Working in Quebec City, job opportunities spous

[StijnVD]

Hi everyone,

my name is Stijn (Stan), I'm 26 years old and I'm currently living in Belgium.
I have a possible job offer from a company in Quebec city with a yearly gross salary of about 60000CAD and they provide assistance with visas and relocation. That would definitly get us settled. But I worry about my girlfriend. I've read all over the web it's practically impossible to find a job right now in certain parts of Canada, and not just as an immigrant. She has a master degree in English-Italian and a master degree in marketing management. It would be a pitty to let that go to waste. I've read horror-stories of highly qualified people delivering pizza's. I can understand it's not easy, moving to another country, and that one has to be prepared to take a step down, but is it really thát hard at the moment? Language shouldn't be a barrier either, we're both trilingual.

I would appreciate any kind of feedback on living and working in Quebec City.


Thanks in advance!

Stijn

 

[Ievgen]

Hi Stan,

I'd say the main question is if you're ready to take on challenges and if you really need it.
Belgium is a nice country and I personally wouldn't recommend you to move. On this forum there was a story by a girl Charlotte from Netherlands who moved to Toronto trying to settle down. She was describing Canada as living in paradise during first 1-2 months and criticising her home country. After that suddenly she started complaining about Canada, and finally returned home. Each story is different of course, but my opinion is that if you're not from 3rd world country and well settled at home it doesn't make any sense to move. Belgium is great and I think quality of life there is one of the best in the Europe.
Another case is if you just want to go to Quebec as a professional to get work experience and there's no such opportunity in Belgium. This definitely will be beneficial for you to live in a foreign country and gain international experience. But permanent immigration is completely different thing when you have to start from zero with a "survival job". So, define your priorities first and then make a decision.

 

[StijnVD]

Hi Stan,

I'd say the main question is if you're ready to take on challenges and if you really need it.
Belgium is a nice country and I personally wouldn't recommend you to move. On this forum there was a story by a girl Charlotte from Netherlands who moved to Toronto trying to settle down. She was describing Canada as living in paradise during first 1-2 months and criticising her home country. After that suddenly she started complaining about Canada, and finally returned home. Each story is different of course, but my opinion is that if you're not from 3rd world country and well settled at home it doesn't make any sense to move. Belgium is great and I think quality of life there is one of the best in the Europe.
Another case is if you just want to go to Quebec as a professional to get work experience and there's no such opportunity in Belgium. This definitely will be beneficial for you to live in a foreign country and gain international experience. But permanent immigration is completely different thing when you have to start from zero with a "survival job". So, define your priorities first and then make a decision.

Hi Ievgen,

thanks a lot for the reply!
I agree a 100% with what you said. We're having a good life here. I have a well payed job with benefits such as a company car etc. but it's as a programmer. While drawing is my passion. Unfortunately, in Belgium there aren't any opportunities to use my talent for a living. I have always wanted to work as a full-time artist for either games or animation studios. So this possible job proposal is definitely tempting. And all the things you have mentioned make the decision extra hard. We have a good thing going here, why take a risk? I totally agree, but a dream is within grasp it seems. Maybe I'm unrealistic here, I don't know, I'm trying to find out. The difficult, and potentially dangerous, part of working abroad with intention to have international experience is that in my case, when I return, there will be no jobs like the one in Quebec.

The situation is like this: if we decide to go, we're leaving behind the certainty of having a normal life but I get a chance at having a dreamjob while my girlfriend might face unemployment. At the same time, if we go we know we will practically be "forced" to stay as I will have no valuable experience nor will me girlfriend.

Thanks again for your input, I highly appreciate it.


Kind regards,

Stijn

 

[amikety]

If you're common-law (living together for 1 year or more), your girlfriend can qualify for an open work permit depending on your job. On the job offer, do they list a NOC code? If you can find it, let us know what is it. Noc codes in 0, A, or B class will let her get a work permit.

If she has an OWP, it will be much easier for her to get work and probably find a better job. No guarantees, but it removes some of the strain off of the whole process.

If you don't know/can't find your Noc code, can you list your job titles and/or duties are written in the letter?

 

[StijnVD]

If you're common-law (living together for 1 year or more), your girlfriend can qualify for an open work permit depending on your job. On the job offer, do they list a NOC code? If you can find it, let us know what is it. Noc codes in 0, A, or B class will let her get a work permit.

If she has an OWP, it will be much easier for her to get work and probably find a better job. No guarantees, but it removes some of the strain off of the whole process.

If you don't know/can't find your Noc code, can you list your job titles and/or duties are written in the letter?

Hi Amikety,

thanks for the reply!
We've been living together for more than a year, so no problem there. It's for a job as a concept artist at a game studio so the NOC code should be "5223 Graphic Arts Technicians".
I was hoping the studio would take care of her visa too, I would have to ask.

Thanks again!


Kind regards,

Stijn

 

[canadaforall]

If you're common-law (living together for 1 year or more), your girlfriend can qualify for an open work permit depending on your job. On the job offer, do they list a NOC code? If you can find it, let us know what is it. Noc codes in 0, A, or B class will let her get a work permit.

