Jules Scott

Hi all,

Was wondering if anyone could please give me some advice, my husband and I are wanting to move to Canada, we are going to apply for PR but in the meantime we were thinking of applying for a TRV and a work permit so that we can come out sooner and get some Canadian work experience behind us, we know that we may need to leave Canada before getting a PR visa, has anyone else done this? If so what were you experiences?

Many thanks in advance

Jules

Former Lancastrian

Before we start what is your citizenship and your ages. You will become confused if using terms that don't apply to you example
TRV = Temporary Resident Visa and UK citizens don't require one even if working or studying they need to apply for WORK/STUDY PERMITS which are not TRVs.

Jules Scott

Hi Former Lancastrian,

We are both UK citizens and are currently 40 and 34 years old

Many thanks

Jules

Former Lancastrian

You have 2 choices.
1. Find an employer in Canada willing to apply for a LMIA for you to work in Canada though this is getting harder as they need to advertise and show that no qualified Canadians applied or are suitable to be hired. cost is $1000 to the employer even if refused.

2. Seeing if you qualify for PR status under Express Entry in one of the criteria in your case Federal skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or finding a Canadian province/territory to nominate you.

read this link for more info
How Express Entry works

christmasoompa

Hi, and welcome to BE.

OK, so a TRV isn't relevant to you. As FL said, only those from countries requiring a visa need a TRV.

As for a work permit, you're aware that you need a job offer and LMIA first in order to get one?

How are you applying for PR? It might be that it's quicker to get that anyway, by the time you've found an employer prepared to sponsor your LMIA, then waited for it (it can take several months), then moved on a Temp Work Permit, a PR application could be quicker anyway. But it will depended on your intended visa route.

HTH, good luck.

Jules Scott

Thanks for the info, I was looking at the open work visa's but that obviously wouldn't apply to us.

christmasoompa

Unfortunately not, the only way one of you could get an open work permit would be based on the other having a work permit or study permit. So spouses of those in 'skilled' jobs on Temp Work Permits get open work permits.

There are also other ways to get open work permits, such as the IEC program, but none of those would apply to you from what you've said.

So unless you have skills very in demand and think you could find an employer prepared to spend the $1000 and be able to prove that they can't find a Canadian to do your job, you may just have to apply for PR - but tbh, that's a much better option anyway! So if you're eligible for PR without a job offer, I wouldn't even bother with trying to find a job offer/LMIA personally.

Best of luck.

Jules Scott

Looks as though PR is our best option, thanks for the advice

christmasoompa

You're welcome. As said above though, it does depend on the route you're planning on to apply for PR - if it's something like Express Entry, then it's quick, but something like the Self Employed Class, then it can take years so you might want to look at a job offer after all!