NEW HERE - need help! Want to apply for PR - US out of status

[kb656]

Hi everyone,

This is my first time to write a post in a forum.. I've been reading a lot of the discussions here and so I decided to seek for opinions from you guys. So here's my story...

I am currently in the US, I got here just last Dec 2010. I went here as an H4, unfortunately, I turned 21, it means I am no longer eligible to be a dependent of my parents (they have H1b visas). Before I turned 21, I applied for a tourist visa, which luckily got approved. I looked for some jobs and I applied for an H3 visa.. It got very complicated and had some issues regarding the agency that I used to get the job and their really selfish procedures (they asked me to pay a LOT of money). I decided to cancel the application. With that being said, I am now officially out of status. I really don't want to live like this but my parents doesn't want me to go home since I am from a 3rd world country, they think I will not have any future there.

I want to apply for a PR in Canada for a chance of a better life, am I eligible to apply? I have a Bachelor's degree and I do have atleast 1yr experience.. I would also like to know what will be the process if I can apply..

I would appreciate your opinions regarding my situatuion.

Thanks in advance.

 

[scylla]

You'll need to spend some time reading through the immigration categories on the link below - specifically the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Provincial programs and the Quebec program. (Ignore Canadian Experience Class - you don't qualify.)

It's extremely likely that you'll need a job offer in Canada to qualify to apply for PR.

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

Good luck.

 

[Leon]

Canada will not hold it against you for a PR application that you are out of status in the US. They will however hold it against you if you try to apply for any kind of temporary visa to Canada, see, if you overstayed your visa in the US, you might do it in Canada too.

If you want to apply for PR directly, go to the link provided by Scylla above and look at the programs. It is true that most of them need a job offer. I believe that Quebec skilled worker still doesn't need one but I do not know if a bachelors degree and 1 year experience is enough for that.