If she has an OWP, it will be much easier for her to get work and probably find a better job. No guarantees, but it removes some of the strain off of the whole process.

If you don't know/can't find your Noc code, can you list your job titles and/or duties are written in the letter?

Please i would advise you to stay there if you are not ready to face any new challenges. it is hard to find work here without canadian experience and their certificates. I am talking from experience. I can here because i am having kids and want them to have better education and their future.
So think well my friend.

Hope it helps.

canadaforall.

 

[amikety]

That's a B NOC Code (x2xx = B). She would qualify for an open work permit. If she's visa exempt (I'm assuming she is) then she can turn in an application for open work permit as soon as you have yours. She'll need a copy of your work permit, job offer letter, and duties. (She has to prove your job qualifies.) Then the documents for the OWP and proof of common-law relationship.

Proof of relationship - get the statue of common-law relationship signed and notarized. You can also include joint bank accounts, leases, cell phone accounts - anything that has both names on it. You can also show you get mail at the same address. If you are each other's benefits and/or insurance, you can use that too. Oh and refer to her a partner or wife in the application. CIC doesn't think "girlfriend" is a serious relationship.

Anywhere on the application is asks for employer info, she can write - Spouse Open Work Permit or N/A.

Hopefully she can get approved - should be relatively simple as long as she's admissible to Canada. She can also bring the paperwork needed and apply for the OWP at the border when you enter Canada - no need to wait. Just make sure you have everything you need from the document checklist and proof of relationship.

This should make getting a job easier for her and she's not tied to an employer. She can work for whoever she wants (as long as she can get hired!). Just a tip I was given, she may want to include her plans for life in Canada in her cover letter. If you plan to remain in Canada long term/immigrate permanently, she should make sure to tell employers that - or two years - however it works out. Employers like to know they can get a long term commitment from immigrants.

 

[StijnVD]

Please i would advise you to stay there if you are not ready to face any new challenges. it is hard to find work here without canadian experience and their certificates. I am talking from experience. I can here because i am having kids and want them to have better education and their future.
So think well my friend.

Hope it helps.

canadaforall.

Thanks for your input CanadaForAll!
I have to say that we wouldn't do it if neither of us didn't have a job yet in Canada. But I would have a job, so that would make it "easier", with less pressure. We realise it would be hard, you can't expect to move to another country and get everything handed to you on a silver platter. I just need to make sure it is not impossible for her to get a job.

Greatly appreciated!

 

[StijnVD]

That's a B NOC Code (x2xx = B). She would qualify for an open work permit. If she's visa exempt (I'm assuming she is) then she can turn in an application for open work permit as soon as you have yours. She'll need a copy of your work permit, job offer letter, and duties. (She has to prove your job qualifies.) Then the documents for the OWP and proof of common-law relationship.

Proof of relationship - get the statue of common-law relationship signed and notarized. You can also include joint bank accounts, leases, cell phone accounts - anything that has both names on it. You can also show you get mail at the same address. If you are each other's benefits and/or insurance, you can use that too. Oh and refer to her a partner or wife in the application. CIC doesn't think "girlfriend" is a serious relationship.

Anywhere on the application is asks for employer info, she can write - Spouse Open Work Permit or N/A.

Hopefully she can get approved - should be relatively simple as long as she's admissible to Canada. She can also bring the paperwork needed and apply for the OWP at the border when you enter Canada - no need to wait. Just make sure you have everything you need from the document checklist and proof of relationship.

This should make getting a job easier for her and she's not tied to an employer. She can work for whoever she wants (as long as she can get hired!). Just a tip I was given, she may want to include her plans for life in Canada in her cover letter. If you plan to remain in Canada long term/immigrate permanently, she should make sure to tell employers that - or two years - however it works out. Employers like to know they can get a long term commitment from immigrants.

That's good news.
I haven't landed the job yet, but if I do it shouldn't be a problem getting all those documents ready.
I'm getting (and have been reading on other forums) very different opinions though. Some say it's career suicide, others say it's the best decision ever made.
How long did it take you to find a job? (I assume you're an immigrant yourself as you said you were given that tip too)

Thanks for the info and the tip

 

[amikety]

That's good news.
I haven't landed the job yet, but if I do it shouldn't be a problem getting all those documents ready.
I'm getting (and have been reading on other forums) very different opinions though. Some say it's career suicide, others say it's the best decision ever made.
How long did it take you to find a job? (I assume you're an immigrant yourself as you said you were given that tip too)

Thanks for the info and the tip

I am a full time student actually. I'm American and being sponsored by my spouse. We filed in January 2013. Hopefully I will get my PR visa over the summer.

I did try to look for work, but I am an "unskilled" worker. It didn't work out very well. I feel these "low skill" jobs have a bias against Americans - just my opinion. But that's okay. I'll be a "skilled" worked by 2014 and should be a PR before then anyway.

In my case, I speak like the average Calgarian. Most people don't realize I'm not Canadian.