Texan wanting to immigrate to Vancouver.

[iLoveumoar]

You are visa exempt for up to 6 months but immigration must believe that you are not intending to overstay. If you arrive with all your things in your car, prepared to be denied entry. Same if you say at the border you are planning on looking for work.

However, after you are in, you can start looking for work. It may be hard to get an LMO but not impossible. Maybe a better chance getting one in a hotel somewhere remote rather than in Vancouver itself. If you get an LMO and work permit for one of the positions covered under BC PNP, you can work for 9 months, then apply for PR through your employer.

Yeah I dont plan on staying in the heart of Vancouver- I'll be an hr or 2 out. And I really want to do this as by-the-books as i can, I dont have anything to hide and I want my intentions clear to the border officers. I want to gain some experience living in BC and support myself, getting some life experience before going to school.

 

[iLoveumoar]

I can basically do and pay for everything SWAP arranges for myself- do I actually have to have them be the middle man?
I dont understand why I'd have to fall under a program to immigrate if i can do everything myself.

 

[iLoveumoar]

What about a Youth Work programme?

Do you know if a working holiday visa is different from the SWAP?

 

[Leon]

Yeah I dont plan on staying in the heart of Vancouver- I'll be an hr or 2 out. And I really want to do this as by-the-books as i can, I dont have anything to hide and I want my intentions clear to the border officers. I want to gain some experience living in BC and support myself, getting some life experience before going to school.

If you arrive in Canada with a work permit, you can say something like that. If you arrive as a visitor planning on looking for a job, they may turn you back at the border if you say that.

I am sure the US would do the same to a Canadian. If you arrive as a visitor, you should be visiting. There are no rules against looking for a job and arranging a work permit once you are in but if you announce it at the border, they don't have to let you in as your intention is something other than a visit.

I can basically do and pay for everything SWAP arranges for myself- do I actually have to have them be the middle man?
I dont understand why I'd have to fall under a program to immigrate if i can do everything myself.

Open work permits aren't just handed out like candy you know. One of the exceptions is the swap program and working holiday visas that various countries are parties to. Swap is limited to students though. There is no other working holiday visa I know of for US citizens. Various other countries, like Australia and some European countries have working holiday agreements with Canada where you don't have to be a student and can get up to a 2 year open work permit.

 

[PMM]

Hi

waitwait, I was up to speed up until the full time student thing- How am I suppose to be enrolled as a full time student if I'm not even in the country...? I really thought a working holiday would've been my best chance.

To be eligible for SWAP (WHV for US) you have to be a full time student in the US or a recent graduate from a US University, as per the eligibility rules that were previously posted.

 

[scylla]

Do you know if a working holiday visa is different from the SWAP?

SWAP is the working holiday visa program for the US. So they are the same.

 

[iLoveumoar]

If you arrive in Canada with a work permit, you can say something like that. If you arrive as a visitor planning on looking for a job, they may turn you back at the border if you say that.

I am sure the US would do the same to a Canadian. If you arrive as a visitor, you should be visiting. There are no rules against looking for a job and arranging a work permit once you are in but if you announce it at the border, they don't have to let you in as your intention is something other than a visit.

Open work permits aren't just handed out like candy you know. One of the exceptions is the swap program and working holiday visas that various countries are parties to. Swap is limited to students though. There is no other working holiday visa I know of for US citizens. Various other countries, like Australia and some European countries have working holiday agreements with Canada where you don't have to be a student and can get up to a 2 year open work permit.

Whhyyy does this have to be so difficult for a US citizen??
What I've gathered so far is-
I dont need a visitor visa for 6 months once I'm in;
however in order to get a work permit I need a visitor visa valid for at least 6 months.
Does my passport count?
And also, do I need a work permit for a minimum wage/ semi-skilled job? Would I need to get a positive LMO on say, a server's position?
Could I be able to get a job with just my SIN number(no permit) once i applied for one?
What I'd like to do is be able to work for at least 9 months so I could apply for PR through the BCPNP, and continue working for a bit more- I should have enough money saved up for school within 2 years.
Thank you all for your quick replies and information so far, you've been a wonderful source of information! keep it coming!

 

[Ponga]

Hi,

As frustrating as this seems to be, I imagine if a Canadian were wanting to do the same, in the US...it would be just as, if not more...frustrating.

As far as I know (but I'm an American), you need a WP for ANY job in Canada, including a food server. I don't think you could possibly find an employer in the food services industry that would even consider an LMO for you. Why? Because there's probably no shortage of people that are authorized to work that would be qualified/interested in that same position.

How do you plan to get a SIN without a WP, or any other type of immigration document(s)? You can't simply come to visit Canada and just apply for a SIN...can you?
(someone please confirm this).

Don't let the `system' beat you up; there's probably a way for you to do what you have planned. Hopefully, someone will give you the `key' on how to do just that!

Good luck!

 

[scylla]

What I've gathered so far is-
I dont need a visitor visa for 6 months once I'm in;
however in order to get a work permit I need a visitor visa valid for at least 6 months.
Does my passport count?

You are confusing different rules. Having a 6 month visitor visa (TRV) does not allow you to apply for a work permit. However having a 6 month temporary resident permit (TRP) does. TRVs and TRPs are two completely different things. TRPs (the one that allows you to apply for a work permit) are granted to people who would otherwise be inadmissible to Canada due to an issue like a past criminal charge. You do not qualify for a TRP.

 

[scylla]

Would I need to get a positive LMO on say, a server's position?
Could I be able to get a job with just my SIN number(no permit) once i applied for one?

Yes - you need an LMO for a server's position.

You won't be issued a SIN until you have a work permit. So the LMO has to come first.