[bdmceng]

Hi all,

I was recommended this forum by a friend and have been "lurking" for a month or two, and I have learned an awful lot in that time and suffered perhaps a reality check or two, so thanks for the benefits I've recieved so far...
To summarise, been seriously contemplating emmigration to Canada, and have arranged a reccie trip to the Atlantic provinces, particularly interested in NS and NB. (although not hard and fast on this as I have to get steady work, so a degree of fexibility may be required). Was planning FSW route, but I only have a couple of points over the required limit, and from what I hear there are forthcoming changes in the system, in particular points deducted if over 35yrs. I'm 42 and although I feel there is plenty of life in the (middle aged) dog yet, if its a point less for every year over 35 that's me out of it (unless I can get a job before arrival or become fluent at French, both of which are a tall order in a couple of months).
My initial thoughts were to try to rattle in an application pronto to try to get round this, but I am told there could be further issues as there are caps on a all of the skills on the list, and this far into the year they will likely all have been met. If this is the case, does this mean having to then reapply for the next tranche of places?
I am also aware although largely ignorant of PNP route, is it likely to be any easier/ harder or less critical of age?
As I say any help gratefully recieved.
Further background if its of any relevance are wishing to bring family (wife x1, 7r old sons x 2, and once finished her studies 18yr old daughter)
Recent background is 10 years in engineering project management / production engineering, most recently 5 yrs self employed Machinery installation tech / maintenance tech, primarily plastics / recycling and other various heavy machinery.

Regards,

Brian

[helcat12]

Originally Posted by bdmceng Hi all, I was recommended this forum by a friend and have been "lurking" for a month or two, and I have learned an awful lot in that time and suffered perhaps a reality check or two, so thanks for the benefits I've recieved so far... To summarise, been seriously contemplating emmigration to Canada, and have arranged a reccie trip to the Atlantic provinces, particularly interested in NS and NB. (although not hard and fast on this as I have to get steady work, so a degree of fexibility may be required). Was planning FSW route, but I only have a couple of points over the required limit, and from what I hear there are forthcoming changes in the system, in particular points deducted if over 35yrs. I'm 42 and although I feel there is plenty of life in the (middle aged) dog yet, if its a point less for every year over 35 that's me out of it (unless I can get a job before arrival or become fluent at French, both of which are a tall order in a couple of months). My initial thoughts were to try to rattle in an application pronto to try to get round this, but I am told there could be further issues as there are caps on a all of the skills on the list, and this far into the year they will likely all have been met. If this is the case, does this mean having to then reapply for the next tranche of places? I am also aware although largely ignorant of PNP route, is it likely to be any easier/ harder or less critical of age? As I say any help gratefully recieved. Further background if its of any relevance are wishing to bring family (wife x1, 7r old sons x 2, and once finished her studies 18yr old daughter) Recent background is 10 years in engineering project management / production engineering, most recently 5 yrs self employed Machinery installation tech / maintenance tech, primarily plastics / recycling and other various heavy machinery. Regards, Brian

If your job category is on the in demand list (i.e. you can apply for Category 1 FSW) then you can check the current number of applications received to date here
http://www.canadavisa.com/total-numb...ed-by-cic.html
to see if it is worth applying this year.

If your job experience does not match the NOC for anything on the Category 1 list, then you could explore FSW Category 2.
For this, you will need a job offer and then your employer will have to successfully apply for an LMO.
Once you have this, you can come over and start work on a Temporary Work Permit if you like and then PR can be trundling along while you work.

You get 10 points on your FSW application for a valid and approved job offer, so that would also sort out your potential points issue if any new rules penalise you for your advanced age (I am just turned 43 and my OH is 42)

PNP also needs a job offer, as I understand it, so it is similar to FSW Cat 2 in that regard but the employer does not need to get an LMO.
Once the Provincial Nomination element is approved, your PR processing goes to the Visa Office just the same.

[Fern8]

Hi, Our family is in a similar position. We want to apply through FSW1 and currently score above 67. However our NOC has reached its limit for this year and we have to apply in July. I have also read that the points for age and language are likely to change this year and we are now concerned that we may not qualify, also because of reduced points for age. We will just have to wait and see what happens. I was told on this forum that the new criteria are released in late June or the first week in July.

