Canada driving
 

Hello all,

I am writing on here in the hope of getting advice.

I`m a 42 year old Englishman with no dependants, kids etc. I`ve been driving lorries here in Britain for the last 14 years and over the last few years have occasionally thought about moving to Canada to live and work. I`ve lived abroad before so homesickness and any other problems that people suffer from when living elsewhere is not an issue for me.

I recently spoke with a visa agency in London and they informed me that Temp work visas are currently not available for Canada and asked if I have any college, or higher, education. I replied that I have an NVQ L2 welding ticket, so they say I would most likely qualify for a student visa which would entitle me to work 16 hours a week whilst doing a college course in Canada, in anything I chose (so long as I was eligible for the course) which would in turn set me on the path for full residency. Naturally this visa company have fees, of around £1100.

I have an open mind on what work I would do in Canada but lorry driving is foremost in my mind, great way to see the land and wages provide a decent standard of living.

Can anyone tell me, does this student visa plan sound viable ? It all sounds a bit odd to me. All western countries are in need of lorry drivers so why would Canada want me stuck in a classroom doing any old course that I chose to do, not that I`m complaining as it would be a chance to catch up on some sleep, when I could be out doing real work. Any lorry drivers, or anyone else, here who can advise on the way forward ? Perhaps can recommend a visa agency ? Do I need to use an agency ?

I`ve tried reading posts and threads on here and it all gets a bit confusing.

Thanks in advance for any help given.

Re: Canada driving
 

Hi, welcome to BE.

That does sound very odd to me. If they told you that there are no temp work permits available, then that's a load of rubbish - hundreds (if not thousands) are issued every week! Perhaps they mean that there aren't many LMIA's available for truckers now? That is true, but it's still possible.

You also don't require any further education to get a study permit, so that's strange too, and a study permit is only temporary so may well not 'set you on the path to full residency'. You could get a study permit, and work part-time whilst on it, but there is no automatic way to get PR after a study permit, you'd still need to qualify for PR just like everybody else does. The only advantage it would give you would be that you would get a post-graduate work permit, if you did the right kind of course (think a degree or similar). Short vocational courses won't count.

Tbh, a study permit isn't something I'd recommend just to get you in to Canada, it only really works if you genuinely want to study and get further education, not if you just want to move there, as it's just too risky for that. If that's your main aim, then I'd try and get a job offer and go that way, no point in spending tens of thousands on studying if that's not what you actually want to do. Have a look at the truckers forum to see where you might be able to get a LMIA/TWP and ditch the 'agency' with their dodgy advice! :lol:

Be aware too, that as truckers aren't classed as skilled under Canada's immigration system, that you could only get permanent residency in a few provinces, so that's something to bear in mind.

Lastly, you mention welding, is that something you've done in the past? If so, that's classed as skilled, so might open up other visa options.

HTH, best of luck.

Re: Canada driving
 

Hi and thanks for your reply. Visa agency now ditched :)

I was thinking a temp work permit for a year, or 2 years, whatever Canada might offer, and take it from there and apply for PR in the future, provided both myself and Canada were happy with that. I confirm I have no interest in going back to school.
Would you suggest applying for truck jobs in Canada and if a company took the bait to then help them to help me and watch them navigate the legal side ?
With re to the welding, I don`t want to be inside working, which is what my particular welding ticket would demand, nor do I have much exp working in this. Trucking is where it`s at for me !

Re: Canada driving
 

Jolly good. Tbh, if that's the kind of advice they are giving you, then I suspect they're not properly registered and licensed anyway!

OK, so a work permit it is. Just make sure you're in a province where you can get PR as a trucker (SK and MB spring to mind as the most likely, definitely not Ontario).

There is no 'legal side' for you to navigate anyway if you're just looking at a Temp Work Permit initially. The LMIA has to be applied for by the company, it's not something you do, and the TWP you just pick up at the airport when you arrive, so you won't have a single form to fill in. Once you get to the stage of being eligible to apply for PR (this will vary, depending on the province), then you might want to pay for help with the paperwork if you feel you need it, but most on the forum just do it themselves.

Fair enough - do ask in the truckers forum then, I know that LMIA's are pretty rare for truckers, but at least there are some out there now whereas a year or 18 months ago you wouldn't have had a hope in hell!

Best of luck.

Re: Canada driving
 

Thank you very much for all your advice, it has certainly got me started.

Re: Canada driving
 

I read over the weekend that Ontario now class trucking as a skilled trade ! Someone out east should look into how that's affecting immigration out there as it MAY open a door slightly ?

:)


http://www.trucknews.com/features/on...skilled-trade/

Re: Canada driving
 

It's not affecting immigration I'm afraid, you still must be Skill Level A, O or B to qualify for PR under the Ontario PNP. Nothing has changed with it yet, and I doubt it would personally - but you never know!

Re: Canada driving
 

Hello Jeffos.


