Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Good Evening! How are you all doing?

Curious to know if there is anyone here with experience to moving to CA from the UK who was a Telephone Engineer with Openreach or other relevant contractors?

I am at the stage now where me and my partner are starting to collate the relevant information and research with regards to making a move over to Canada! I'm 25 and working for Openreach as a Service Delivery Engineer, I believe this falls under NOC 7245-B?

So in short, the questions I am mainly looking for input on are;

1, Does anyone have any experience in making the move via the skilled worker route under this job role?

2, Who are the major Telecoms providers/contractors primarily in Alberta, BC, Manitoba & Saskatchewan?

3, Is there much need for anyone in the Telecoms/Fibre sector?

I understand this may be somewhat vague but any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance :)

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Cheers for the reply, greatly appreciated.

With regards to the points system, am I correcting in thinking that AS Levels would fall under 'Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for a one-year program, or equal'?

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

No, afraid not. As schooling goes on until the age of 18 in Canada, A levels are just considered part of secondary education. What do you score without them, do you have a degree?

HTH.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

I don't have a degree sadly, so this looks to be a stumbling block.

I also appear to be confusing myself with regards to English testing to gain my score. Is this something that needs to be done within Canada?

Apologies for the basic questions, just trying to clear the process up for myself.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

No, you can take the IELTS exam in the UK, there is a list of test centres on their website for you to find the nearest.

But if you're not scoring enough then don't waste your money taking the exam, you can guesstimate for now (assume max points as a native English speaker) to give you an idea of your points, and then if you are scoring enough to get PR you could go ahead and do the exam.

HTH.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Perfect, thank you very much.

Am I correct in saying that the Federal Skilled Trade program differs in selection/points process. I can see they mention that they seem to look at you having at least 2 years experience in a given field/job role and there is no education requirement?

Thank you once again.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Yes the process differs, see eligibility criteria here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...ed-trades.html

The main stumbling block here is that you must either have a job offer or have a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian province.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Would an apprenticeship help his cause?

Surely BT would have put you on an apprenticeship and got you quals past High School level?

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Curious to know this also, I will shortly be awarded an NVQ through BT/Openreach. This is a culmination of an Apprenticeship. Would this count as Post Secondary?

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Unlikely. CRS points are awarded for academic qualifications not vocational.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

NVQ's aren't normally recognised for points purposes, as said above, only academic qualifications are.

But, if you are eligible under the FST program, then the points requirement is VERY different to a 'normal' EE draw so chances are you won't need those points anyway. What are you actually scoring?

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Sadly, going off of the assumption that I achieve max on English Language(being a native speaker) only 57, very disappointing. However, as you said regarding FST and the points requirement difference, hopefully this is an option.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

I think you're looking at the wrong points test somehow! I assume you're looking at the Federal Skilled Worker points test, where you have to get 67 or over to qualify? That's not relevant to Federal Skilled Trade applications.

It's the CRS points that count for you, for the Express Entry draws you need to be scoring as highly as possible. So take this test instead (again just guessing max points for English etc) - Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) tool: skilled immigrants (Express Entry)

HTH.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

I laughed. Hard. At this :rofl:

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Cheers folks, greatly appreciated once again.

With regards to FST and entering an application with a job offer, how does someone usually go about doing this? I'm under the impression that the vast majority of employers require one to be present in Canada prior to applying? Or do people tend to go over on a temp work visa of sorts and go from there?

Is it a case of finding suitable jobs, applying and explaining situation i.e currently in the process of submitting an FST application etc?

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Not necessarily. The general advice is to get out there to job hunt in person as applying for jobs online is very unlikely to result in finding a sponsoring employer. But obviously you can't move there unless you have a visa allowing you to do so, so you'd return to the UK whilst your job offer/LMIA are applied for by the employer and processed, and then head back out on a work permit once you've got the LMIA.

Yes, lots do that and then apply for PR once there. Most employers wouldn't be willing to wait the 6-8 months for you to get PR anyway, so going over on a TWP first and then applying for PR is a good option, or you can just get your PR app underway from the UK before leaving and then it can carry on being processed whilst you start life in Canada.

You may find it easier to get provincial certification than a job offer though, so that you can qualify for FST.

