I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Hi All,

As the title suggests I've made the decision to move to Canada. I would really appreciate you reading my post and giving any advice/direction to help make the process as smooth as possible.

OK - so firstly about me; I am currently 25 years of age, graduated as a Chemical Engineer but have ended up in IT currently working as a Senior Software Test Consultant. Next year (Aug 2018) I get married to a lovely lady who happens to be a pre-school teacher for children with special needs. We have decided we both want to have a go at moving to Canada and settling on a permanent basis.

Due to my job I have shortlisted 'Ottawa' as my number one place to relocate to as it's regarded as the Silicon Valley of North America. Upon moving we plan to take with us about £50k to help us start off.

So my questions are (apologies in advance if these have been asked many times before!):

1) Is there anyone who works in tech especially in QA/Software Testing who can give me an insight into the market in Ottawa or surrounding areas?

2) I have completed the online eligibility calculator and the score came back as over 450... what are the realistic chances of getting selected in the pool?

3) Is there any other Visa that we would be eligible for? From what I have read the IEC Visa is for those without dependents. I have no children but my wife would be my dependent I think?

4) I understand having a job offer is like a diamond! How is it possible to apply for jobs online etc whilst being in the UK - would I need to specify I have no Visa and not in the country? Or is it best to make a trip and attend interviews? I just don't see a company employing if I don't have the Visa already.

5) Is Ottawa a good choice? I understand some remote locations find it hard to fill jobs so could it be best to move to one of these locations first and then relocate once I have PR?

Any additional advice would be so much appreciated! Thank you all in Advance!

Uzzy :cool:

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Hi, and welcome to BE.

1. Not a clue! But others will be able to advise you on that I'm sure.

2. At 450, very good. The CIC website has the minimum points level of every draw ever done, the lowest it's gone to is 415 for a FSW application iirc, but most are around the 450-480 mark.

3. No, you've misunderstood. IEC can take dependents (even children), so you could take your spouse. Once you've got a 'skilled' job, she could get an open work permit for the same duration as your IEC, or if she's aged 30 or under herself, she could also apply for her own IEC. Bear in mind she can only go as your dependent if she's your spouse i.e. you're married or have lived together as husband and wife for a year or more. Do also look in to her job in Canada - she'll need to jump through quite a lot of hoops to work as a teacher, and the chances of her finding a job as a teacher are remote at best (although she may have more chance than most given her work with special needs children - might be worth a new thread with a relevant title to ask those in the know about that though). Search the forum and read the Wiki article on teaching in Canada for more info.

4. If you're on an IEC or have PR via EE, you don't need a job offer to get a visa. So as you're eligible for both of those it seems, forget needing a job offer as that will make things much harder for you.

5. See no. 1!

HTH, best of luck.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Short answers to some questions.

1. No idea about IT jobs but Kitchener/Waterloo has a lot of IT business as well as the usual major cities. Others will chime in on this.

2. 450 on the CRS score in most cases would get you an invite however a few rounds have been 450 plus
See this link for previous rounds
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...-previous.html

3. The IEC is an excellent way to get a job for 2 years and yes your wife could come and also get a job provided you were employed in skill level 0, A or B. Canada is not for everybody so you could leave at anytime during the 2 year work permit on the IEC.

4. Applying for jobs from the UK IMHO can be futile and frustrating as you don't have the work permit in hand. With no legal status to work most would ignore applications thats not to say it cant be done. A 2 to 3 week job hunting trip in Canada might yield better results.

5. Once you have PR status you could move anywhere though be careful if applying through a Provincial Nomination if that became a route for a PR application.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

3. No, you've misunderstood. IEC can take dependents (even children), so you could take your spouse. Once you've got a 'skilled' job, she could get an open work permit for the same duration as your IEC, or if she's aged 30 or under herself, she could also apply for her own IEC. Bear in mind she can only go as your dependent if she's your spouse i.e. you're married or have lived together as husband and wife for a year or more. Do also look in to her job in Canada - she'll need to jump through quite a lot of hoops to work as a teacher, and the chances of her finding a job as a teacher are remote at best. Search the forum and read the Wiki article on teaching in Canada for more info.


Seeing we are both under 30 and yes will be married do you think the IEC would be the best way to go? And can the IEC lead to PR? As I understand it is for 2 years and the plan is to settle permanently. Yes I've read about the teaching prospects and there are many hoops - but seeing she has transferable skills I think she's more than happy to adapt to the situation and work towards the qualifications needed for her role in Canada once she's there.

