Should I begin the process now?

[User2018]

Hi,

Just got a few general questions below.

I am a British citizen wanting to migrate to Canada for express entry PR. I have been twice before and liked it so I think it's time to move! However, currently I am studying Cyber Security (MSC) and this won't finish until next year August, but I know this process can probably take a year or a bit longer depending on my points (I average out with 400, but that will exclude the Msc and only include my Bsc computer science)

I'll need to do the IELTS and get my certs approved by ECA. So £400 about there. As with experience I have around 3 years experience full time working as a developer (two different companies).

My job is in Cat A.

However, say I registered now and got a job offer and was invited for ITA while studying (unlikely, but not impossible) - If the ITA is approved is there a time limit on when I need to enter the country? There is a COPR, but I can't find on the website when these usually expire.

My sister does live in Canada and is in process of getting visa, but she is not a citizen so can't add her to my points.

Would you say I should begin the process now? I want to find a job and move as soon as degree finishes.

 

[bellaluna]

Hi,

Just got a few general questions below.

I am a British citizen wanting to migrate to Canada for express entry PR. I have been twice before and liked it so I think it's time to move! However, currently I am studying Cyber Security (MSC) and this won't finish until next year August, but I know this process can probably take a year or a bit longer depending on my points (I average out with 400, but that will exclude the Msc and only include my Bsc computer science)

I'll need to do the IELTS and get my certs approved by ECA. So £400 about there. As with experience I have around 3 years experience full time working as a developer (two different companies).

My job is in Cat A.

However, say I registered now and got a job offer and was invited for ITA while studying (unlikely, but not impossible) - If the ITA is approved is there a time limit on when I need to enter the country? There is a COPR, but I can't find on the website when these usually expire.

My sister does live in Canada and is in process of getting visa, but she is not a citizen so can't add her to my points.

Would you say I should begin the process now? I want to find a job and move as soon as degree finishes.

The COPR expires one year from the date of your medical exam. You can pretty much choose when you’ll take it...it’s advised to take your medicals after you get your ITA.

Note that the IELTS is only valid for 2 years from the exam date.

I would personally advise for you to get an ECA after you complete your Masters. Unless you somehow get one with your bachelor’s and apply to a PNP to get 600 points. The last draw was at about 440 points, I believe.

I have a friend who was a developer in the UK and was contacted by Amazon in Canada through LinkedIn and was offered a job, but they didn’t want to go through the LMIA process for him. Instead, they told him to get PR through Express Entry, so that’s what he did, and he had a job waiting for him once he landed.

 

[User2018]

The COPR expires one year from the date of your medical exam. You can pretty much choose when you’ll take it...it’s advised to take your medicals after you get your ITA.

Note that the IELTS is only valid for 2 years from the exam date.

I would personally advise for you to get an ECA after you complete your Masters. Unless you somehow get one with your bachelor’s and apply to a PNP to get 600 points. The last draw was at about 440 points, I believe.

I have a friend who was a developer in the UK and was contacted by Amazon in Canada and was offered a job, but they didn’t want to go through the LMIA process for him. Instead, they told him to get PR through Express Entry, so that’s what he did, and he had a job waiting for him once he landed.

Thanks for the reply much appreciated.

If I get ECA after masters it would mean I can't register for express entry profile until my degree is verified by ECA. I already have a computer science degree (Bsc). I was thinking register now and search for jobs via job match, but in my CV it will say I am currently studying Msc in Cyber Security (Which I know lots of companies are looking for) -maybe they'll still give me a conditional or offer of employment. Once I get a job offer this would give me 600 points straight away (I believe).

I mean if I don't find anything within my degree I guess I'd just pay again for the Msc ECA.

 

[bellaluna]

Thanks for the reply much appreciated.

If I get ECA after masters it would mean I can't register for express entry profile until my degree is verified by ECA. I already have a computer science degree (Bsc). I was thinking register now and search for jobs via job match, but in my CV it will say I am currently studying Msc in Cyber Security (Which I know lots of companies are looking for) -maybe they'll still give me a conditional or offer of employment. Once I get a job offer this would give me 600 points straight away (I believe).

I mean if I don't find anything within my degree I guess I'd just pay again for the Msc ECA.

Nope, that kind of job offer won’t get you 50 points (the rules have changed; it’s no longer 600). Like I said, employers are loath to go through the LMIA process (which constitutes a valid job offer in EE) in general...there are also plenty of good cyber security programs and graduates in Canada, and because of this, I personally don’t expect employers to want to get an LMIA for a cyber security position (I expect them to do it more like in my friend’s case), I could also very well be wrong if the pool of qualified candidates locally don’t meet the demand.

The ECA is valid for 5 years so if you choose go ahead and get one for your bachelor’s now, and you can pay a smaller fee later on to add your Msc.