Help: Post Graduation Work Permit to CEC/ Extending PGWP - Int'l Graduate -

[actntrl]

Hi Guys,

I'm in a bit of a pickle here and feeling lost. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

I have just graduated from UBC this summer, and have been working part time (15/h a week) as and Admin at a real estate firm (NOC skill level B).

However, I do need to make more money to support myself and have been offered a very exciting and possibly lucrative employment opportunity at a luxury car dealership. Unfortunately, the Canadian government thinks that Automobile Salespersons are NOC Skill level D (Ineligible for CEC - which i disagree). However, my bosses have expressed that they will be open to moving me up to managerial level jobs as time progresses, allowing me to gain the 1 year "skilled" experience needed.

Since I cannot afford two years working part time and barely scraping a living doing other things, I think I will take the sales offer (which requires certification and specific training) and pays A LOT MORE.

My question is:

- When my three years of PGWP is up, am I allowed to extend my working status to continue working in Canada for my employer if I don't have the 1+ year skilled experience?

- What are my other options? Can I work in Canada indefinitely if gainfully employed, even after my initial PGWP expires? are there paths to naturalization?

- Should I stick to the part time job and find side hustles (like what I am doing now - but it is stressful and I am scraping a living together)?

- I really want to stay in Canada because my passion is to be a musician (which i do outside of work hours) but since I am foreign I do need a job here.

Thanks for your help! Hopefully this clears some of the air for me.

 

[scylla]

Your employer needs to obtain an approved LMIA in order for you to be able to continue working past the expiry of your PGWP. This is an involved process which requires your employer to advertise the job for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role, submit an application along with a fee and wait a number of months for the application to be processed (with no guarantee of approval). So you might want to speak with your employer now to see if they are familiar with the LMIA process and are willing to go through it (the majority of employers tend to want to avoid it).

If at all possible, I would try to avoid jobs that aren't NOC A, B or 0 if your aim is PR.

 

[actntrl]

Is there no other way around this at all? seems a bit unfair imo

 

[scylla]

I'm not sure what's unfair.

Your studies in Canada earned you a three year open work permit - which gives you a great opportunity and plenty of time to get at least one year of full time work experience in a skilled NOC. If you want to extend that work permit and haven't yet qualified and applied for PR at that point - then your employer will have to go through the LMIA process to justify employing you so that you can then obtain a closed work permit linked to that specific employer and job.

Again, if possible, I would stay away from the NOC D job since (as you know) you can't use this experience towards either CEC or FSW/EE. Part time jobs obviously aren't idea either. If this isn't going to work out with your current employer or the employer making you the sales job offer, maybe time to look for a different employer that can offer you a full time job that is NOC A, B or 0?

You haven't said where you're from. Depending on the answer, it's possible an IEC visa may be an option.

 

[actntrl]

Also,

I thought and equivalent of 1 year skilled work experience also counts to the CEC? My current job is part time but skilled (real estate admin - Skill level B).

 

[scylla]

Also,

I thought and equivalent of 1 year skilled work experience also counts to the CEC? My current job is part time but skilled (real estate admin - Skill level B).

Yes - a part time job can qualify you for CEC. It will just take longer. But certainly possible. So from that perspective, you'd be better off staying with the lower pay job if your aim is PR. If your aim is to make money and PR is a lower priority, then go for the sales job.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your reply.

To clarify the Sales job is actually NOC C, I misread the original info. I wanted to take this job because it pays very well, better than any "skilled" jobs on offer right now. To me it seems unfair that a high end automobile sales representative (which requires liscencing, speak multiple languages..etc.) will be considered unskilled labour. However, I am meeting with the employer to see if they can give me a skilled title as well. Hopefully it works out.

I am from Argentina, but I came into Canada using a British Passport.

If you have UK citizenship, then you can look into applying for a working holiday visa (IEC) once your PGWP is complete. This would give you another way to qualify for an open work permit (with a limited duration) that like the PGWP, would allow you to work for any employer. The one downside is that there are far more applicants from the UK than spots available. So while you can certainly apply, there's no guarantee you'll be selected (it's a random lottery).

 

[scylla]

Hopefully others will comment - I think there could be some complications.

You'll need to prove to CIC that you were primarily a promotions manager. If too much of your pay ends up coming from commission, this may make CIC question your primary job responsibilities and whether your work experience qualifies under CEC/FSW/EE.

How will these two job responsibilities actually play out? Practically speaking, will you be spending 75%+ of your time on promotions? If not, I think you may run into issues once CIC starts looking into your work experience.

 

[ramu_rokey]

if you are a master graduate from a ontario university you can apply for pnp under masters category.U need to show show your job offer letter with the earning and bank statement with your degree and you should be able to apply if you apply before 2 year of your graduation.Under this category you need not be in NOC O,A and B category just need to support yourself with funds equivalent to 12000 or job earning atleast 12000 per year