Macmadden

Hi all,

First thread here so go easy lol.

basically looking for confirmation really that my wife and I are correct from what we have read already from this forum and elsewhere.

1. We have both applied for the IEC pool, I thought I read you had to be married more than a year for ur spouse to apply for an open work permit but christmasoumpa helped us out and sayed doesn't matter how long we have been married just have to be a skilled worker. We were just worried about 1 of us getting an IEC and the other not so knowing this definitely helps as we would assume we are skilled workers as my wife is a health and safety consultant and I am a painter and decorator with supervising and management experience. Am I correct in assuming this? Lastly, if we do come over with one IEC visa what would the other halfs initial visa to get in the country be? How hard is it to get an open work permit? How long would it usually take to get an open work permit?

2. Jobs
As stated above does anyone know anymore info on our jobs at all, any information would be great. Differences from the UK, any courses needed to work in Canada? ( like CSCS in UK).

3. Vancouver
We would be intending in starting our journey in Vancouver, do you think we would be able to live here comfortably? We have looked into it and done some research and have seen ur looking at 2000-2250 for a 1 bedroom condo downtown? We both drive so we would be good with living 30 mins drive outside downtown if anyone could recommend some good areas?

We would be looking to bring over roughly 10k over to get set up do you think this would be enough to get started, with rent + deposit, buying a car, insurance car + health, flights, initial airbnb first
week or 2.

any help or information would be great and much appreciated guys thanks in advance.

Scott.

Former Lancastrian

If only 1 of you gets accepted for the IEC then until that person secures a skilled job in NOC skill level 0 A or B then the other will be able to apply for the spousal open work permit after the other has started working. Timeframe will vary dependent upon 1st person getting the skilled job and then issuance of 2nd work permit. Quickest way would be once the 1st person has secured skilled employment then both of you driving to the USA crossing back into Canada and the 2nd person applying at the border for the SOWP with proof that the 1st person has a skilled job ie letter from employer with job details and NOC code. Pay the $155 work permit fee and $100 processing fee at the border. Or applying online to IRCC and providing same evidence and payment which would take several weeks.

As for jobs its just a case of using websites, job banks or other where jobs are advertised. Painting and decorating requires certification in BC so would need red seal challenge as found in this link

https://www.itabc.ca/program/painter-and-decorator

I don't think OSH consultants require certification but this link might be useful

https://www.empiresafetysolutions.co...questions.html

As for Vancouver most will say expensive and scenery doesn't pay the bills. If living downtown most would say use public transit no need to buy a car and can always rent vehicles from a variety of sources. Would need to swap UK licences which is easily done but be prepared to be shocked by insurance prices if you do decide to buy a vehicle.

Get a complete claims history letter

You'll need a claims history letter from your previous auto insurer(s). It must contain the following items:

1. Insurance company letterhead—not from your broker or agent
   
2. Insurance company contact information
   
3. Date of issue
   
4. Name of principal operator and insured persons of the vehicle being insured with ICBC
   
5. Policy number(s)
   
6. Effective dates of coverage
   
7. Details of any claims, or state clearly that there were no at-fault claims
   
8. Signature of company representative
   

https://www.icbc.com/Pages/default.aspx

Siouxie

Hi and welcome to BE!


I've moved your thread from the Immigration section as it seems to be more general questions rather than immigration specific..

Macmadden

Thanks very much guys,

really helps ease our concerns.

just to clarify on that though we could arrive in canada 1 with iec and other on a visitor visa? When we have skilled employment do what u sayed to the border and back and after that we would both had working visa yeah?

Also do you think a ballpark figure of 10k would be sufficient for us to get over and get set up, we would like 1 car between us so including flights, buying car, car insurance, health insurance, 1-2 weeks airbnb initially, spending money, then putting up first months rent and deposit for a place when he had scoped the place out?

thanks again

Scott

Former Lancastrian

The one who has been accepted on the IEC gets an open work permit on entry into Canada by producing the letter of invitation. At this point you are not deemed employed until you secure a job. Then once employment secured the spouse can then apply for the SOWP.

R I C H

$10k or £10k? There's quite a difference.

• Car insurance c$2k until you've proven NCD
• Flights c$1k depending on time of year
• 1 month rent $2k (your figure). Deposit in BC is 50% of rent due.
• Insurance $? you'll have to research IEC insurance
• Airbnb $100 p/night x 2 weeks = $1,400
• Groceries x 2 weeks = $200

Doesn't leave much for a car purchase, and are you assuming finding work and staring within 2 weeks? Property rentals start at the beginning of the month generally, so you need to factor in your arrival date and the likelihood of finding a suitable rental. Bear in mind you don't want to rent somewhere first then subsequently find you've a terrible commute.

Macmadden

Hey,

Yeah that would be £10k in pounds we are hoping to have, adding all that up that comes to roughly £5k which isn't as bad as I was thinking? Yeah the plan would be giving ourselves 2 weeks to getup and running and also checking the place out so we don't commit to somewhere and regret it after signing the lease. You reckon that's enough time to get bank account, SIN , mobile provider, somewhere to live, and a job? Or am I being unrealistic?

Thanks,

Scott.

scilly

IEC applicants need to have medical insurance policy in place that will cover repatriation in the event of major illness.

I think the usual amount required for a couple is well over $10,000

I take it that you are both under 30?

Remember, you might not get a job right away! It might take weeks .... or you might have to take a low-paid job. It seems that most people find it impossible to get work from outside the country, but have to wait until they arrive here, and the idea of the IEC is to gain experience via a working holiday.

