Looking for suggestions for immigration

[bc85]

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for input / suggestions for immigration options. I want to give some background information, so this is going to be a little longer, but I hope you can bear with me as I'm out of ideas and starting to lose hope.

I was born in the EU and have been in love with Canada for over 20 years now. I've been trying to immigrate there for about as long. I've had several plans over the years to make that happen (through education / experience obtained in the EU) that all fell through for one reason or another. Long story short: I am now a 35 year old male with no education on paper other than a high school diploma and no immediate family left. I've spent the last decade in and out of Canada via the Visa Waiver Program, looking for viable options, and spent the last 3 years on the road full time, traveling through Canada on three consecutive one-year tourist visas while freelancing to maintain my budget as a last resort to make something happen. While that time has been amazing, it's nothing permanent and I feel like I just keep getting older with no progress or perspectives. I've met and talked to so many people during that time, spanning all 13 provinces and territories and no one had any realistic idea about what I could do, so I am hoping you guys have an idea.

I'm currently back in the EU due to COVID, waiting for the borders to reopen. It seems like even the critical worker / PN programs all require something that I simply don't have. To be honest, I'd be happy scrubbing toilets for the rest of my life if that would get me PR. I basically already live in Canada for at least 50% of the year, but always at risk that the next visa will be declined and of course without any legal way to work a "normal" job or get proper insurance. Is there really nothing I can do to become a resident? I am open to any and everything that's legal and not shady.

PS: During my travels I've seen a lot of immigrants working as clerks, cashiers etc. I never felt comfortable asking, but I always wondered how they managed to get into the country if Canada has such high requirements when it comes to skills and education. Family sponsorships? Maybe someone can solve that mystery for me as well.

Thank you!

 

[scylla]

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for input / suggestions for immigration options. I want to give some background information, so this is going to be a little longer, but I hope you can bear with me as I'm out of ideas and starting to lose hope.

I was born in the EU and have been in love with Canada for over 20 years now. I've been trying to immigrate there for about as long. I've had several plans over the years to make that happen (through education / experience obtained in the EU) that all fell through for one reason or another. Long story short: I am now a 35 year old male with no education on paper other than a high school diploma and no immediate family left. I've spent the last decade in and out of Canada via the Visa Waiver Program, looking for viable options, and spent the last 3 years on the road full time, traveling through Canada on three consecutive one-year tourist visas while freelancing to maintain my budget as a last resort to make something happen. While that time has been amazing, it's nothing permanent and I feel like I just keep getting older with no progress or perspectives. I've met and talked to so many people during that time, spanning all 13 provinces and territories and no one had any realistic idea about what I could do, so I am hoping you guys have an idea.

I'm currently back in the EU due to COVID, waiting for the borders to reopen. It seems like even the critical worker / PN programs all require something that I simply don't have. To be honest, I'd be happy scrubbing toilets for the rest of my life if that would get me PR. I basically already live in Canada for at least 50% of the year, but always at risk that the next visa will be declined and of course without any legal way to work a "normal" job or get proper insurance. Is there really nothing I can do to become a resident? I am open to any and everything that's legal and not shady.

PS: During my travels I've seen a lot of immigrants working as clerks, cashiers etc. I never felt comfortable asking, but I always wondered how they managed to get into the country if Canada has such high requirements when it comes to skills and education. Family sponsorships? Maybe someone can solve that mystery for me as well.

Thank you!

Unfortunately your options are going to be really limited based on age and lack of a degree. Express Entry is out (you won't score enough points). Many of the provincial programs require a degree or at least a diploma. You can certainly research them further to see if thee's anything for you there but I think you are going to be hard pressed to find it.

If you're willing to go back to school as a full time student in Canada to earn a degree, it's possible that might open some doors for you in a few years. But unfortunately far from guaranteed and you'll continue to lose age points as you study.

If you happen to have paid experience as a caregiver, you could look into seeing if you can get a job offer and work permit as a caregiver in Canada and then try to translate that to PR a few years later.

Yes, there are multiple ways an immigrant might be working as a clerk or cashier, many of which involve either having family members who are Canadian or family members who are here on study permits / work permits. They could also be individuals who came on study permits and now have a PGWP. Also, you are jumping to a bit of a conclusion. These people may not be on work permits. They may be Canadian citizens or permanent residents which allows them to work whatever job they wish.

 

[bc85]

Thank you for your response.

I thought about going (back) to university, but I'm down to about 25k and even the cheapest schools' tuition is pretty steep for foreigners. I don't think I could get through a 4 year degree without running out of money.

I do actually have several years of experience as a caretaker, which is what I did before I started traveling, but the PNP usually require it to be within the last three to five years.

Also, you are jumping to a bit of a conclusion. These people may not be on work permits. They may be Canadian citizens or permanent residents which allows them to work whatever job they wish.

Oh yeah, absolutely. I didn't mean for it to come across like that or imply they were on work permits. I'm sure most of them are PRs or citizens. That's why I never inquired, because I didn't want to give an unintended impression. I just meant they also came to Canada at some point and I thought maybe there is an option that eluded me so far.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your response.

I thought about going (back) to university, but I'm down to about 25k and even the cheapest schools' tuition is pretty steep for foreigners. I don't think I could get through a 4 year degree without running out of money.

I do actually have several years of experience as a caretaker, which is what I did before I started traveling, but the PNP usually require it to be within the last three to five years.



Oh yeah, absolutely. I didn't mean for it to come across like that or imply they were on work permits. I'm sure most of them are PRs or citizens. That's why I never inquired, because I didn't want to give an unintended impression. I just meant they also came to Canada at some point and I thought maybe there is an option that eluded me so far.

Based on the info you've provided, I'm thinking your only realistic option is to look into a caregiver work permit. You may need to spend a year working in this profession in your home country to gain some recent work experience to qualify. If you can find an employer and get a work permit, you'll then have to work for a couple of years in Canada before PR may be possible. Unfortunately your age and level of education are really big limitations for anything else.

Info about caregiver work permits here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...hire-permanent-foreign/caregiver-program.html

Info about how you can try to convert this into PR after working 2 years in Canada:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/caregivers.html