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Help? Very lost,needing advice with potential immigration

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CaitlinT

Newbie
Oct 1, 2012
3
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Hello,my name is Caitlin.I am 18 years old,and I want to move to Canada (Calgary,AB to be specific) but I am having a bit of trouble finding the best method.I have no family help,so I figured I would present my case and hope one of you could help me. I have enough ironworking,and construction experience to match a first year (minimum) apprentice in both trade categories,but no official trade training/apprenticeship that could transfer to Canada.I enjoy the work,and I would like to stay in them if possible.I am willing to go back to school (already a H.S. graduate) for something,if that is the best course.I am not married,but my canadian boyfriend is providing my housing,and he has brought up conjugal sponsorship,though I don't see how we could qualify for that. I just want away from the things here,Calgary looks beautiful and I agree far more with canadian gov't policies and actions than I do my own country. (I am a U.S. citizen) Can anyone help me determine the best course of action to my goal of moving to Calgary?
??? I'm fairly lost,I hate to use my age as an excuse for anything,but if people twice my age,with experience I do not have,have a difficult time figuring it out,is it even possible for me to immigrate? :(
thank you in advance
 
I would check your skill set with the semi-skilled worker skill set. If you can do any of the jobs listed (which may require licensure or training) you could qualify for a work permit, then PR status later. I would post you a link regarding semi-skilled workers, but I can't seem to find a decent one right now, sorry :(

Either way, you can apply as common-law with you bf after living together for one year. It will require proof, so make sure to have some items in both of your names (Cell phone, bank accounts, etc.... whatever you're comfortable with.)

You can't just move to Canada. If you enter without a work permit/study permit, etc, you will be a visitor. If you're from the US, you'll be given six months on your passport. You can apply with CIC directly on their website to extend your stay. If approved, they will grant you a Visitor's Record. I was given one valid for 13 months last year, so it can really help. However, as a visitor, you cannot work unless you find a job that provides a LMO. LMO - Labour Market Opinion is required for you to get a job.

Just FYI, you can attend some training inside Canada without a study permit, but it's restricted. It must not take more than six months to finish among other items. You can also attend a Canadian university ONLINE without a study permit. Here is the website for study permits if you want to take a look.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp

I encourage you to do some independent research on Immigration Canada. And no, being a US citizen, it's doubtful Conjugal citizenship would work. There is nothing legal barring you two from being together, unless you are both inadmissible to each other's country. (And if he is, he probably won't qualify as a sponsor anyway.) Be prepared for the cost.... my estimates are $1500 for all applications, medicals, and materials (i. e. printer ink).

It is possible, you just have to decide how you want to go about it :)

Calgary is a good place to live - that's where I live too. We really need semi-skilled workers here, so that may help you out. I'll see if I can find some links that might help you. If you have any questions about Calgary or Alberta in general, I'll try to help you as well.
 
Here is generic work permit stuff.... click and read the different topics, very informative:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.asp

If you're able to get a semi-skilled job, this category might interest you (although most jobs require two or more years of experience in Canada before you can apply):

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/index.asp

Sponsorship by your bf as common-law or married:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse.asp

This is the best link I found for semi-skilled workers. It's Alberta specific :) There's a link to click for eligible occupations.

http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/immigrating/ainp-eds-semi-skilled-criteria.aspx

Semi-skilled workers may still require LMOs and work permits. If you have a good skill set, you *should* be able to find a job... However, don't take this too hard, but I'm very qualified for many jobs in demand in Calgary and I can't get one. It may be bad luck or bad timing on my part.... who knows.
 
I have looked at many of these things,but I have not considered the semi-skilled workers class.I only looked at the skilled class,which I do not qualify for.Conjugal would not work,there is nothing barring my way to him,and both of us are to young for the big leap,at any level.I think I'm going to try for semi-skilled,and if they do not accept me,I will get my aprenticeship here,and try again.Money is not a problem,I work like crazy,and I'm always willing to pick up more if it helps my case. The BOOK teachings,I do not have,but I have more field experience in ironworking AND carpentry than most my age,so I'm going to see about tests I can take to equalize myself with the aprentices that did take courses instead of learn on the fly like I did. I guess the best way is to just do it....and if that fails,improve a bit and try again? :) I'm glad it IS possible to do,and knowing that it IS possible,I am willing to devote as much time as needed to this.If it takes 5 years,fine,it's to make my life better,so it's worth it.
How could I get a visit extended?Is it just a matter of money?Housing?I could use the time to network and make potential job connections :D

Thank you very much.It was getting a bit disheartening looking at everything,and finding that my way was barred because I'm just a little to young,or a little to inexperienced,a little bit off from what they WANT to bring into the country.VERY glad to know that I do stand a chance of doing this.
 
Here is the webpage to extend your stay. Scroll about 2/3 the way down and there's a link to do the application online.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

If you come over as a semi-skilled worker, it'll be jointly up to you and your employer to extend your work permit.

There's a lot of jobs up in Fort McMurray if that's something you and your bf are interested in. It's oil field work and support for the oil workers (like cooking). I'm sure he knows as much about that as I do, so first see if it's something you and he are interested in. They do hire a lot of foreign workers up there. It's cold.... very cold... but wages are excellent with great benefits. It's definitely not for everyone though, just something to consider. :)

Remember, you and he can live together for one year and apply as common-law class, but if you're a visitor, you cannot work.
 
Everyone keeps saying there are jobs availible,that TFW are in demand,in oil,manufacturing,and more.....yet when I search for them,I find nothing? :( am I just not looking for the right things?
 
Have you looked on the Job Bank?

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx

Another idea is to look directly with the Energy companies that work at Athabasca Oil Sands or other areas. (Suncor, Syncrude for example.) I found this website buried in a article about TFW and the oil sands. It's direct oil sands related and you can post resumes. If the picture on the right is accurate, it's affliated with many major oil companies in Alberta, such as Esso, Shell, and Cenovus.

http://oilsands.infomine.com/careers/

This one looks interesting, but you have to make a membership. I'm not interested in that part :P

http://www.oiljobfinder.com/albertaoilsands.php

(Do be careful with these sites. I don't frequent them, so I don't know how trustworthy they are. However, I got no flags on any of them, so that's good!)

If all else fails, you can call some of the oil companies HR departments and ask if they're seeking any TFW at the moment. I know as of last winter, they were, because I had some neighbors move up there for work. It might be a little more work than you're used to when searching for a job, but the entire immigration thing is a lot of work. Don't let it discourage you, however.

One other option you could possibly look into is CIWA. That's Calgary Immigrant Women's Asssociation. They help immigrants find jobs, offer free legal advice (it's slow, but free), and fill out applications for immigration. You may have to be present in Calgary first to get help, but you can always call them and see what they say. They're very nice and friendly. They will also help with resumes!

http://ciwa-online.com/ or (403)263-4414

Lastly, there's always the Live-in Caregiver option, which counts as Experience class. However, to qualify you need to have one year full time experience recently or have completed a minimum six month training course. Some employers let you 'live-out' on the weekends so you could stay with your boyfriend, however you must live with the family the majority of the time or you'll be in violation of the agreement. It's definitely not the best job out there. (My sister-in-law was a live-in nanny for 4 years and scared me away from it.) However, it may work depending on how you approach it. If you might be interested in this program, look into the training (which you might be able to do online and Canadian schools may be an option).

When I say it counts as Experience class, after two years of full time work as a live-in nanny, you're allowed to apply for PR on your own. You won't need a sponsor. You would need continue getting a work permit until you are approved and get your PR card. It's a tough road to walk for some, but a lot of women here have done it. :)
 
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