Student with 2 children

[scylla]

I thank you both for replying to my questions. I really appreciate. You are right, we first need to sort out the visa. I would like to give a brief information about us to get your opinion if you dont mind. I am actually in the express entry pool but although my overall ielts score is 7,5, I am stuck at 6,5 in writing in my 3 attempts. İf ı get 7 in writing, my score will be 403. My husband and ı are at 40 years old.I have more than 10 years of experience in banking sector. I worked at HSBC for 9 years and my last position was mortgage product manager. I have a masters degree from Turkey.my husband also has worked at multinatonal companies like Vodafone, Danone Dairy as digital marketing manager. We dont have canadian experience so ı dont know if our jobs will mean much in canada
I also want to work in the Real estate business. So our plan is to come with a student visa and study there for 2 years. I will study diploma in Real estate at Langara college.And hopefully find a skilled job within 2 years and if the score comes down, apply for express entry. We have 2 kids aged 4,5 and 2. And the reason we want to bring our stuff is that we really dont want to spend time to buy furniture etc with 2 kids and plus we love our current stuff and feel like home. But there is always a risk of not extending our visa after 2 years. I hope we dont have to turn back. We really want to Live there for our childrens future and we love cultures. So Do you think as a foreigner ı can find a job in Real estate business? Do you think my husband specialised in digital marketing can find a skilled job in Vancouver ?do you think we can somehow extend our visa with this background? I know the risk we take is huge and we are not young but we are so motivated and dedicated. Any comments in our plan is really appreciated.thank you

Real estate is a tough business in Canada. It's probably not the best choice if you are new to the country and don't know a lot of people here. Being successful in real estate - especially at the start - often relies on knowing a lot of people in Canada / having many connections here who are willing to be your clients. Many people have real estate licenses here (you don't need to take a college diploma to get a real estate license). However only a small percentage of those individuals make a living from it. I think you would likely be better off taking a program that is directly related to your current profession if you want to study in Canada (e.g. financial services).

Also keep in mind that while you will gain points for having a diploma from Canada that will increase your CRS score - you will at the same time be loosing points as you and your husband get older. You'll lose 11 points once you turn 41 and another 11 points with each additional year after that. Instead of studying in Canada, you might instead want to focus on increasing your IELTS score. This may be the most realistic option for you if you wish to immigrate.

Unfortunately none of us can predict if your husband will be able to find a job in his field in Vancouver.

 

[canuck78]

I would also not take a real estate course for 2 years at a college. Most people take a much shorter course. Getting into the Vancouver real estate budget will be tough to break into. I would think you need at least 10 years to break into the market unless you have grown up in the area and know a lot of people.

I think you may be disappointed in the size of house or condo that you can afford and if you habe large furniture it will probably not fit. I would look and see what is being listed for rent to see if you can get a 2/3 bedroom house/condo/apartment in your budget and how far out it would have to be. You have picked the most expensive place to live in Canada.

 

[Tweety77]

Real estate is a tough business in Canada. It's probably not the best choice if you are new to the country and don't know a lot of people here. Being successful in real estate - especially at the start - often relies on knowing a lot of people in Canada / having many connections here who are willing to be your clients. Many people have real estate licenses here (you don't need to take a college diploma to get a real estate license). However only a small percentage of those individuals make a living from it. I think you would likely be better off taking a program that is directly related to your current profession if you want to study in Canada (e.g. financial services).

Also keep in mind that while you will gain points for having a diploma from Canada that will increase your CRS score - you will at the same time be loosing points as you and your husband get older. You'll lose 11 points once you turn 41 and another 11 points with each additional year after that. Instead of studying in Canada, you might instead want to focus on increasing your IELTS score. This may be the most realistic option for you if you wish to immigrate.

Unfortunately none of us can predict if your husband will be able to find a job in his field in Vancouver.

Thanks for the response. I really appreciate. Yes, are right.. we are considering the age factor as well. I wish we were a bit younger but nothing in life goes as we expected. So we are trying to adjust. My ultimate goal is to immigtate through express entry. I am so close to Crs 403. If the score goes down to 403 in 15 months I will be able to be selected. Current score is 444. So I believe we have some chance.. On the other hand, if my husband finds a skilled job, our point will also increase. The main reasons for us to come with a student visa instead of waiting for the express entry point to go down;
1- it is difficult to improve your English here in our home country . We are not an English speaking country, and there arent many foreigners to talk to or to improve your English.
2-My girl will be 5 this June and it can be easier for her and for her brother to learn English and to adjust before starting primary school.
3.Unless we are physically there, we can not understand the job market and the conditions. We need to be there to look for a job, especiallt for my husband.
4.And I have always the option to change my program. So I give myself 4 months to decide to contunie with the real estate program and understand the market, get some advice from school or from Canadian friends so that I can change it if necessary. The point is I am at a stage that I am really fed up with finance sector and need a change too.

So does it makes sense ?

