Totally LOST - Help!

[sweetcora]

My friend living in Vancouver, Washington, USA wants to move here to Ontario, Canada permanently. She wants to be able to work and provide living arrangements for herself until such time as she can apply for citizenship all without ever having to go back to the USA. Just fly here once - and that's it. How does she accomplish this, what VISA's etc. should she get for work and should she get them before or after arriving in Canada... and basically any detail that can be given to help us figure this out for her would be greatly appreciated!

I should add, she doesn't have anything specific bringing her here other than interest in our country and great friends waiting for her. She only has a high school diploma, and while I do believe she'll be a famous author someday, that is not yet the case. She has a part time job where she is now, and that is how she's saving up for the move. She's 18, there's no criminal record or anything that would cause her any trouble being here legally. Aand I hope this is all the info that would be needed to provide adequate information to me. Thank you. --Links would also be appreciated, cause everything I've been reading has been WAY too confusing.

 

[scylla]

In order to move to Canada to live permanently, she would have to apply to immigrate. In order to immigrate, she would have to qualify and apply through one of Canada's immigration programs which are listed in the link below:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply.asp

Based on the information you have provided, she does not qualify to immigrate at this time. She will need to get at least a year of work experience first and quite possibly secure a job offer in Canada as well in order to qualify to apply. There are additional requirements she will have to meet which are in the link above.

She could come to Canada temporarily on a work permit. However this involves first finding an employer in Canada who is willing to offer her a full time job. Another option would be to come to Canada to study as a foreign student. This can also lead to permanent residency in Canada (not guaranteed - but definitely a good chance). The downside of this option is that it's quite expensive because foreign student fees are so high. She would need to have a bank balance of at least $25K just to be approved for a study permit.

 

[sweetcora]

Really?!?? That's upsetting, and awful, and totally unfair. Well... thanks for the info.

 

[scylla]

There is nothing stopping her from trying to find a full time job with an employer in Canada. If she can secure a full time job - then she has the opportunity to apply for a work permit which would allow her to come live in Canada temporarily. This could lead to permanent residency (no guarantees - but certainly a chance).

Much like any other country in the world (the US included), Canada doesn't just allow people to move to Canada permanently because they feel like it. They have to qualify to immigrate (based on employment experience, job in Canada, or other criteria that will benefit Canada), apply, and be selected.

 

[sweetcora]

I realize, it's just easier to get a job once you live in the area, then it is to secure a job long distance. You have to be -DAMN- good at what you're doing to have someone willing to wait for your applications and stuff to go through.

 

[scylla]

Yes - you're absolutely right. It does unfortunately tend to be quite difficult to find a job as a foreign worker because of the cost ($1K in fees) and time it takes for an employer to get approval to hire you.

Your friend could theoretically come to Canada as a visitor and look for a job. However she would need to make sure she is really just visiting (i.e. has a return ticket, doesn't bring everything she owns with her - just what she would as a tourist, is still able to show some ties to the US like a job and/or place she is renting). If she shows up at the border saying she is a visitor but looking like she's making a permanent move, she could very well be refused entry.

Good luck.

 

[sweetcora]

That's the thing, she still lives at home - so no rent, and she doesn't own much, so she wouldn't bring much. She could I suppose in theory keep the job she has there, but how long could she "visit" for?

Also - would she need any type of VISA or permit to work while she's here?

 

[scylla]

How long she is allowed to visit for is up to the immigration officer she encounters at the border. So you need to look at it from their perspective. A 2-3 week trip probably sounds reasonable. Saying you want to visit for 2-3 months might make the immigration officer suspect she has plans to more than just visit. I would aim to visit for a few weeks and then hope the immigration officer just stamps her passport (without writing a date). If she just gets a stamp, this means she can visit for up to six months.

Yes - she absolutely needs a permit to work. She will first have to find an employer who is willing to offer her a full time job. That employer will then have to advertise the job for a minimum of one full month to prove no Canadian could be hired for the role. The employer will then need to pay a $1,000 fee and apply for something called an LMIA (approval to hire a foreign worker). Processing for LMIAs seems to be taking around three months these days. Assuming the LMIA is approved (not all are), your friend can then obtain a work permit either by applying online or driving to a US/Canada land border. Note that some Americans are able to bypass the LMIA step since their occupations fall under NAFTA. However based on the information you have provided so far, I very much doubt this will be possible for your friend.

 

[sweetcora]

Wow... and people say we let anyone live here... and have too many immigrants etc. etc... well crap the ones that do manage to move here deserve it at this rate. Anyway thanks for all the information and help - it's the first time in months I've been able to actually understand the process.

 

[scylla]

If your friend has any plans to attend university / college in the US as a full time student, then another option would be to come to Canada temporarily on a working holiday visa once she has graduated.

http://www.swap.ca/in_eng/us_index.aspx

This would allow her to get a one year work permit without first finding an employer.

Unfortunately this program is not open to high school grads - only college / university.

 

[sweetcora]

I will let her know! - Thanks!