps and some of the occupations fill up extremely quickly (i.e. within days of the process opening). So whether this is an option for you or not is an unknown. If you want to try this option - you should start preparing the application immediately (it takes time). Also, it's not clear if you have actual full time work experience in your field or are have just completed your studies. If you have no work experience - the federal skilled worker route isn't for you.

You should spend some time checking out the provincial nominee streams (they all have different requirements). Many do require that you have a job offer in Canada to qualify - but some don't.

The only advantage you have in being British is access to the IEC. This could definitely be one way to go once they start accepting applications again late this year / early next (although the IEC visa will only let you stay in Canada temporarily, not permanently).

If it can be taken as gospel, Kenney tweeted that there will not be a "list" in 2013 as long as the experience is in NOC A, B or O. I find it hard to believe, but it appears to be honest.


Jason Kenney Jason Kenney ‏@kenneyjason

@wandesure The new Skilled Worker Program will be limited to applicants in NOCs 0, A, & B, but won't be limited to particular occupations.

https://twitter.com/kenneyjason/status/236790027881947136

 

[dancraggs]

Unfortunately I don't have work experience, other than being a teaching assistant for the last two years. This was a few hours a week, so not full time, but still was employment.

Interestingly I did the self-assessment test, selected that I had less than a year's work history, and I still got over the points system because of the type of Masters degree I'm doing.

My area is Computer Science, for which I have been told by a number of people there is quite a shortage of specialists in Canada. Does anyone know this to be true?

In terms of the IEC, is it first-come first-served? That's sounding like a good opportunity.

Generally speaking, I'd find it odd that a province would make it difficult for someone with MPhil BSc (Hons) MBCS to enter their workplace.