I am new to this forum too but I know that if you have employment you have more options as you can go down the FSW2 route (with LMO and TWP initially) if you are on the skills list.

The PNPs look like a great option to us as it seems to be mainly based upon employment rather than age etc. If you look into this you will see that different provinces have different qualifying criteria though, so I would check these out carefully before you decide on where to focus your job hunt. However once you have been nominated on the PNP program (from what I have read this is usually 3 months or so) then you can begin work while waiting for your PR.

If it it any help to you, our plan is to
June: Prepare our FSW1 and hope for the best.
July: Submit FSW1 application or withdraw depending on points under new system
August onwards : Start looking for jobs in provinces favourable to our situation whether or not we applied for PR under FSW1 or not. As I said earlier we could still apply for PNP or FSW2 with an offer of employment, even if we don't qualify for FSW1.

I just registered for this forum on Saturday and by Sunday I was much clearer about our options. People on this forum are really helpful. Good luck and stay in touch

[siouxie]

Originally Posted by helcat12 If your job category is on the in demand list (i.e. you can apply for Category 1 FSW) then you can check the current number of applications received to date here http://www.canadavisa.com/total-numb...ed-by-cic.html to see if it is worth applying this year.

Bearing in mind that the cap for the total of all applications was set at 10,000 and this will likely to have been reached within the next couple of weeks, regardless of whether any individual category has reached it's cap. Categories and caps will be reset in July.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigra...plications.asp

[bdmceng]

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies, I had a look at the quotas list and it does look as though they are more or less at full quota sitaution now, although was encouraged that of the two possible categories I might qualify under they are both as yet well undersubscribed, so that may be in my favour. Fern8, your planned sequence of events looks like a good one to follow, I can see ourselves going down a similar route. I'm hoping to meet with a couple of govt officials I met at an immigration fair when I'm over in Halifax at the end of May, so that will hopefully clear up some more questions as they were promoting the PNP route.
One further question, as I understand it with PR you can stay in Canada and if you fall in and out of work it isn't an issue to officialdom, whereas a TWP requires you to work for the employer who sorted your LMO, and if you part company there is then an issue as you can't just go and work elsewhere in another field, shelf stacking etc? I percieve the TWP route to be riskier, particularly with family in tow. Is it fair comment to say TWP is a lot riskier in my situation, due to the lack of flexibility?

[helcat12]

[quote=bdmceng;10025680
One further question, as I understand it with PR you can stay in Canada and if you fall in and out of work it isn't an issue to officialdom, whereas a TWP requires you to work for the employer who sorted your LMO, and if you part company there is then an issue as you can't just go and work elsewhere in another field, shelf stacking etc? I percieve the TWP route to be riskier, particularly with family in tow. Is it fair comment to say TWP is a lot riskier in my situation, due to the lack of flexibility?[/QUOTE]

I am not quite sure what you mean here.
Permanent Residency is the end result of the application, at which point you have the same work rights as any Canadian and so can work anywhere and anytime, or not at all if you like/can afford it. As long as you maintain your status by being resident in Canada for the minimum time required and commit no crimes you are welcome to stay, with or without work.

It is how you GET PR that I thought you were asking about.

People like us need a job offer to get PR through Category 2 FSW as our jobs are not on the 'in demand' list.
We began working here on LMO/TWP so that the job offer didn't disappear in the 18 months it took for CIC to complete the application.

Your job is on the list so you can just apply for PR through the FSW Cat 1 list route if you like and wait until you get PR then come to Canada, get a job anywhere doing anything (even if it isn't the NOC you have worked in in the past).

It is true that with LMO/TWP you can only work for that employer and if the job falls through then that is your PR application over, but if you wait in the UK the job offer might be withdrawn before you get PR and then it is over as well - that is the risk of Category 2.

The risk with Cat 1 is that, as you have discovered this year, the cap may be reached before your application is received and then it is another year to wait. If you wait, the following year you may find that your NOC isn't on the list any more or the points allocation has changed and now you don't have enough points.
So, all routes have risk associated and it is up to you to sort out in your own particular situation which risks are the most acceptable for you.

PNP is preferable to FSW in my opinion as with PNP once the nomination is received you can work right away in Canada (on a TWP) BUT crucially, you have status until they have processed you to the end of the PR process.
It just needs a job offer.