hi there,

I'm new to this site. I have just finished spending 3 weeks with my Parents who live in Calgary and I have to say that I have really enjoyed it. Calgary is an amazing city and I would just like to start research on how to or what is the best way to get things started regarding immigration matters.

brief background on me - I currently live in London and I work in police custody but I am also a volunteer police officer. I am very keen to work for the Police either in Calgary or another part of Canada. I have heard people in the same situation join the police in Newfoundland/saskatchewan and then transfer to the bigger cities.

Would i have to be offered a job with police 1st or get a temporary work permit 1st?? apologies I'm not that great with immigration matters.

Regards

Richard

You need a employer to get a work permit in most cases. My husband looked at police recently as he too was in the specials only everything we looked at stated but be a Canadian citizen

As per the Calgary Police Service minimum requirements:

• Canadian citizen, landed immigrant status or permanent resident status (living in Canada or the United States for three years).

So, you don't need to be a citizen, but you do need to be PR and and have been here for 3 years. This makes you ineligible for the CPS.

You may wish to bone up on your Canadian geography. Newfoundland and Saskatchewan are provinces not cities. In Canada the RCMP is a federal or national police force whereas provincial, or municipal police forces are, by their very definition, regional. So even if you did join say the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, your options in places to serve would be limited to within Newfoundland and Labrador. I suppose it may be possible to transfer from one police force to another but it'll be rather a moot point. To join the RNC you need to be a Canadian citizen. Applicant Requirements | Royal Newfoundland Constabulary

Yep, as the others have said, forget the police, as that won't get you a visa.

In answer to 'which comes first', it's the job offer - you can't get a Temp Work Permit without a job offer and LMIA (something your potential employer has to apply for, to show they cannot find a Canadian to do the job; this costs the employer $1000). Once you've got a positive LMIA (can take several months to obtain, just for your timescales) and written job offer, then you'd apply for your Temp Work Permit.

But although you seem to be planning on going over on a TWP, do look at other visa options just in case you're eligible for an easier visa route.

HTH, good luck.

Your parents live in Calgary - what's their status? Is there any scheme that allows them to sponsor you?

I think he would need to be a dependant, which living and working away in London would indicate he isn't.