Hello Happy New Year

I am a civil engineer working for a main contractor in London on major projects such as offices,retail,stadiums and high end residential/condominiums. I have 6 years experience and my my job role is senior section engineer

I have had a interview in London with a top major contractor in Canada during November. They have pretty much said they are interested in taking things further but do not currently have the role for me.

I am thinking of going over to Canada in the near future and I am preferably looking to go to Alberta Calgary. What is the current construction market like in Calgary and other places. Really want to avoid Toronto and Vancouver for cost of living reasons even thought know that Calgary is still expensive.

Is there more chance in getting a job with a trip over there?

Thanks

First thing I would do is decide on the province!

Each province has their own engineering body, I would guess that you want to retain the title of P.eng so you need to see what it takes to 'easily' transfer your title over.

I know in my province that if you have 10 years experience in another country with 'any' engineering licence they will transfer you. If you have a degree from the UK they will transfer you.

Each province has slightly different rules so it is best to get this checked out before anything else.

You don't want to move only to find out that you can't work as a designated P.Eng.

Alberta requires that you have a minimum of four years of engineering experience, with a minimum of 12 months of that in Canada before you are eligible to get your P.Eng. It does have a Provisional Licensee status for foreigners who have four years experience without the Canada experience, but it is fairly meaningless. That said, as long as you are working with other engineers, the lack of status will not affect you too much. Also, provided your first engineering degree is from a British university, you should have no problem with meeting all the other requirements. Shoot me a message if you have any questions on that front, as I have been there and done that.

There are a lot of job opportunities for Engineers in Alberta at the moment, especially in construction because the oil patch attracts a lot of people. That said, I'm not sure how you would get your work permit, because when I was moving over a couple of years ago I was not eligible through any of the routes except spousal sponsorship (I looked into moving over before our wedding, but it was a no-go). That would be the first thing to look into - how to actually get into the country - as I'm not sure if many of the companies would be prepared to go through the labour market opinion approach. You say you have 6 years experience, which may mean you are under 30, in which case you could try the BUNAC visa (I wasn't eligible because I was engaged to a Canadian...).

What's your background? We're looking for structural engineers at the moment, though we're consultants not contractors...

Hello.

Thanks for your reply. I work for a top tier main contractor in London mainly within the building/major project sector. Really looking to go down the contractor route as suppose to consultant.

Reading as much as I can I believe I can work there on a TWP but would need it via the LMO approach. Finding it a very slow process in hearing from the interview I had which I was told went well.

By the way.. yes I am under 30

IEC (the new name for the Bunac visa referred to above) then, much easier than going down the LMO/TWP route, plus it has the advantage of you not being tied to your employer.

That would give you up to 2 years, and you'd be instantly employable unlike the LMO where an employer has to go through paperwork/hassle.

HTH, good luck.

Hello.

Thanks for the reply. When I google IEC I get taken to a page saying that the quota has been filled for 2012 and that it will be reopened for 2013 in the coming weeks. Is there a limited number of applicantsa allowed? If i did apply for it do I have to have a job offer first?

Thanks

Yes, the 2013 program is due to open any day now. There are a limited number of applicants, last year the visas all ran out in May I believe.

And no, you don't need a job offer for it, it's an open work permit.

HTH.

You don't need a job offer first - that's the beauty of it. I believe there is a limited quota, but as it is just opening you should be fine as long as you can get your application in as soon as it opens.

No job offer required. Usually about 5000 places. Some years they go pretty fast. Everybody is expecting the 2013 programme to be for 24 months and the age being raised to 35. They are also expecting that they will be able to apply for PR status under the CEC class once they have worked with 12 months experience. It has not been finalized this is merely a wish list.
Programme expected to open possibly this month. Keep watching the IEC page.

Ok thanks very much for your help final question I hope for now. Say if I did get the IEC do I have to use it within a limited time?Would I still be able to go for PR once in Canada and also could I sponsor my common law partner with it or should she just get one as well?

Thanks

You get a year to use it, your spouse couldn't be sponsored (as said above, only PR's or citizens can sponsor) so if she wants to work too she'd need her own IEC, and yes, you can apply for PR once in Canada if eligible.

HTH.

Once the LOI has been issued you normally have 12 months to activate the work permit. PR applications have no effect on work permits etc but i still dont see how and what stream for PR you would be applying under?
Try this site for a quick assessment and if eligible as sometimes this site is easier to read.
http://www.canadavisa.com/
Im not advocating you get a lawyer either. The BE site has also the same info if not better (see mods no need for a ban )

Once you have a job here under the IEC your company could go through the LMO process on your behalf. If you're in Alberta, they could go through the provincial nominee route, but you have to have Canada experience before they can go that way. Getting here in the first place is probably the important bit, as once a company decide they like you, and have you already working for them, it is more worth their while to do the paperwork to keep you.

That is really useful. Many thanks. Agreed getting there is the the first step before I get too carried away. Again thanks