Please help, wife canadian looking to come to uk but can i work here?

[RICHIE.C.E]

Hi,

My wife and I are newly weds. We are looking to move to the UK (where I am from) permanently as soon as her visa comes through. The visa is taking a long time and we were very naive about the whole thing, we know it will be refused and we will have to send over all the documents we left out the 1st time. (She is Canadian by the way)

In the meantime I am in Canada as a visitor but our money is running out fast. I was due to go back next week, but we were hoping that we would have my wife's visa for the UK by then. We aren't keen on the idea of time apart, we have had enough of that recently I could probably find work quite quickly, I am a skilled worker (stonemason), but as a visitor I cannot work without a visa.

It only needs to be temporary, just for as long as her visa takes. This could be anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

Can I apply for a temporary working visa while I am here without having a job offer?

If so how?

any help appreciated here

thanks

 

[RICHIE.C.E]

just to add, there's an 80% chance I could get a job offer but it would be a pricework/ self employed position paid per item done not per hour

 

[DGT]

Hey Richie. This is a horrible situation, and one that i've been in myself before. My wife is Canadian, and many years ago was refused a visa to come to the UK to live with me (this is after 3 years of common-law relationship and with a wedding planned!). We managed to get through on appeal and never had any problems after that. So you will get there eventually!!!

The bad news is that getting a short term, temporary working visa will not be possible. You would need a job offer, and the employer would have to acquire and LMO on your behalf. All in all, the process will take longer than your wife's visa will take the UKBA.

I know it's horrid, but separation for a little while might be the best bet, and having official employment in the UK will also help the UKBA relax too on your wife's application. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you any good news..

 

[scylla]

To qualify for a work permit, you first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to give you a job offer. That employer will then need to obtain an approved labour market opinion. Once the labour market opinion is approved, you can then apply for a work permit. This process typically takes several months and it can be difficult to find an employer willing to apply for a labour market opinion - however you can certainly have a go. More information on labour market opinions can be found here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/lmo-basics.asp

Unfortunately labour market opinions are not approved for self-employed work. You must be working for an employer.

 

[RICHIE.C.E]

Thank you very much guys, although not the news I was hoping for at least it stops me taking on a wild goose chase. Even a month would be too long to wait. I'm self employed in the UK, and have work for as soon as I return, I have written confirmation of this but it wasnt supplied with the original visa application for my wife.

I suppose I will just have to sit and wait, fingers crossed on her visa coming back soon then!

thanks again and have a good day!

 

[DGT]

Thank you very much guys, although not the news I was hoping for at least it stops me taking on a wild goose chase. Even a month would be too long to wait. I'm self employed in the UK, and have work for as soon as I return, I have written confirmation of this but it wasnt supplied with the original visa application for my wife.

I suppose I will just have to sit and wait, fingers crossed on her visa coming back soon then!

thanks again and have a good day!

Sorry! Yeah, they will ask you to supply that information which you will get a chance to on the appeal process. If it comes to that! My fingers are crossed for you. You'd think that given all the history and heritage that we share, it would be easier for citizens of our two countries to be together!

 

[zardoz]

I am not clear in which visa category your wife is trying to enter the UK.
If it's as a spouse with you as the sponsor, I think that you will have a hard battle ahead of you.
You will need to be already established and have a proven income before they will even consider granting an entry clearance to her.

 

[DGT]

I am not clear in which visa category your wife is trying to enter the UK.
If it's as a spouse with you as the sponsor, I think that you will have a hard battle ahead of you.
You will need to be already established and have a proven income before they will even consider granting an entry clearance to her.

Indeed. It's either that, or a job offer for the wife, or £23000 in savings I believe.