Web developer - Immigrating through the "Self Employed" vs. the "Skilled" stream

[jjosephs]

I've been working for nearly 4 years as a web developer. I do mainly front-end development and cms work that involves taking a design and turning it into a working site and work that is maintenance focused where I edit an existing site the my client's specifications. Note, I don't work for a company, I work for clients.

After doing some Internet research, my current work doesn't seem to fit into any of the qualifying activities for self-employed persons listed by the cic website. Am I mistaken? Neither do I fit into the current categories for Skilled Workers I believe.

Would it make sense to expand my skillset into the graphic design arena by designing websites and fitting into the "5241 Graphic designers and illustrators" category for the next two years?

Also, I'm unclear as to what "cultural activities" in self-employment really means. What are they looking for when they say this?

This is my first post here!

 

[jjosephs]

bump

 

[scylla]

You're correct - you don't qualify for the self-employed stream. Cultural activities refers to someone like a ballet dancer or opera singer who makes a living by dancing or singing as a soloist.

As for Federal Skilled Worker - you can only qualify if you have a job offer in Canada because your occupation is not on the list of desired occupations for the Federal Skilled Worker program.

I don't think designing web sites will qualify you for NOC 5241 (I think that's too much of a stretch). To qualify under this NOC, your job would have to include all/most of the following responsibilities:

http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2011/Profile.aspx?val=5&val1=5241

Note that NOC 5241 isn't on the desired occupation list either for the Federal Skilled Worker program. So even if you were able to apply under this NOC, you would still need a job offer in Canada to qualify. The list of desired occupations is below. It is updated around July 1st of each year:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/complete-applications.asp

 

[jjosephs]

Thanks for the response.

As far as cultural activities are concerned, would I be accurate in saying that they are limited to entertainment? That's the only real difference I see between what I do and what they "dancer/signer" does.