Next stop, Canada? First steps..

[Occupation-Expat]

Hi guys and gals,

I just registered here and want to tell a bit about my background:

I'm a German national, married to a Brazilian. First we have lived together in Scotland and in January 2011 we moved to Spain together. I'm working in the gaming industry in Gibraltar and as she is on a Brazilian passport, my wife did not manage to find any work in Gibraltar yet and neither in Spain, due to the high unemployment.

And not only therefore we are thinking about completely leaving Europe. We would actually consider Canada, Australia or even New Zealand - as long as it is an English speaking country. As Australia is rather complicated for Brazilians, I think Canada would be the best option for us. We're responsible guys who love to see the world and collect as much experience as possible, before we will settle down in Brazil some day.

I might get the chance in the near future to be send to Canada for a period of up to one year by my current employer. This would hopefully be the first big step. However, if this won't happen we could also imagine to apply for a work & travel programme next year.

Now, as I never got bothered with north american visa procedures (therefore a lot with european and south american ones) I would like to know what the best way for us would be to get into Canada to work and reside legally.

I have almost one decade of experience in the food processing business and over the last 4 years I went through several office jobs, starting from call centre (multilingual customer and VIP service), over business analysm and now I'm in fraud prevention in the online gaming sector.

My missus is an experienced hotel receptionist who studied tourism and speaks 3 languages fluently (portuguese, spanish english).

If you got any more questions, please let me know.

Cheers

S

 

[scylla]

Based on the information you've provided, it doesn't sound like you would qualify for the working holiday visa. This program has pretty specific requirements (age, if you're living in your home country, etc.). How old are you? Are you a recent graduate? How long has it been since you lived in Germany?

It sounds like your best bet right now would be to be transferred to Canada by your employer.

Failing that, you'll need a work permit if you want to come here to work and live temporarily. To obtain a work permit, you'll first need to find an employer who's willing to give you a job offer. That employer will then need to apply for something called an LMO (labout market opinion) to request permission to hire you. As part of this process, the employer will have to prove that the job was advertised and that no suitable Canadian candidates could be found. If the LMO is approved (not all are), you can then apply for a work permit. Unfortunately it can be quite difficult to find an employer in Canada who is willing to go through the LMO process due to the amount of time and paperwork it takes - and because there's no guarantee of approval.

Hope this helps.

 

[Occupation-Expat]

Hi,

thanks for your swift reply.

I just turned 30 in April and my wife is 24. Last time I lived in Germany was in 2008. I can't really see why the fact that I'm not living in my home country affects the visa application, but well, it is how it is.

I have never studied anything. I started working in 1999, when I left school and I have a German apprenticeship diploma in fruit processing technology which I acquired in 2002. So a fruit juice producing company would be a possible employer...

In case I would be transferred by my employer and I would then manage to find something permanent in Canada, can I include my wife in the visa application as my dependant, in order to get her a residence/work permit?

Thanks again

 

[scylla]

The requirements for the working holiday visa are here:

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/germany-allemagne/experience_canada_experience/working_holiday-vacances_travail.aspx?view=d

Although you're fine from an age standpoint - you don't qualify from a residency perspective unfortunately (living in Germany is a requirement to qualify).

Yes - you should be able to include your wife as part of your work permit.

 

[Occupation-Expat]

Ok, I suppose I will forget about the working holiday then

Anyway, I will try to take the chance to be send out by my current employer and hope some opportunity will arise.

In case I have an employer willing to hire me, would I still need to prove that I have funds/savings?