I'm interested to know if anybody is in the same boat as us, and what they might be doing while they're waiting for their visa. Maybe there's something we should be doing, or some idea that we've missed.

We handed in our application for PR in March 2006, and having checked the CIC website recently I see that we're probably in for a wait of another two years or more before we get our visa.

We've ruled out trying any of the usual tactics to shorten the waiting time:

1. Applying for a permanent job - the consensus here (unless I'm mistaken) seems to be that it's next to impossible to get a job while living in the UK, and at present I'm too busy to write a lot of job applications if there's little hope of success.

2. Trying the PNP route - neither of our jobs seem to apply, and you have to have a job offer... see point 1.

3. Getting a job and then a 12-month work visa, hoping that the employer will make it permanent. Again, see point 1 - and we were also worried about having to (probably) give up everything here on a 12-month gamble that, if it failed, would leave us in a bit of a state back here.

We're resigned to more years of waiting, and in the meantime we're trying to do all we can to prepare for the eventual day when our visas arrive: I'm learning some more qualifications in a new field to broaden my job prospects, and we're selling our house (as part of our Operation Canada and for other reasons) and moving into rented accommodation. Investing some of our equity will cover our rent, and leave us able to move rapidly when/if the visa arrives.

Is there anybody else out there who applied at a similar time to us? Do you have a masterplan or a shortcut that might help? I'd be really interested to hear from you, as 2009/10 seems a looooooooong time away.

If we've missed something obvious, I'd be glad if someone could point it out. Our plan seems right to us, but you may know something better...

Cheers!

In order to reduce your waiting time you have to put in the effort as shortcuts don't come to you, you have to make them happen.

We had an AOR of Aug 2005 and after talking to a CHC rep at an Emigrate exhibition in Glasgow in Spring 2006 he advised us to basically either "get a job or get in line". We got proactive and all our hard work paid off. Within 6 months OH had a job offer and 5 months later we were here on a WP. Been here 7 months and our PR has been fast-tracked. We have recently undergone our medicals and have just had our passport requests. Who said hard work doesn't pay off? (see our timeline on my profile)

You will actually find that quite a few of us had job offers so its not impossible. Perhaps other BE folks who have managed to do this could post on here to help give positive encouragement to others that it can be done. Unless its a inter-company transfer a typical job offer won't fall into your lap if you haven't applied, so you have to be focussed and prepared to put the hours in

See Wiki page (above) on Resumes. It's got some great info on it and will be a lot of help. It may help that on your cover letter that you state that you have actually applied for PR - this would show how serious you are about relocating to Canada.

Thanks for that. I keep having bursts of optimism and plan to sort out some applications, but something else (normally work-related :curse always gets in the way.

I've Canadianised my resume and we know where we want to go (Logan Lake/Kamloops in BC). I think I'll do my best to make some time to get some letters off to firms in Canada. I know you're right: nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I've read posts in BE saying that a lot of people have had replies saying "Nice application; get in touch when your visa comes through/when you land in Canada". I will make sure I mention that we've applied for PR, but I wondered if there's anything else I could stress to avoid those kinds of replies.

Still, it's worth a try - like I said earlier, two or three more years is a long time to wait with our lives on hold to some extent.

The best advice I can give is the same old: 'Get a job offer'.

We wished we had as it would have certain things a whole lot easier to deal with at the start.

We waited the full 3 years and landed without jobs. It was the toughest period of our lives and many times we wished we had job offers to go straight into.

However, it isn't impossible to do without having an offer to go to and we're proof of that. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.

Good luck.

Hi all

Yes i agree if you want to fast track your way to Canada, you need to put in the time and just try, to be honest if your gonna be waiting 2 years if you do nothing, maybe fill some of that time by trying to either secure a job for now or when you arrive at the end of the day you have nothing to lose.

My husband and i are currently living in New Zealand with our 2 children and we came here nearly 4 years ago on a Work visa, we applied for a few jobs over the internet and my husbands current employer rang us from NZ in the UK and chatted for about 10mins then basically said yeah ok you got the job, he sent over a contract letter offering employment, we travelled to London got the work visa and a month later we arrived here.

We have now deceided that NZ isnt where we long to be, thats Canada, it was our original preferred destination, but at the time we just wanted out of the rat race that is the UK, we have a good life but the kids are now 14 and 12 and we have deceided that the next year or so is gonna be the best time to make this final move, as realising once the kids get boyfriends and girlfriends it will make the whole move so much more stressful, at the moment they are both fully behind the move as they find NZ very behind the times so to speak as do we too.

