Immigration as doctor from HK

[Helonfu]

Hi everyone. I am a final year medical student from The University of Hong Kong. After graduation in 2017, I will start preparing for seeking to practice in Canada in future. I consider Canada to be my settling place in future, as you know, the disappearance of the five booksellers early this year, plus the disqualification of elected parliament members due to their pro-HK independence stance this week signify HK's demise under Beijing's bully. I am sure there will be more friends of mine who will consider this as an option in the next 5-10 years.

I have figured out what relevant exams to take as initial stages. However, for me to be eligible to look for placement in Canada after completing the exams, I have to be a permanent resident as an international medical graduate (IMG). Will Express Entry benefit me to be eligible for seeking placement soon after I land the country? Or will I experience a gap period during which I have to find another job before meeting the permanent residency status?

I have no particular preference for the place of residency, except that I have to put Quebec and New Brunswick on hold before meeting certain French language proficiency requirements. I will be learning French intensively after completing my final exam in March 2017. It also aids me in studying French cinema too. (I love Isabelle Huppert very much)

Thank you for your kind feedback!

 

[steaky]

Hi everyone. I am a final year medical student from The University of Hong Kong. After graduation in 2017, I will start preparing for seeking to practice in Canada in future. I consider Canada to be my settling place in future, as you know, the disappearance of the five booksellers early this year, plus the disqualification of elected parliament members due to their pro-HK independence stance this week signify HK's demise under Beijing's bully. I am sure there will be more friends of mine who will consider this as an option in the next 5-10 years.

They were legislative councillors and not members of parliament. See the difference?

 

[Helonfu]

They were legislative councillors and not members of parliament. See the difference?

Some foreign media groups, including BBC news, refer HK Legislative Council as Parliament to convey the nature of it.

 

[itsmyid]

You should watch the movie "Dr cabbi", a Canadian movie about a newly qualified doctor from india immigrating to Canada to drive taxi for living.... kidding aside , it is highly unlikely that it will be smooth sailing for a medical professional with foreign credential to practice in Canada - but I am guessing this the same impulse that drove numerous Americans here asking about moving to Canada and eventually realizing how unrealistic it is , and few of them will end up actually doing it

 

[dadof3kids]

I'm a HKer and I understand what you feel because I moved to Canada withe my whole family recently for the same reason you mentioned. HK is being destroyed by mainland absolutely.

However, since you're becoming a doctor, I have some suggestions for you if you find them useful.
I have to say quite frankly that the level of protectionism for professionals in Canada is pretty high, all internship positions are only for Canadians only and there is no way you can practice here as a foreigner.

I suggest that you stay in HK and become a doctor first, and then save as much money as possible for the next 10 years and apply to immigrate as an investor before you are 36 years old. I truly believe this is the most practical way allowing you to move to Canada. PLAN WHEN YOU ARE STILL YOUNG! This is very important!!

 

[Helonfu]

Yes man I am planning when still young, that's why I have been planning to sit for relevant exams prepared for IMGs. If I am leaving HK at age 35 I won't have a chance to engage in my profession again. Initiate the procedure as early as I can. In fact, Canada is in shortage of doctors particularly family physicians, but government officials did admit the bureaucracy in residency matching was shooting themselves in their foot and rendered immigrants' skills useless. A tutor from Family Medicine Department of HKU who received medical training in Dalhousie University and Toronto sent me details regarding the procedure of practicing in Canada. I do believe where there's a will, there's a way.

Should smooth transition of practicing medicine from HK to Canada is not easy, I am prepared to engage in relevant jobs, like working in pharmaceutical companies. French is also a useful skill should I go to the East.

 

[itsmyid]

Yes man I am planning when still young, that's why I have been planning to sit for relevant exams prepared for IMGs. If I am leaving HK at age 35 I won't have a chance to engage in my profession again. Initiate the procedure as early as I can. In fact, Canada is in shortage of doctors particularly family physicians, but government officials did admit the bureaucracy in residency matching was shooting themselves in their foot and rendered immigrants' skills useless. A tutor from Family Medicine Department of HKU who received medical training in Dalhousie University and Toronto sent me details regarding the procedure of practicing in Canada. I do believe where there's a will, there's a way.

Should smooth transition of practicing medicine from HK to Canada is not easy, I am prepared to engage in relevant jobs, like working in pharmaceutical companies. French is also a useful skill should I go to the East.

Don't mean to be discouraging, but phama jobs are not that easy to get in Canada as well... I know someone who was a doctor in her home country and has been working as a nurse while preparing for all the exams. The Dr Cabbie movie definitely has some truth to the situation of foreign medical professionals

 

[steaky]

I suggest that you stay in HK and become a doctor first, and then save as much money as possible for the next 10 years and apply to immigrate as an investor before you are 36 years old. I truly believe this is the most practical way allowing you to move to Canada. PLAN WHEN YOU ARE STILL YOUNG! This is very important!!

Your suggestion is not promising. The investor program was cancelled in 2013-14, left a backlog of more than 66,000 applications, over 50,000 of which were filed in Hong Kong. Who knows if the government will repeat this in the future!

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/06/06/immigrant-investor-program-lawsuit-canada_n_5455932.html

 

[dadof3kids]

Your suggestion is not promising. The investor program was cancelled in 2013-14, left a backlog of more than 66,000 applications, over 50,000 of which were filed in Hong Kong. Who knows if the government will repeat this in the future!

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/06/06/immigrant-investor-program-lawsuit-canada_n_5455932.html

Yes the federal program is closed currently, but there are still provincial programs available intermittently.

 

[steaky]

Yes the federal program is closed currently, but there are still provincial programs available intermittently.

But there is guarantee that they will be closed while they wait.