I am trying to immigrate to Canada from the US, and the CIC help centre isn't really helping me. It keeps suggesting I apply under the express worker but when I find out if i'm allegeable for that program it says I am not. I have high school education but experiences in customer technical assistant, and payroll clerk. I am trying to move in with a friend up in Canada, with my daughter. I have no work lined up at the moment but there are places I can apply to once i'm there, that are guaranteed jobs (My friend spoke to the manager there since he knows them). What do I apply under, and given my living circumstances at the moment sooner the better.
How to come to Canada from US
- Thread starter Decius1988
- Start date
Your friend needs to have the manager go through the LMIA process to be able to hire you...which is not likely for a job that can be easily (and quickly) filled by someone already in Canada that does have authorization to work.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Decius1988 said:
You probably won't be able to at all based on your education/experience.
You might want to try taking some college courses, and qualifying for an open work permit under the SWAP program: http://www.swap.ca/in_eng/
What I'm getting from this is I can't just move to Canada? It was my impression from immigration canada I had to be in canada with a work visa to apply for permanent residency. With no education other then high-school and no job readily available I'm screwed? I am trying to move there because my best friend is there and has offered to help me get on my feet after a divorce and start new in canada. I got no money for schooling or anything and the place I'm staying at is temporary. I have to be gone in 3 months. Sounds like I'm out of luck
Decius1988 said:
Unfortunately yes, you are most likely out of luck. Americans can't just up and move to Canada, same as Canadians can't just up and move to the US. There are enough Canadians currently unemployed and looking for work, so Canada needs to protect it's own meaning foreigners must meet very specific conditions in order to be allowed to work or immigrate here.
There are basically only 4 ways a US citizen can get a work permit to work in Canada:
1. Find an employer willing to hire you and go through LMIA process to prove no Canadian was available for the position. Unlikely in your case.
2. Get a job that qualifies under NAFTA. This requires very specific education/skills so is not possible in your case.
3. Get a working holiday visa under SWAP program. Requires college/university so not possible for you.
4. Get married or become common-law with a Canadian, and get an open work permit via an inland PR app.
If you decide to come to Canada it can only be as a visitor. You may need to show your ties back to USA, and that you have funds to support your stay as a visitor. If you mention too much about wanting to work in Canada and live here permanently to CBSA, they may feel you will work here illegally or overstay your visitor status and can deny you entry.
well this is extremely upsetting. I've got no where to go but to my friends in Canada after a few more months, and I can't live there without helping out financially. I have a 5 year old daughter and I can't have my friend support us entirely (despite he is willing). There is no way at all I can become a temporary or permanent resident eventually if I go there as a visitor?
Decius1988 said:
If you use words like "live" and "move to" to CBSA when crossing the border, there's a good chance you'll be denied entry to Canada and turned back to the US. Also you shouldn't be driving into Canada with tons of personal possessions/furniture that would indicate you're trying to move. You must act like a visitor only. You may be asked how long you intend to stay for, and any answer beyond a few months could lead to trouble since you won't be able to work to support your stay. CBSA may want to talk to your friends in Canada to see if they intend to support you entirely during your stay here.
Unfortunately no, you can't qualify for PR simply by being here as a visitor for any length of time. The only way to apply for PR is to qualify for one of the available immigration streams, which basically means you need to be married to a Canadian or have work skills in certain professions.
You've been given good advice here. As others have said, you don't qualify for temporary or permanent residency at this time. All you can do is visit. If you arrive at the border looking like you're moving, it's quite possible CIC may refused you entry - even issue you a one year ban from Canada. So if you decide to visit - bring what a visitor would with you (i.e. couple of suitcases). Note that as a visitor to Canada you and your daughter won't qualify for health care (you'll have to pay for everything out of pocket) and your daughter won't qualify for attend school without obtaining a study permit and paying international student fees (which are upwards of $10K per year). And as others have explained, working will be out of the question without going through the LMIA + work permit process which you can expect will be very difficult for an unskilled job. Given you have a child, I would very strongly recommend you remain in the US and forget about coming to Canada as a visitor. What you had planned to do is not possible for you at this time.