 

[scylla]

Thanks for the response. I really appreciate. Yes, are right.. we are considering the age factor as well. I wish we were a bit younger but nothing in life goes as we expected. So we are trying to adjust. My ultimate goal is to immigtate through express entry. I am so close to Crs 403. If the score goes down to 403 in 15 months I will be able to be selected. Current score is 444. So I believe we have some chance.. On the other hand, if my husband finds a skilled job, our point will also increase. The main reasons for us to come with a student visa instead of waiting for the express entry point to go down;
1- it is difficult to improve your English here in our home country . We are not an English speaking country, and there arent many foreigners to talk to or to improve your English.
2-My girl will be 5 this June and it can be easier for her and for her brother to learn English and to adjust before starting primary school.
3.Unless we are physically there, we can not understand the job market and the conditions. We need to be there to look for a job, especiallt for my husband.
4.And I have always the option to change my program. So I give myself 4 months to decide to contunie with the real estate program and understand the market, get some advice from school or from Canadian friends so that I can change it if necessary. The point is I am at a stage that I am really fed up with finance sector and need a change too.

So does it makes sense ?

To get job offer points for CRS, your husband not only has to get a job offer in Canada but his employer must also obtain an approved LMIA. It's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through the LMIA process. It would be best if you assume that it won't be possible to get a job offer to increase your points.

Note that in 15 months, your score will go down by at least 11 points (possibly 22) due to your age. Make sure you factor that into your plans.

Something else to consider is that there's no guarantee that your children and husband will be able to come with you when you obtain the study permit. It's possible they may be approved - but we do see quite a number of refusals here as well. So consider what your plans will be if your family is not able to accompany you to Canada while you study. Will you leave them behind and still come to Canada to study?

If you're fed up with the financial services industry - I would honestly pick something else other than real estate.

Good luck.

 

[Tweety77]

I would also not take a real estate course for 2 years at a college. Most people take a much shorter course. Getting into the Vancouver real estate budget will be tough to break into. I would think you need at least 10 years to break into the market unless you have grown up in the area and know a lot of people.

I think you may be disappointed in the size of house or condo that you can afford and if you have large furniture it will probably not fit. I would look and see what is being listed for rent to see if you can get a 2/3 bedroom house/condo/apartment in your budget and how far out it would have to be. You have picked the most expensive place to live in Canada.

Thanks a lot for replying to my post @canuck78. I really get your point. The reason I picked this program is;

1 - As far as I understood from the CİC website, if I graduate successfully from a 2 years program, I may apply and get 3 years of post-graduate work permit. So if something happens and I cant get through the express entry, I will still have the chance to work there after I graduate. There are 1-year programs but if you graduate from a 1-year program, you are only entitled to get a 1-year post-graduate work permit. We were hoping to at least stay in Canada for 5 years to give a try to find a skilled job for my husband and me.

2 - I already hold a masters degree in business management, so it wouldn't mean much to me to take the same courses again and again just to have a Canadian credential.

3- the program I attend is much cheaper than many programs and obviously than a masters degree. The tuition for this 2-year program is 17000CAD, whereas many programs are around 30.000- 40000 CAD.

4- And lastly, I am interested in this real estate business and feel like it is my passion and want to give it a try.

And unfortunately Vancouver is the most expensive place We looked into Ottowa but I have been looking at the job market in Ottowa but looks like unless we know French, we have a very slim chance to find a skilled job there. Otherwise, it is said to be the best town for a family. Plus we have some Turkish friends living in Vancouver for more than 15 years, they might give us a hand when we really need someone for guidance etc.And obviously the good weather is another factor . We are not really used to the cold winters under zero degree in Istanbul

But yes, we are scared as hell. Leaving our comfort zone is so scary. We don't want to end up with frustration and return back to nothing. But on the other hand, only fear does not help either...

Do you know any area to suggest in Vancouver that would have reasonable rent for a 2-3 bedroom house/condo etc? Is Surrey good for families and commuting to downtown?

Thanks again for the valuable information you all provide.

 

[Tweety77]

To get job offer points for CRS, your husband not only has to get a job offer in Canada but his employer must also obtain an approved LMIA. It's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through the LMIA process. It would be best if you assume that it won't be possible to get a job offer to increase your points.

Note that in 15 months, your score will go down by at least 11 points (possibly 22) due to your age. Make sure you factor that into your plans.

Something else to consider is that there's no guarantee that your children and husband will be able to come with you when you obtain the study permit. It's possible they may be approved - but we do see quite a number of refusals here as well. So consider what your plans will be if your family is not able to accompany you to Canada while you study. Will you leave them behind and still come to Canada to study?

If you're fed up with the financial services industry - I would honestly pick something else other than real estate.

Good luck.

Thanks a lot for the advice @scylla.

Yes, 403 is already with the age factor included. My score is actually 413, so I treat this 15 months is as if I am already 41 years old.

And yes, good point. We wont make the application seperately. We will apply together for student visa for me and work permit for my husband. If one of them refused, it means we are not going anywhere

Thanks again

 

[canuck78]

Don't worry about your kids. If they have to learn English anytime during elementary school they will be able to catch up to their class within a year. Getting them into English before Kindergarten isn't really necessary. Would suggest you start listening to English songs or tv shows to get them used some basic words and get used to listening to the language.