Thank you for your reply! :goodpost:

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

I will look into these locations as they have been mentioned a few times. The plan is to move Winter 2018 so have a little time. By reading your post it seems the IEC may be an easier route. My job falls into Skill Level B.

Thank you for the reply! :thumbup:

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Just bear in mind that if you want to move at the end of next year, you need to get an IEC visa under this year's program - there is a quota of visas each year and they will have run out by then, and the 2019 program won't open until around the end of 2018 (so by the time you've applied, waited to get selected, then had your application processed etc, you'd be looking at spring 2019 at the earliest before you could move).

So do look in to IEC sooner rather than later, and get your app in asap if that's the way you decide to go.

Good luck.

P.S. 'The Silicon Valley of North America'......? Wouldn't that just be Silicon Valley? ;):lol:

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Issue is the wedding is planned for August 2018 - from what you have said it might not be possible getting the application in for this year as we may end up having to apply individually and much rather send off one application. So in this case most likely have everything prepped and ready to go as soon as the next round opens in 2018!

Haha! In relation to the 'Silicon Valley' comment - think I need to browse more trusted websites while I do my research! :p

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Why would you rather apply together? It would actually be much better to apply separately anyway, as it's a lottery system so if you both applied you'd have two chances rather than one.

Then if one of you gets selected and gets an invitation to apply, they can get the IEC (remember you have a year to move once you've got it, so that works with your timescale). Then once married (I assume you don't qualify as common-law spouses?), the other can get an open work permit.

That's what I would do anyway!

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Makes sense - need to look more in depth into this Visa. I am getting contradicting info though - the CIC website says your spouse cannot obtain a work permit if you obtain an IEC visa and would need to be assessed individually? Link is here .. Will my spouse or common-law partner get a work permit under International Experience Canada to come with me?

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

That's because they don't automatically get a work permit just from you having an IEC, so it's no. 2 in that link that you need to look at. As mentioned above, they only get a spousal open work permit once you have a 'skilled' job, so if you were (for example) just going to work in a restaurant as a waiter, they wouldn't get a work permit. All spouses of skilled workers on work permits are eligible for spousal open work permits, so it's not specific to IEC, hence the info in that link.

For more info, see here - https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...y-11-2013.html

HTH.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Thank you for your response really appreciate it. Seems like the way to go is obtaining an IEC and the spouse coming along as a visitor until I secure a skilled job - unless we both happen to get the IEC visa then there would be no issue I guess.

The IEC Visa - would companies favor this for skilled worker jobs? Don't want to decrease my chances of skilled work if this visa is discriminated against by more corporate employers.

The IEC also supports the skilled worker Visa by helping to obtain additional points - after 2 years would I need to leave Canada to apply for the Visa to stay permanently or could this be done whilst working on the IEC?

Thank you for the patience!

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

I'm a contract programmer and the operator of a consulting agency. My, not wholly innocent, take on this is that the way to go is:

- get IEC
- take a contract
- rent a place to live
- there's only one Silicon Valley and it's in America
- there are a good number of computing jobs in Kitchener-Waterloo and in the GTA
- there are computing jobs in Ottawa but it's a government town, even contract jobs sometimes require citizenship/security clearance, lots of permanent jobs do
- take a contract where you can get one (well maybe not Regina but 'most anywhere) Foot in Door is what counts.

I say "get IEC" because it's relatively quick, cheap and easy. I say "take a contract" because there's little risk for the "employer", they're less fussed about background because, if you can't do the job, you're easily gone. otoh, if you can do the job they may hire you permanently. If you take a contract and hate the location or the work there's no resume damage, it was just a contract. Similarly, a rented house isn't a tie like a purchased one. After six months of contracting and renting you'll know much better what you really want to do.

I think it's equally easy/difficult to get a contract in Canada from Leeds as it is from Toronto. People are routinely hired from India or from the US and then turn up not knowing they should have brought a coat. What's needed is a resume offering what the client wants, an agent trusted by the client to keep the claims on the resume within reasonable distance of the truth, and the ability to talk coherently on the phone even though it's the middle of the night where you are.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

You've got a good level of starting funds and are well educated.

My only query is I'd further research Ottawa. It's quite a small place and in my opinion known more for government jobs than tech jobs.

Vancouver or the Toronto-Kitchener/Waterloo area will probably have more tech jobs.

I'll wrap up by saying Ottawa might have cheaper real estate and a better commute than the latter too but in my experience it's a pretty dull city.