First things first - DO NOT PAY an agent or agency to get you a job or paperwork etc you can do it all yourself for free. Any company worth their salt will deal with you directly.

The first thing that you need to know is the pathway for a trucker to gain PR is through a Provincial Nominee program. Certain Provinces have this if I remember its Alberta, Sask, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland. You then have to find a company that has LMIAs available. This is the authority from the government of Canada to hire a foreign worker. I would strongly suggest that you find a job that suits your comfort zone - eg if you are a reefer man in the UK find a company that does reefers here. This is a huge change and doing this will make the transition easier. Once you find a job that suits what you want the next step is getting here. Once you are here you will have to take the theory test, air brake test and class one practical test. All straight forward, any decent company will provide all the training and support. This should only take a few weeks depending on how it goes. Once you have been here for 6 months you can then apply for the Provincial Nomination, once you have that they then forward you application to the federal government for Permanent Residency.

In terms of the jobs you will be looking at long haul at least until you have PR. This usually entails going to and from the USA. Typically you will be in the cab 5-14 days and a few days at home depending on the company and runs.

One thing to be aware of is that you will be working longer hours than in the UK for the same if not less pay. It depends on what you are used to. The model of pay here is different as well. Most companies will pay you per mile and a paltry rate when you are sitting about. I cant stress enough to do your research as many have gone home with broken dreams and very broken bank accounts. Im not trying to put you off but come with your eyes open.

Feel free to ask any questions. There are a few other drivers on here and there is also a trucking section. Trucking - British Expats

Re: Canada driving
 

Hi Alex,

Yes, thank you for your advice. From reading on this forum in the past I had learnt that the trucking life in Canada/USA can be very formidable. Long hours, treated worse than a dog, body clock messed with mercilessly and I expect the list goes on. I also was working with an English driver a couple years back who had then recently come back from a year or so of driving in the states. His words were less than kind of the experience and the look in his eyes reinforced his words so that there was no doubt in my mind he was telling the truth. Grim.

In the first instance I would expect to tow the line, to cut my teeth and prove myself on the new situation, and once I obtain PR, can I then drop trucking to find other employment ? Can you do this before gaining PR ? I`ve no idea of how Canada works, but can you drive trucks when you want ? IE, go on the road for a couple of weeks and then drop the truck off and make yourself available whenever it suits you, like an agency driver back here in England, this lifestyle would suit me much better. Or am I dreaming.

Re: Canada driving
 

:goodpost:

Ontario has low pay for truckers and cant get residency so i wouldn't bother looking at that area if i where you.

Re: Canada driving
 

I wasn't sure if it would help, Shame it doesnt !
Apprenticeship wouldn't help you through the door where i work, has to be minimum two years hands on highway experience. I know the argument about getting experience if you cant get a job i had the same issue when i started out in the UK a long time ago, 2 year experience and over 25 to get a DECENT job, before that i worked for who ever would give me a job for what ever they chose to pay me.

Re: Canada driving
 

Just trying to give the facts without the Disney version that no doubt some companies will. Yes it can be tough but it can also be fantastic. I had a great four and a half years running all over the continent. There are good and decent companies to work for it is just a matter of finding one and one that suits you. Any decent company will treat you as an equal. What also has to be remembered is that it is sometimes not the company but the driver. Plenty have come and gone that fail the attitude test. As a result your employer might be wary due to negative experiences that they may have had. There will be an adjustment but if you are easy going and part of the solution vs part of the problem then you will be fine. Its just a case of getting settled and building a working relationship with you dispatcher.

Your work permit will be tied to your employer and your role eg Long Haul Truck Driver for John Smith Tranpsort. You can only legally work as this until you have PR. Once you have PR you can do what you please wherever you please.

The agency driver thing here is minuscule compared with the UK and typically is a way to a job rather than full time agency bod like you can be in the UK. This might be different in the bigger cities but certainly less prominent part of the work force than the UK. I was agency for a few years and bloody loved it. Only stopped because I was offered a golden job. There are companies that will employ you as a casual and or seasonal worker. You would have to find that gig yourself as I cant imagine that it would be advertised.

You are right to dream - there are endless possibilities its just a matter of finding one that is right for you.

Re: Canada driving
 

You`re quite right about attitude test and all, works both ways doesnt it and thanks for the sound advice.

After doing some brief research on youtube I see I need to re-evaluate what questions need asking first. So what`s the maximum realistic price for a realistic lot lizard ? Do realistic lot lizards even exist ? And if so, are there any lot lizard sites that should be avoided/recommended ?

Re agency in Canada. Just gotta find one place in any big city etc that operates in this respect. For example take stobbarts back here in UK, while it can be a nightmare place to work, it`s also convenient, loads of work and can come and go as you please as they`re so busy and have high turnover of agency (and full time lol). Been driving 14 years and agency for 13, it`s the best way. Had a few nasties over the years try to trap me with full time employment but I`ve always managed to find the will power to say no. They tend to act like jilted girlfriends after refusal. Quite amusing.