Two weeks might be VERY unrealistic to find a well-paying job in your trade, especially as Painting and Decorating is a regulated occupation in BC, which means that you have to be certified, regulated or licensed by the Industry Training Authority

Others will know more about that than I do.

Speaking as someone who has lived in Vancouver for over 50 years ............... housing is very expensive and hard to find. Vacancy rates are very low. And this situation now extends out as far as Abbotsford and even Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley, and north to Squamish.

Those are far more than 30 minute drives on most days.

christmasoompa

I think it's plenty of time to get a bank account, SIN, mobile phone and short term rental. However, I think that expecting to find a job in the first two weeks with no Canadian experience and/or qualifications is unrealistic I'm afraid. You may get lucky, but I'd be prepared to be looking for longer. Is your job regulated, will you need to do anything to be able to work in Canada first? That's another thing to just double check.

Good luck.

beckiwoo

You are probably about right with your $2000 - $2500 pm for a 1 bedroom condo to rent per month, however as already discussed, vacancy rates are at less then 1%.

If you want to move downtown as well and have a car - factor in paying for parking because not all apartment buildings offer it. Right now I pay $115 a month to park in a private parkade, which is going up to just under $150 next month.

You can easily get a job within 2 weeks if you are not fussy about what you do. I got a job in a cafe within 3 days and then found work related to my occupation (Youth Work and Social Care) 6 weeks later.

Macmadden

Yeah I turn 30 in May and my wife turned 30 last October, so this is our last chance for this visa lol!

we have previously been in Australia with the working holiday visa and for my job it was pretty easy to get work there as some of my work is domestic work so some of it over there or even in the UK you don't need a CSCS cars to-do this kind of work so if I initially wanted to get work I would hope something along those lines would get me a job within 2-3 weeks, i have looked on indeed and other job sites and alot of them want immediate starts for my job, I would have to get my qualifications transferred over to Canadian standards and probably do something similar to the CSCS in the UK which is basically making sure you know your way around sites and is a 1 day course if I remember correctly.

My wife would probably take longer to find work because of the nature of her job is pretty specialist but she is willing to take her hand to anything to tie over till she finds work in her field, even like accounts assistant or something along those lines or even bar work if necessary so we are quite flexible.

Once again if anyone has any experience in these jobs any more advice would be much appreciated.

I have read alot of people saying housing is an issue for Vancouver, any tips on securing somewhere or is it literally just a case of searching searching and searching and snatching when available?? I didn't realise it stretched as far as 1 hours drive away from downtown! That's pretty crazy lol, we were hoping for maybe like surrey or somewhere along those lines but that doesn't look too realistic lol.

I think we have done alot of research(especially when we haven't even been picked yet lol) just want to make sure we are going down the right route and what we have researched is accurate.

I take it when buying a car because we have no credit in canada we are pretty stuffed it will have to be paid in full in cash?

thanks for taking the time guys.

Scott.

scilly

It is a matter of searching, searching and searching, and hoping that you can get in before anyone else, and that the landlord will accept you without any Canadian references and background.

With a vacancy rate of only a little over 0.5% in some areas, a few landlords are taking kickbacks ............ though you should NOT start by offering that as it is only a few, and you certainly don't want to upset those who are honest.

The odd person is lucky, and gets a place right away, but it really is luck.

How much research did you do on Vancouver and area before deciding that this was where you wanted to spend your last IEC?

I'm honestly feeling that it wasn't much ................ the cost of living is high, vacancy rates are impossibly low, getting parking in downtown Vancouver is getting harder and harder to find and is expensive (as beckiwoo said above).

I don't know what the registration or licensing process for a decorator and painter here is, but I suggest you find out pronto! There is quite a bit of construction going on, and painters and decorators are needed there .......... but you won't get a look-in if you cannot prove that you have the correct licensing for working here.

I don't know about your wife's chances of finding a job as a Health and Safety Consultant. She'll have to bring herself up to Canadian and BC standards. It may be Timmies or other customer service position for low pay and tips.

Siouxie

Painter and Decorator is a regulated trade in Canada - you will need to apply to register for Provincial Certification / challenge - provided you have the required hours of documented experience before you are able to work. https://www.itabc.ca/program/painter-and-decorator
https://www.itabc.ca/apply-apprentic...llenging-exams

For other Provinces, see the links here: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketrepo...ements/6520/ca

Likewise, Health and Safety Consultant is a regulated profession in BC - additionally, Occupational health and safety officers may require certification with the Association for Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketrepo...ments/27307/ca
https://bcrsp.ca/prospective-certificants

christmasoompa

I thought it might be - thanks Siouxie, you always know about regulated professions (which seem to be pretty much ALL of them in Canada!). I guess the OP could try and get short term work in another area whilst he sorts that out.

Macmadden

Hey guys,

We have done some research for around the Vancouver area, not as much as we should have but we hadn't even been accepted but an amazing email this morning invited us to apply !! Chuffed 😁😁😁😁 . Now proper time to research !

We have been interested in Ottawa aswell our intentions up to date were spending 6-12 months Vancouver and 6-12 months in Ottawa. Do you reckon it would be a better option to start off in Ottawa with more rentals available and also to get more Canadian experience while not spending as much of our initial money? ( btw we have read that Ottawa isn't anywhere near as lively as Vancouver but wanted to experience different sides to Canada Lol!)

I have checked out the websites you sent over regarding our jobs and that should be manageable to get proof of work so will have all that sorted before moving over and just a case of applying when their and hoping doesn't take too long lol thanks for that!

Scott.