lindamchugh

Hi my husband is hoping to sit the elec exam in Toronto in Jan Feb 2013 whilst we await the new changes to the different categories. He will probably go for 10 days to job hunt whilst there ( we have family he can stay with) has anybody did this and been offered a job whilst there with employer offering to do the LMO and if so can his trip be extended whilst this is sorted out? Is there such a thing as LMO friendly employers that are well known to chap their door for opportunities? There are TONS of jobs on the jobbank but all say they need the canadian red seal so my hubby has not applied for any just now but not sure if he should apply and state when he will be sitting exam ?

Aviator

No such thing as LMO friendly employers. There may be some who understand the process more than others. The employer has to try and hire a Canadian first and demonstrate this to HRSDC before they can try and hire a foreign worker. LMO process can take several months and is much more than a formality. If he comes on a visitor permit and can wait it out for several months (the visitor permit is usually valid for 6 months) could be done. Pretty costly though, especially if the LMO application is refused, which it can be.

Personally I would say it is pointless applying until he has passed the exams, he would become a much more attractive hire with the right qualifications. However the employer cannot favour him over a Canadian who is equally qualified. Being in Canada offers much more opportunity to find work, but I would say the job bank is not where most of the best jobs are found, most are word of mouth and networking.

lindamchugh

Thanks for this, we are going to take the risk and come out in the summer for a 6 month return ticket and stay with relatives whilst job hunt. They have good jobs and will find him a job if possible but if most employers always have to advertise for a Canadian first it seems like an impossible task???? Would you happen to know if the new process is going to make permanent immigration much quicker and easier to get in? We attended a expo abroad presentation and the chap said they are introducing a new category as long as following criteria met:

skilled
skilled for x amount of years
English speaking
Red seal gained

Is anybody familiar with this "new" category?

Aviator

Not heard of a new category. Maybe talking about the Canadian Experience Class? http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigra...lled/index.asp Years of experiance makes no difference to the training authorities, the necessity is to be able to prove 9000 to challenge the exam.

'Red Seal' is not an exam. It is an organization administered by all participating provinces to ensure a common standard. The exams are set by the provincial training authority and they are slightly different in each province, however they have the 'Red Seal' endorsement, which makes them inter provincially recognized. Candidates sit the exam through the provincial training authority.

Pretty much what you need to know is in here re immigration and job hunting. Getting in as an electrician is not impossible, I know of a couple who immigrated over the past few years. There is the requirement to hire Canadian first though. Even relatives, if they have a business have to go through the same LMO process and try to hire Canadians.

christmasoompa

Nobody is familiar with it yet, the only info we have on the new Skilled Trades program is that which has been released by CIC a few months ago and which has been posted in the immigration section of the forum.

I assume you've already read it, but just in case -

http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2.../reg2-eng.html

lindamchugh

Oh my goodness that article is humungous !!!! It is sooooo complicated , it surely must be the hardest country in the world to get into !!! I have went all cross eyed trying to read that. Thanks so much for this info