HTH, good luck.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

I would be correct in saying that my family would be able to come out with me on a Work Permit/allowed to rent property etc?

Regarding a provincial certification, I assume the method to do this would be contact the favored province, in my case Alberta and follow there instructions on how to obtain a certification?

Very sorry for the all questions, they seem never ending. It's helping a lot to clear things up mentally though.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Yes, absolutely. Your spouse would be able to get an open work permit for the same duration as your work permit.

I assume so too, although I'm not that sure! A search of the forum may reveal some info though, I think it's the Tradesecrets website you need to look at, but could be wrong. Aviator is our resident 'guru' on all things certification, he may see this thread and be able to help, or you could start a new one asking that specific question if not.

Good luck.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/expe...ional-workers/

:)

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Thank you!

Finally, the final piece in the puzzle for me. What’s the very first step people take? Do they go over simply on a holiday with the intention of looking for work? I ask because it states a job offer is required for a temp work visa.

Cheers all!

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

For a lot of people it is a real Catch 22. You can't get the job without the Visa and you can't get the Visa without the job. Unfortunately, I think the reality might be for some people that there isn't a way they can emigrate from the UK to Canada. Some skills sets just aren't in demand here.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

You need both a job offer, and a LMIA for a temporary work permit. The LMIA is something the employer has to apply for (costs them $1000) to prove that they have advertised the job across Canada and been unable to find a Canadian willing, or able, to do the job. It's quite onerous on the employer with lots of paperwork (i.e. details of everybody that applied for the job, and why they weren't suitable etc).

Once you've got the LMIA and written job offer (figure about 3-4 months after applying as a rough guide), then you can get your work permit. As you can imagine, finding an employer prepared to pay the money and go through all the paperwork for you is tricky unless you have specialist skills, hence why I suggested getting provincial certification may be an easier way to become eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades program.

But if you do want to go down the job offer route, then have a really good read of the Job Hunting section of the Wiki which has loads of useful info, including how to plan a recce/job hunting trip and how to arrange stuff with potential employers before you go.

Best of luck.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Actually, I've just realised that you've said you're 25, so the IEC visa is an option for you - that's a 2 year open work permit for those aged 30 and under, and no job offer is required to get it.

That would be MUCH easier than finding an employer to do the LMIA app etc, so definitely the way to go. Do apply asap as there are only a certain number of visas available each year and there aren't many left.

HTH.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Oh that’s good news. I imagine that gives you the same freedoms as a temp work permit in regards to bringing family over with me, property renting etc?

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Sort of. Unlike a normal TWP, your partner wouldn't get an open work permit automatically on arrival, she'll only get one once you are working in a skilled job. So once you've got a job offer in a skilled job, she can just go to the nearest border and pick up her work permit then. Of course, there's nothing to stop her applying for an IEC as well and seeing if you both get one.

Just double checking though, you have lived together for a year or more (and can prove it via things like joint bank account, rental agreement and utility bills in both names etc)? That is the criteria for common-law spouses, so for her to be included as a dependent on any visa app you make, that's what you'll need to be.

And have you checked in to her visa eligibility too? It may be that she'll score more or be in a job more in demand, so may be better as the principal applicant for any visa app.

HTH.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

A spot on, that's understandable.

And we have indeed, would a marriage certificate be accepted proof of this also?

We have indeed, I believe I would be more suitable to be the applicant. Is there any bar on going from an IEC and applying for PR close to the end of the 2nd final yeah of the IEC?
'

Thank you once again!

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

No, other than I personally think you'd be daft to leave it that late! I'd apply as soon as you are eligible personally, so you have PR well before the 2 years is up and don't have to worry.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Oh good to know, as long as there is nothing stopping me applying for PR as soon as I feel I meet criteria I will look to do it ASAP! Cheers :)

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

Yep. Just check you'll be eligible (scoring enough etc) before you go, no point in spending a small fortune on moving to Canada if you aren't sure you can stay if you want to. Hopefully it should be fine if you apply under the FST, but do double check everything before you go.

Best of luck.

Re: Any recent Telecommunication Engineer experience?
 

I've moved the discussion regarding P.Eng v Engineer to it's own thread, to stop this thread from going too far off topic.

It can be found here: http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...gineer-909173/