Best of luck.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Two things to be aware of for Ottawa:
1. A lot of Ottawa jobs will require French, while this may not affect you directly in IT it might affect your partner. Government jobs require you to be at minimum PR and more often a Citizen.
2. If you haven't visited Ottawa in the winter then you really need to do that before you jump in. I love it here but we're in the -30s today with windchill.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Thank you for the response. Seems like the majority on here recommend me going for the IEC and then PR once I have Canadian work experience. Seems like an easier route and less paperwork (for the IEC at least)!

Ottawa seemed like a tech hub from the numerous articles I've read but it shows it was worthwhile posting on here as Waterloo seems like a good alternative! I'm pretty flexible with location so it's no issue me moving around if one location doesn't seem to be the right fit.

Contracting may be the way to go too! Will need to look into the possibilities of this as need to understand how tax works etc and technically your self-employed so this may not count towards the experience for the CEC Visa.

:)

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Thank you for replying. It does seem a lot of folk are saying the same about Ottawa i.e. Jobs/language etc. Opening my horizons to include Waterloo and surrounding areas - pretty flexible with location :)

Finally - definitely don't want a dull city! Can't have any excuse for the wife to want to return to the UK haha!

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Thank you for your reply :) Think i'm definitely crossing Ottawa off the list - multiple article reads seemed to have suggested Ottawa as being a tech hub which may be incorrect information I think. My French is also not great so in all truth it won't be good to restrict myself by moving to Ottawa!

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Not sure if you've considered the Atlantic Provinces, but as a 'foot in the door' you may want to look at this post. http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...ancies-899238/

:)

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Look on Indeed https://ca.indeed.com/Software-Tester-jobs-in-Ontario for software test roles in Ontario

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

I'm in Ottawa but not high tech

https://ca.indeed.com/High-Tech-jobs-in-Kanata,-ON

Help wanted: Ottawa tech companies recruiting to fill thousands of jobs - Ottawa - CBC News



Not sure where the french part came in. French proficiency is really only a big deal in white collar jobs in the federal government sector. Retail jobs often ask for french proficiency.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

There are tech/software companies in Ottawa & environs. My B-i-L is a software engineer for a US based defense/aerospace company. I'm aware of two fairly large players in the tech sector I work in (Satellite Comms) in the area as well. Whether there is more work to be had in Kitchener Waterloo is a good question. As others have suggested, I'd find a job first within certain boundaries of where you think you'd prepared to live & then decided exactly where you are going to live from there.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

My route here was as follows:

• IEC visa
• Moved to Calgary
• Got a permanent job in IT
• Employer helped me apply for the AINP (Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program)
• During AINP processing, applied for a temporary work permit (tied to sponsoring employer) when my IEC expired
• Got the AINP, got an open work permit
• With the AINP, applied for PR
• Got PR, applied for Citizenship
• Became a citizen, bought a canoe

I'm out of the loop with all this now, so it's probably changed somewhat, and there's probably quicker ways of doing it, but it's definitely doable.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Once the OP has 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada they will probably qualify for CEC route to PR. This wont need employer support and you don't need to have proof of funds.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

That suggests that a contract, if it lasted a year, would do the trick. Is there anyone here who could confirm that, what is essentially casual labour in a skilled position, is good enough for CEC?

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...nce-class.html

It statesand

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Thank you. That does all seem to fit.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

I have worked in IT in Ottawa for many years. It's called 'Silicon Valley North' as it is (or maybe not now) the largest tech area in North America outside of the original 'Silicon Valley' in California. That clears that up.
I have also survived quite well without French language and although you might get a handful of better opportunities come along when bilingual, most techs I have worked with don't speak much French, if any.
Plenty of government and military connected IT work here - permanent and contract. Get talking with some of the larger job agencies in Ottawa that specialise in IT and they're likely to get you something at least to start off.
Might not be easy though until you are eligible to work here. Not sure if it's still the same, but previously you could get your PR status and then leave Canada for some months back to your homeland just in case things didn't work out and you really couldn't find anything.
Yes, it's not the most exciting town and it's cripplingly cold and snowy in winter, but the people are friendly generally and it has a big town feel rather than the hostile large city atmosphere.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

Seems that way as long as 1 years worth of work experience was completed throughout the 2 years it would be sufficient. Think it was yourself that posted a contract may be easier as employers tend to care less about what visa you have and more about the experience for the job and eligibility to work. Think once I'm over i'll be contracting and then apply through CEC for PR.

Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
 

I had heard the same thing in relation to Ottawa being a tech hub. Online sources seem to all agree that the city is more dependent on the White Collar jobs though. It's good that French is not a mandatory requirement for every job in the area - may need to do some more research and assess opportunities for myself in Ottawa. Thank you for your reply :)