Glaswegian

In reality there is a citizenship market ... I remember working with a guy from HK who could tell you what it cost to buy your way into every western country.

I don't believe that the government should pay for anyone's immigration costs ... it's down to the individual to fund it all by themselves.

As a new immigrant, you're faced with trying to create a new life ... costs multiply at every turn.

There has been a lot of discussion on the importance of networking ... with a new immigrant's limited cash supply and earning potential, what is the priority for spending money?

Networking? Training? Applying for citizenship?

Right now we're working on the first two and paying for some of it ourselves with no guarantee of success ... the result is that the last priority will have to slide for a few months.

The reality is that every new immigrant wants to become established and get a slice of the Canadian pie as quickly as possible ... it's cash that dictates what you get to be and when.

Covenant

It is an interesting point though, putting aside the issue about employment availability in Canada, it is stating the obvious that Canada needs an influx of skilled workers to help support the economy and promote future growth in the infrastructure.

Now, to most people, gaining those skills that Canada apparently is so desperate for, has cost them, and their country of origin, a heck of a lot of money, not a penny of which Canada has provided. On top of this, these skilled workers will continue to work and help to contribute to the Canadian Revenue for a long time. Add on the the tens of millions of pounds in foreign currency that these newcomers bring into the Country, and then to ask these same people to pay hefty fees for the privilage of applying for the right to live in Canada is added insult to injury.


Lets see, We have to get all our documents ready, notarised, get police checks done, in effect get the whole package ready for a clerical officer to tick all the right boxes, and then to approve our application, and it still takes them on average over a year to do this. Yes I am simplifying matters, and there is a lot of paperwork checking going on in the background, but there is really no logic in the cost of the fees charges against the actual cost verses the benefit of gaining yet another skilled worker to support the Canadian Economy.




Sorry Iain, got to disagree with you on this mate.

Glaswegian

I know I'll regret asking this ... do I have to give up my UK citizenship to make Canadian employers happ?

Nope, quite the opposite ... but I am curious as to whether the PR card & citizenship process is truly revenue neutral.

You should know by now that I'm very conservative ... I don't like to see the government spending money anywhere it doesn't have to.

Glaswegian

Very nicely put ... it would be nice to see a system where you could earn citizenship ... but would that reward people who don't contribute skills and taxes to the economy?

Canada does like to have everything it's own way ...

MikeUK

The reality is that the Canadian government knows that if its employers really do have one of those International catches the company will pay the PR and citizenship to keep them..(not me ) and write the contract accordingly.. if it won’t then it’s not that good a catch and why should the government pay for the second raters…
And I’m sure those fees paid by companies are tax deductible

Glaswegian

Haven't heard of that one happening, is that reality or rumour?

iaink

I agree with your points about the economic benefits reaped by Canada from PRs, but this was a thread about Citizenship, not PR.

There is no economic benefit to Canada from people already here as PRs becoming Citizens that I can see, but hopefully the fees charged cover the expense of the process and no more than that, it would certainly be interesting to know. I thought CIC was supposed to be entirely "revenue neutral" although I doubt it is.

As far as citizenship goes though , they do supply those nice maple cookies at the citizenship ceremony you know, and they aint cheap, plus there was a very nice cake too

iaink

My employer paid for my work permit application, and later for my PR application. I guess they must have been desperate. I didnt ask them, or expect them to pay for citizenship. Maybe I should have!

Now they've got me they dont seem too keen to pay me more though That will probably come as no surprise to all those already living here

Glaswegian

They must have wanted you ... I got laid off from my first job soon after I asked when the annual salary review was going to happen.

When the first review came up for my current job, I posted my resume on Monster and Workopolis in preparation!! They're also a recruitment agency, so they found my resume, I was asked for an explanation when I got into work the next day.

Paying the PR fees back in the UK feels like paying for a pig in a poke ... you shell out a large amount of dosh in application fees, medicals, etc, without a real clue about what you're moving into.

They're nice to you while they want to hire you, but .... I'm beginning to wonder if the only way to get significant salary uplifts is to move jobs every few years ... a bit like the IT job market was back in the 80's in the UK.

Purley

I became a Canadian citizen years ago, simply because I was working for lawyers. I acted as the initial director for corporations and the rules changed to say that you needed a majority of Canadian citizens. So I did it for that reason. My husband applied at the same time. I have no idea whether we would have done it otherwise, maybe not.

My sister, on the other hand, has lived in Canada for over 30 years but never bothered to become a citizen. One year people came around and asked for the names of adults living in her house, which information she gave and thus was put on the voter's list, even though she isn't supposed to be able to vote, not being Canadian!!

I think she probably feels about as Canadian as I do. I am happy that I did not have to give up my UK citizenship.

Glaswegian

I almost got on it too by the same method ... the guy was writing my name down and I pointed out I wasn't a citizen.

Glaswegian

Interestingly the Alberta legislation refers to directors as having to be "Canadian" ... but being a PR counts as being a Canadian for the purposes of establishing an Alberta corporation.

CalgaryAMC

Thirty years ago Britons resident in Canada could legally vote without being Canadian citizens. Just as a point of interest.

Interested

[/QUOTE]


.... I'm beginning to wonder if the only way to get significant salary uplifts is to move jobs every few years ... a bit like the IT job market was back in the 80's in the UK.[/QUOTE]

Well that seems to be the way it works in canada for everyone! You have to move around to get any significant pay rise. In fact I'm sure it's the same in the U.K.!

On another point I don't believe that I am treated any differently by my employer beacuse I am British. Infact there are a few British people where I work and no one has had any problems! I also know that I'm being paid the same as my Canadian counterparts.

I will definitely become a citizen when I get the chance. I'll do it as a matter of pride in the country I live in. I might have to save up a bit, but I'm happy to do that for a lifetime of Canadian rights.

Int.

JAJ

True, but the average employer who's not familiar about the nuances of dual citizenship as the average user of this forum won't see it this way. They'll see becoming a Canadian citizen as a sign you plan to stay.

It's also true that some (not all) Canadians will see a person as 'one of us' if they have become Canadian (whether they've kept their old citizenship or not is usually irrelevant). In a marginal case, that can swing a job your way.

In Australia, having citizenship over PR is certainly a slight advantage in the job market, mainly for these reasons.

Jeremy