Today I finally stopped 'lurking'

We *think* we want to emigrate to Canada, but we definitely want an overseas challenge, so after much discussing we have decided to try and get out to Canada for 12months ish on a temporary work visa, and if non-holiday life suits us there then try and get on PNP (we have +points for PR, but no patience for the wait!) and make our move permanent. If after X months we don't feel it's right for us long term then maybe we'll be able to appreciate life here more on our return and have had an adventure to boot...

Main concern is finding one of us an approved job - we are looking at going to Alberta.

Has anyone else done this or is anyone else in the middle of a similar plan?

Am interested to hear your experiences/pitfalls/advice?

Ok several tricks here, Bunac? Can either of you be 'trades people'? inter-company transfer?

Would be a good idea to post what fields you work in at the moment?

Hi SkiBunny,

We came to BC on a temporary work visa a year ago. We had it issued so that I could come and work for my company, at an office in Powell River, BC. It seems the temporary work visa is usually offered for a year in the first instance, and then extended as required. A colleague of mine in a similar situation, has had her visa for 4 years, but just been told by CIC that they must seek PR now. Our temporary work visa has just been issued for a further 3 years.

After I had 2 interviews with my company (one in person in Victoria, BC, and then a more technical phone interview) they offered me a position. The company then had to seek a Labour Market Opinion (from a government dept called HRDC) to ensure that they had been unsuccessful in seeking a Canadian for the job.

Once you are in Canada on a temporary work visa, you are obliged to stay with that company. If you decide to leave the employer, you must seek another visa type.

It is often easier to seek a successful Labour Market Opinion on more remote locations - big cities are more likely to find staff easier. But this very much depends on your profession.

It's a great way of getting to experience living in Canada sooner if you don't want to wait 2-3 years for your PR application to be approved.

Hope this helps, let me know if you would like more detailed info.

Sarah

What is Bunac? I've heard of it vaguely but it was to do with student placements...

Both MBA grads and I'm a mgr in software development (finance/telecoms) and husband is snr mgr in medical/health sector. Great for UK, doesn't seem so great for Canada, doh - knew I should've been a sparky!!

Not really scope to move to Canada inter-company.

BUNAC (as far as I know) is available to anyone under 35 without kids.
Have you checked the alberta site for IT fast track? I know you said you wanted work permit but if you can get PR fast track you may as well take it.

Hi & thanks
Lucky you getting a transfer! I can only get to Oz and been there, done that, not for me thanks!
Didn't realise you can't switch jobs on the temp permit, but it makes sense - I'll just have to get the right job so it's not an issue...
Do you have an other-half on a spouse visa? If so does that have any major restrictions to be aware of?

If you come on a WP spouse gets open WP so can work anywhere doing anything (except health\kids)

We are under 35 and no kids so that's an option worth some googling.

Where do I find the IT fast track?

thanks for your help - there's so much stuff to consider it's hard to know where to start!

Bunac non-student visas have all gone for this year, but you can apply from Dec '06 for next year - best to apply early as they run out quickly! More details are here. Dead simple process to get the visa, when they still have some quota left!

My partner and I are both in IT, both grads, and I also have an MBA - we're going out to Victoria in 4 weeks on Bunac visas (hopefully just initially!), and I have a job lined up in Victoria already. Just got lucky sending off my CV to various ads - didn't get much response until I had the Bunac visa though as most employers didn't want the hassle of getting work permits etc. Also, unlike Australia, IT skills (on the non-techy side) don't seem that much in demand at the moment. I know for the role I got (IT project/client management side) they had heaps of Canadian applicants.

Accordingly the IT fast-track programme (detailed here) only encompasses software designers/developers, rather than more managerial posts. (Bummer I know ).

If you manage to get a job offer where the employer has already got a 'Labour Market Opinion' (meaning they have demonstrated the need to employ a foreigner as they can't hire a Canadian for the job) then you can get both a work permit (which generally will automatically entitle your partner to an open work permit) as well as getting additional points on your PR application. But that's a whole different chapter...

Thanks! December is such a long way off and we are v impatient now we've actually decided to go for it (stupid PR queue!), still that is great to know as a fall back if we come up blank on jobs for a standard work permit.

I am semi-techie (SysTest/DBA/PM/BPR background) guess maybe I could take some more geek pills?!

Did you spam the companies direct or go via the job sites route?

Hi,

we just moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia on a 3 year work permit. my husband came in on the software developer fast track work permit (took about 3 weeks to get). I do know that RIM (Reasearch in motion) have just opened up a huge office in Halifax. Not sure if that helps.

Good Luck
kay

ps I know its miles from where you want to live but sometimes you have to go where the jobs are

Hi SkiBunny,

Ooops, I should have made that clearer. I didn't work for my current company prior to working in Canada. I applied for a job and they sorted out the temporary work visa.

When my partner Neil got his temporary work visa, he was issued with an open one. It is for the same time period, but he can work for anyone. As previously mentioned, spouses have some restrictions. His work visa restricts employment with education/health/agriculture and he is not allowed to undertake education or training.

One thing to remember is, if you are looking for longer temporary work visas e.g. 3 years, they won't issue it if it exceeds the length of time remaining on your passport.

All the best,

Sarah

Interesting that your permit is 3 years! Sounds like they aren't too fussy about approving whatever you can agree with the employer which is good.

NS is our 2nd choice - have worked in Halifax for 2 whole weeks in the past - but the weekend skiing can't compare to the Rockies (might seem flippant thing to be a priority, but it's our favourite past time so a big draw of the destination.) I will research that employer though so thanks.

Wow nice to hear a success story along similar lines to us - well done
I feel v motivated to get out there and find myself an offer now...

Yeah we need more Lancastrians.