philip_west1

Hi everyone, I've just got a couple of questions about moving to Canada, any help/answers/suggestions would be appreciated.

> If I moved to Canada, I'd be looking for a job in office administration or retail. Would I need to arrange employment before moving to Canada?
> Is it advisable to gain some experience in the United Kingdom working in administration or retail before attempting to find work in Canada?

thanks

christmasoompa

Hi Philip, and welcome to the Canada forum.

It's difficult for us to say whether you'd need a job offer to get a visa for Canada, most people these days do, but if you have experience in a job on 'the list' of occupations in demand then you may be eligible without a job offer.

Your best bet is to start reading the Wiki and you will then understand all about the various visas available and which you may be eligible for. This page is a good place to start.............http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Quick_...an_Immigration

And if you think you do need a job offer, then the Job Hunting section is an essential read.

Once you've digested and understood, come back and ask questions.

philip_west1

Thanks for the heads up, I'll check out the Wiki links and see what's what. I've also ordered a book 'Living and Working In Canada', so hopefully there might be some answers in there.

christmasoompa

There may well be, but that book can also be out of date as immigration laws change so often, so do double check whatever you read on the CIC website.

philip_west1

Well judging by what i've read on the Wiki links, and on Canada's own immigration website (I printed off a forty page guide called 'living and working in canada', it looks promising. I've found that a lot of jobs (non regulated), are easier to find than jobs which require specialist qualifications. My plan is to find a job in the United Kingdom (either in administration, retail, or outdoors), gain some experience in that job, while gaining some more qualifications (possibly in business management). I'll then look at making the move to Canada at a later stage. I've also read that 'non regulated jobs', are a good way to start a career in Canada, is this true?

Almost Canadian

How many points do you think you score on the test? I say this because, unless you have a degree or some form of apprenticeship, most people struggle to meet the required points. If you apply shortly after having secured the employment you have referred to above, you will also be losing points under the work experience category. Not insurmountable problems, but worth considering.

philip_west1

I'm currently taking the 'self assessment' test, I don't expect to do well at this point because I haven't finished my two year college diploma and am not currently employed.

philip_west1

61 on the self assessment test, not bad for a twenty year old upstart. but I do have a clearer idea of what I need to do now.

Ikatita

If you are so young, a BUNAC visa might be worth considering, and an easier way than going PR direct.