So we are currently checking out places and jobs and will be sending out letters and resumes in the next few months and hope to secure a job and come over to Canada on a WP and apply for residency.
We are willing to work hard, moving across the world once and fitting into a whole new culture and lifestyle we fully understand that arriving in canada even with a job isnt going to be a bed of roses, but we are a hardworking family, who have always prided ourselves on supporting ourselves, never claimed benefits, \
so all the hype we read about coming to canada dont bother its not like what you think blah blah blah, those ppl need to turn around go back to the UK and shut the hell up.

Ok i've gone on enough, and if i get started on those ppl that complain about canada i wont stop typing for a week, so anyway my advise is

Apply for jobs, dont be discrouraged if you dont get anywhere fast....as they say rome wasnt built in a day, there are some fantastic canadian companies out there, also try the recruiting companies, they may be able to help or have a need for your occupations...good luck !

Cheers
Tigger

Great Tip on the Resume..Yes-can-do..

All I can tell you is that it is possible - I got a job offer (like you I never thought it would be possible until I tried it) and got PR in 7 months start to finish. Just keep trying - there are thousands of people every year that do get job offers and get here quickly. The key is, keep trying, pick-up the phone instead of just emailing and don't give up. Remember that Canada's national emblem is the Beaver - chosen because the Beaver is a symbol of hard-work and perseverance.

Remember that Canada's national emblem is the Beaver - chosen because the Beaver is a symbol of hard-work and perseverance.[/QUOTE]

unlike the Sloth

unlike the Sloth[/QUOTE]

which country has the Sloth as its emblem?

And I've been under the misapprehension that it's a symbol of wide open spaces with loads of fauna.

LMAO @ the sloth

But yeah keep trying dont give up !!!

Probably more of a symbol of felling trees, Canada's forestry industry is one of the best of the Western world as there are strict rules for re-foresting de-forested areas... god that was a tongue twister, say that three times stood on your head, dare you! LOL!!

Interesting though about previous poster, I was actually planning on emmigrating to NZ in 2005 when I met & fell for a British bloke in 2004 and moved here instead. Now we're looking at marrying and moving back to Canada as there is no way either of us (early 30's) could afford a mortgage on a house in the UK during our remaining lifespans... plus I dont like the attitude & bullying I see prevelant in the UK and would prefer to raise kids in a more 'normal' enviroment, although I realise you cant shelter kids from everything, I think it will afford them a better opportunity to adapt in Canada then in the UK where it seems every weakness is poked & proded.

Hi there - we also got here on a work permit - job offer in the UK before we left. Yes, at times it's been stressful not knowing if a work permit will be renewed before PR is approved - in that situation now actually - but overall its been a good gamble. We've now been here 3 years and just about to get PR.

Once you've a year's Canadian experience, getting jobs gets loads easier; even if you wait for PR first there still may be no guarantee you get a job straight away once you're here so you may as well get over asap and start to clock up that experience.

Hubbie got the job by email - didn't bother with sending out long letters and resumes - a lot of effort for probably a lot of rejections. He researched a long list of companies that may be interested in him - then emailed a brief note introducing himself (sent out close to 800 emails), saying he was available for work and saying that he could send more info if they were interested. For every interested reply he got loads of nos but ended up with a good offer (after a quick interview in London) - then when we got there, 3 more offers came his way. It can be done.

Last point - if you're serious about getting there earlier - my advice would be to be flexible about where you would go initially, even if it is not your first choice for a permanent destination. There are more jobs in Alberta and Ontario - you could start off there, get the experience, then move to BC when you are more marketable ie have some Canadian experience. We took this approach and are in AB but thinking of moving out once we have PR.

Just my thoughts. Good luck.

Have a trip over here if you can and make contact with some prospective employers (if you haven't already) They can then put a face to the CV (sorry Resume). Or if you're under 35 you can apply to Bunac and come here to work for a year. I know you're unsure of doing that but at least you'd be here meeting people and networking and you never know a permanent job offer might come from it. Just an idea.
Hth Jo xx

Hi Grendel,

We applied in Dec 2004 as standard SW. At the time, our AOR (Jan 2005) stated a wait time of 12-18 months. We had thought about other options but we didn't meet any of the PNP criteria. In view of the suggested time we elected to sit tight.

In the meantime I applied for literally dozens of jobs, 'phoned employers, sent resumes, attended networking conferences at every opportunity and attended job fairs every time we went over on holiday. Despite our best efforts, the message was always the same: "Get here and you'll have a job." No-one seemed willing to pursue an LMO on my behalf. In our experience, we have found it impossible to break through that barrier. That's not to say it cannot be done.

Again, we considered a study permit but, given the projected timescales we elected to sit tight. However, by July 2006, we had received a delay letter, adding another 12 months onto our wait. I guess if we had known that from the start, we would have done things differently.

As I write, we have had our medicals and await our PPR.

With hindsight, I would agree that trying all possible routes and securing a job offer (if humanly possible) is the best way.

Simon & Laura