Self employed US citizen wanting to move to Quebec for a year

[alexoat]

I'm self employed photographer and art teacher. I would like to move to Quebec Province with my husband and kids (6 &9). My husband works remotely and can work from anywhere... My sister and brother-in-law live in Quebec Province. We would like to live near them for 12-18 months, experience with culture, I would do some freelance jobs and would like my kids to attend school in their town. What kind of Visa should we apply for?

 

[scylla]

I'm self employed photographer and art teacher. I would like to move to Quebec Province with my husband and kids (6 &9). My husband works remotely and can work from anywhere... My sister and brother-in-law live in Quebec Province. We would like to live near them for 12-18 months, experience with culture, I would do some freelance jobs and would like my kids to attend school in their town. What kind of Visa should we apply for?

If you're serious about this, then either or your spouse would need to secure a work permit (in a skilled profession) to be allowed to live in Canada for 1-2 years. To secure a work permit, you would first need to find an employer willing to give you a full time job offer and that employer may need to go through the LMIA process as well (i.e. prove no Canadian could be hired for the job).

 

[alexoat]

If you're serious about this, then either or your spouse would need to secure a work permit (in a skilled profession) to be allowed to live in Canada for 1-2 years. To secure a work permit, you would first need to find an employer willing to give you a full time job offer and that employer may need to go through the LMIA process as well (i.e. prove no Canadian could be hired for the job).

Ok, I can't be self employed and live in CA for 1-2 years? I need to be hired by someone? Even if I own my own business. I am serious about this. It sounds like you're saying I have to be hired by someone else....

 

[scylla]

Ok, I can't be self employed and live in CA for 1-2 years? I need to be hired by someone? Even if I own my own business. I am serious about this. It sounds like you're saying I have to be hired by someone else....

What I'm saying is that either you or your husband need to qualify for a visa that will allow the rest of the family to move to Canada for 1-2 years. You asked what kind of visa you need to apply for to live in Canada for 1 to 1.5 years. That's what I'm answering.

There are a limited number of visas that allow you to live in Canada on a temporary basis.

Your options are:

1) Either you or your husband move to Canada on a study permit. The rest of the family can then accompany you. To qualify for a study permit, you or your husband would need to attend a full time university or college program in Canada. This will also involve paying international student fees.

2) Either you or your husband secure a work permit in a skilled occupation. The rest of the family can then accompany you. To qualify for a work permit, you need to secure a full time job offer from an employer in Canada and then obviously work for that employer once in Canada.

There is no visa that allows you to move to Canada while your husband keeps his remote job and you stay self-employed. One of you either needs to return to school full time or secure a job offer with an employer in Canada.

 

[alexoat]

What I'm saying is that either you or your husband need to qualify for a visa that will allow the rest of the family to move to Canada for 1-2 years. You asked what kind of visa you need to apply for to live in Canada for 1 to 1.5 years. That's what I'm answering.

There are a limited number of visas that allow you to live in Canada on a temporary basis.

Your options are:

1) Either you or your husband move to Canada on a study permit. The rest of the family can then accompany you. To qualify for a study permit, you or your husband would need to attend a full time university or college program in Canada. This will also involve paying international student fees.

2) Either you or your husband secure a work permit in a skilled occupation. The rest of the family can then accompany you. To qualify for a work permit, you need to secure a full time job offer from an employer in Canada and then obviously work for that employer once in Canada.

There is no visa that allows you to move to Canada while your husband keeps his remote job and you stay self-employed. One of you either needs to return to school full time or secure a job offer with an employer in Canada.

Ok! Thank you. Very helpful and easy to understand. I feel like I've read so much information.
One more clarification, for the work permit for the skilled occupation and the full time job from an employer in Canada, is that business sponsoring my visa?
And then if we come into Canada on a vacation (?) visa, that means we are permitted to be in Canada for up to 6 months but cannot be working in Canada. Correct?
My sincerest thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.....

Alex

 

[scylla]

Ok! Thank you. Very helpful and easy to understand. I feel like I've read so much information.
One more clarification, for the work permit for the skilled occupation and the full time job from an employer in Canada, is that business sponsoring my visa?
And then if we come into Canada on a vacation (?) visa, that means we are permitted to be in Canada for up to 6 months but cannot be working in Canada. Correct?
My sincerest thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.....

Alex

Yes, I guess you can say the work permit is a business sponsored visa. The employer who gives you a job offer will most likely need to go through something called the LMIA process where they advertise the job they want to give you for at least a month to prove no Canadian could be found for the role (they must follow the LMIA advertising rules, advertising in at least three places). They would then have to submit the LMIA application for processing (plan on that taking 4-6 months) to see if the government agreed the role cannot be filled by someone already in Canada. If the LMIA is approved (not all are), then you would be able to apply for a work permit tied to that specific employer.

If you come to Canada on a visitor visa, how long you are allowed into Canada will be up to the CBSA officer you speak to at the border. However yes, visitors are generally given six months. If you enter as visitors, neither you nor your husband can work in a way that competes with the Canadian labour force. This means that any work your husband is doing remotely cannot involve Canadian customers / clients / companies and that your self employment cannot involve anyone in Canada (your clients would all have to be outside of Canada). Your children will also not be entitled to attend school. And none of you will be covered by the health care system - meaning you'll need to take out private insurance to cover emergencies and then pay for everything else out of pocket.