Immigrant help

[ashc]

Hey so im new here, hopefully will be around for the whole process. Im currently looking for some help and advice.

I am currently in Canada as a tourist (from the UK) and have been here 3 weeks. My business partner in the UK is Canadian and i have been staying with his family. I have visited for a few months every year (for the past three years) and I have decided that I want to move to Canada. My partners family have offered me work which would be well worth it, the position requires lots of experience (which i have) so i dont know if it needs to be investigated for an LMO. Ideally I would like to remain in Canada and make an application to work here without returning to the UK.

I have no idea where to start, I already visited a few government buildings and got sent in circles. I have an income from my company in the UK which means i do not need to work whilst making an application and would be fine like this for 3 - 5 months if need be.

Any advice where to start and who to speak to would be greatly appreciated. I have spent hours on the CiC site to no avail.

Thanks a lot

Ash

 

[scylla]

Detailed information about Canada's immigration programs is available here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply.asp

You will have to research the various immigration streams available to determine which ones you might qualify to apply for.

Yes - it will help significantly if you have a permanent job offer in Canada - this involves having both a letter from your future employer offering you a full time role as well as an approved LMIA (an approved LMIA is something your employer must obtain and may take 4-6 months to complete).

You will also need to take a language test (mandatory for all applicants regardless of their level of English or French) and most likely have your education officially assessed.

You will not receive government assistance on the application process for permanent residency or determining which programs you may qualify under (no such services are available). If you are looking for help, you will need to hire an immigration lawyer or consultant. The alternative is to do the investigation work on your own (all of the information you need is on the CIC web site).

Note that it will take far longer than 3-5 months for you to obtain PR (assuming you qualify). Completing the language test alone will likely take a couple of months - same for the education assessment. As mentioned earlier, the LMIA could take 4-6 months. You are probably 3-5 months away from submitting your application. Add another 6+ months to that for the actual process.

 

[scylla]

Just to add - make sure you don't do any work of any kind (even volunteer) for your friend's company in Canada until you either have an approved work permit or you have permanent residency. Any work (even unpaid / volunteer / free advisory) without a work permit or PR will be classified as illegal work and will place your future in Canada in jeopardy.