Visa Help needed for Freelance Photographer wanting to move to Canada this year

[robrowland34]

Hello all,

I am having great difficulty in deciphering all of the different types of visa application and how well they apply to me.
I am a British citizen who has been living in London my whole life and working for the last 8 years as a Self Employed photographer. I recently (Nov2013) met a Canadian girlfriend and we have decided that we would like to move back to her homeland and the Vancouver in particular.
I am just wondering if anyone has any advice on what visa to apply for and if it is possible to do anything that would make it possible for me to move over as a freelancer in the next 6 months. I have read somewhere that the processing times for visa applications in the UK can take up to 4 years which I find depressing, insulting and quite frankly pathetic. Does anyone have any advice on how I can stay over there in the meantime, assuming that my application will be successful even!
Look forward to hearing from people.

Many thanks,
Rob

 

[scylla]

There is unfortunately no temporary work permit available for freelancers/contractors. However if you can find a employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a full time job and also able to obtain an approved Labour Market Opinion (permission to hire you), then you would qualify for a temporary work permit tied to that specific employer.

Depending on your age, the IEC working holiday visa could also be an option - but not until next year (all of the spots for this year are already filled up).

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx

Another option would be to come as a visitor - but you obviously wouldn't be able to work with visitor status.

The above are ways you can come to Canada temporarily. If you are looking to come to Canada permanently, then the fastest way would be for your girlfriend to sponsor you once you are either married or common law (i.e. have lived together for at least one full year).

Hope this helps.