 

[Tweety77]

By the way, Can I as

To get job offer points for CRS, your husband not only has to get a job offer in Canada but his employer must also obtain an approved LMIA. It's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through the LMIA process. It would be best if you assume that it won't be possible to get a job offer to increase your points.

Note that in 15 months, your score will go down by at least 11 points (possibly 22) due to your age. Make sure you factor that into your plans.

Something else to consider is that there's no guarantee that your children and husband will be able to come with you when you obtain the study permit. It's possible they may be approved - but we do see quite a number of refusals here as well. So consider what your plans will be if your family is not able to accompany you to Canada while you study. Will you leave them behind and still come to Canada to study?

If you're fed up with the financial services industry - I would honestly pick something else other than real estate.

Good luck.

To get job offer points for CRS, your husband not only has to get a job offer in Canada but his employer must also obtain an approved LMIA. It's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through the LMIA process. It would be best if you assume that it won't be possible to get a job offer to increase your points.

Note that in 15 months, your score will go down by at least 11 points (possibly 22) due to your age. Make sure you factor that into your plans.

Something else to consider is that there's no guarantee that your children and husband will be able to come with you when you obtain the study permit. It's possible they may be approved - but we do see quite a number of refusals here as well. So consider what your plans will be if your family is not able to accompany you to Canada while you study. Will you leave them behind and still come to Canada to study?

If you're fed up with the financial services industry - I would honestly pick something else other than real estate.

Good luck.

Can I ask one more question @scylla? With me having a student visa, my husband can already get a work permit if it is approved. But why do we need a LMIA for him when he will already have a work permit? I am confused here.. Can you give more information about it please?

 

[canuck78]

You don't need an LMIA if you get SOWP.

 

[Tweety77]

@canuck78 just to confirm ,yes my husband will have sowp and if he finds a skilled job while ı am studying there and work for at least 1 year, as I am already in the pool, can ı claim canadian work experience points for him without a Lima from his employer?

Sorry to disturb you with too many quetions and ı really appreciate it, just it is really an important issue for us while we are calculating every bit of points. Thank you

 

[scylla]

You cannot claim work experience points "for him". However if he has at least one year of full time paid work experience in Canada in a NOC A, B or 0 profession - you will get an additional 5 points.

Note that there's no guarantee the SOWP will be approved. He will qualify to apply if your study permit is approved - but approval is an entirely different matter.

When you apply for a study permit, you'll need to ensure you write a strong SOP to explain why you are taking a real estate course in Canada. This won't make sense in light if your previous education and experience - which definitely increases the chances of refusal. Recommend you dedicate a few days to reading through the discussions in the International Students section of the forum to understand how to put together a strong study permit application and what are common refusal reasons.

 

[steaky]

Do you know any area to suggest in Vancouver that would have reasonable rent for a 2-3 bedroom house/condo etc? Is Surrey good for families and commuting to downtown?

Thanks again for the valuable information you all provide.

As I mentioned before padmapper is a good start to look at rent in metro Vancouver. However, Langara is not in downtown and your main interest is in Langara. I think it takes more than 30 mins by skytrain from Surrey or the tri-cities areas.

Edit: I don't live in Surrey but I often go to the shopping malls out there. Besides, Surrey is the largest city in metro Vancouver and only the northern part of it is connected with the skytrain network.

 

[Tweety77]

You cannot claim work experience points "for him". However if he has at least one year of full time paid work experience in Canada in a NOC A, B or 0 profession - you will get an additional 5 points.

Note that there's no guarantee the SOWP will be approved. He will qualify to apply if your study permit is approved - but approval is an entirely different matter.

When you apply for a study permit, you'll need to ensure you write a strong SOP to explain why you are taking a real estate course in Canada. This won't make sense in light if your previous education and experience - which definitely increases the chances of refusal. Recommend you dedicate a few days to reading through the discussions in the International Students section of the forum to understand how to put together a strong study permit application and what are common refusal reasons.

Thank you very much for the information

 

[Tweety77]

As I mentioned before padmapper is a good start to look at rent in metro Vancouver. However, Langara is not in downtown and your main interest is in Langara. I think it takes more than 30 mins by skytrain from Surrey or the tri-cities areas.

Edit: I don't live in Surrey but I often go to the shopping malls out there. Besides, Surrey is the largest city in metro Vancouver and only the northern part of it is connected with the skytrain network.

Thanks a lot

 

[Tweety77]

Hi all, I have one more question if you dont mind. My daughter will be 5 in Jun2018. As far as I understood public elementary schools in BC enroll students in Kindergarten at age 5. If somehow we cant make it to sep18, but come to Vancouver in Dec-Jan19, can we still enroll our girl to kindergarten in mid-term, or do we lose the whole year if we cant catch sep18 intake? I really appreciate your comments @steaky