Reaver

Forgive my naivety, but Im not that clued up about Canada as I am about the US, and Im not exactly a US guru. So where abouts would people recommend for British people to both visit and possibly immigrate, that has a reasonable amount of engineering industry in the local area.

And is it possible, and recommended to go to Canada on the TFW Program?

gryphea

What do you mean by engineering industry? In Britain the term is so broad

Reaver

How very true, my apologies. Im currently studying for a degree in "Mechatronics and Robotics", so realistically something within the electronics sector.

christmasoompa

Do you already have a visa? If not, and you need a job offer to get one, then it would be best to spread your net as wide as possible to give yourself the best chance of finding an employer prepared to go through the paperwork/hassle/wait of hiring you.

And what do you mean 'TFW Program'? Sorry, but I'm not familiar with this acronym so not sure what you are referring to.

Welcome to the forum btw!

Reaver

No I dont have a visa yet. I am still a few years from being qualified, or being anywhere close to moving. This was just a general fact finding question for the time being. And I was under the impression that Canada's immigration was based largely on a points based system. The way you have worded you're response makes it sound more like the US system, where I have to find an employer first to sponsor me...?

And spreading my net is probably the worst thing I could do tbh. Im hoping to qualify as a specialist under what is still a very narrow field within the engineering community, which is realistically the only way Im likely to qualify for a visa. However, Im here to get answers and learn stuff, so open to suggestions and ideas.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Thanks

.

christmasoompa

Only one of the 50+ visa programs is done on a points system (Skilled Worker), but for that program you also need experience in a job on a list of eligible occupations - currently, there are no engineering occupations on that list. Of course, that may change by the time you want to move, but at the moment yes, you would require a job offer & 'sponsorship'.

To go over on a Temporary Work Permit (TWP is the usual acronym for the program you mentioned on this forum), you'd need a job offer from an employer, and the employer would also need to obtain a Labour Market Opinion. For this they would have to prove that they've advertised the job across Canada and been unable to find a Canadian willing, or able, to do the job. Once you've got the written job offer and LMO, you can then apply for your TWP.

I see. Normally the advice is to not search for a job offer in one specific location but rather to consider as wide an area as possible, to give yourself the best chance of finding an employer prepared to sponsor you, and go through the hassle of hiring you. But if your job is going to be specialist, then you may be lucky.

Good luck!

Reaver

Thanks Christmas...

alexisatk

If you are going to be under 30 when you apply, you could qualify for International Experience Canada (http://www.international.gc.ca/iyp-p...o_entrant.aspx).

With the program if you are a UK citizen you can get up to two, one year visa which will allow you to work for any company in any province. It will allow you to get your feet in the door than you can try a more permanent immigration route once you have a job and a company that is happy with you.

Reaver

Im going to be 42 y/o when I finish my degree.........

But thanks for replying.

iaink

Not really my area, but at a guess I think most opportunities in that area are going to be around the GTA,, and perhaps the golden horseshoe and Ottawa valley.

There will be some elsewhere, but Ontario is your best bet.

Reaver

Yeah I have already looked at Ontario, and Toronto in particular. There is a few robotics companies there. I'll check out those other areas now you have mentioned them, thanks Iain.

Greenhill

Just a thought but do you have to do any industry placement time as part of your studies? If so, it might be worth looking into doing that with one of the Canadian companies. I've no idea what the visa requirements would be (or if doing this is even possible) but someone here or at your education facility might know...

Reaver

With the experience I have from previous jobs, placement wasn't/isn't necessary for me, and although it was something I thought about its too impractical as I would have to leave my wife and kids for a year, and it would extend my degree by another year. Usually placement is to gain experience rather than anything else and its just not something Im in short supply of. I figure that realistically, if Im not out of the UK before my 46th b/day Im doomed to stay til my end of days.

el_richo

My brother-in-law is a robotics specialist in Vancouver and i know there were quite a few opportunities for him when he was looking recently.

If i remember, i'll try to get some info from him this weekend. PM me to remind me.

Greenhill

Are you planning on doing any post-grad studies? If so, that could be an "easy" route in (do the post-grad degree here), I'd imagine the student work permit shouldn't be too much of a challenge for you to obtain and I understand that once you've completed studies you're pretty much entitled to a one year work permit (which your employer can help convert into PR later in that year).

With the international student fees it might be prohibitively expensive, though, but if you can find a technical college with a suitable program, rather than a university, it might be doable?

Your wife might be able to obtain an open permit for this duration too (sure, you'd probably prefer some expert advice on that instead of my hopeful speculation!)