BelfastBowler

Ok i hope people will not be to hard on me but i was wondering if wanting to move my family to Canada is only a pipe dream?

I am just over 40 and have no trade but have always worked hard at what i have done. At the moment i am an Assistant Manager of an Indoor Bowling Club in the UK.

My education is just High School level..

One of my good friends is moving to Canada in the next two years and says he will help in anyway he can to get me there but is that a waste of time?

Would it be a waste of my time to go online and apply for jobs in Canada?

Sorry if this comes across as naive..

nikki dreaming

Do you know whereabouts in Canada you would like to move to? Do you have a wife or partner that would be coming too? What is their background work wise?

BelfastBowler

Anywhere in Canada as i realise i cannot be to fussy because of my lack of trade/education..

I have a wife and 4 year old daughter, my wife is from the Philippines and was a teacher there but to teach there she would problem need some more experience/education.

We would so love to move there and do anything legally to get there.

Alan2005

With no trade or qualifications the skilled worker route is going to be closed to you. You'll need a job such that you can get a temporary work permit, and then use that to springboard into PR. I *think* this is technically possible, but realistically it's going to be tough.

Oink

Welcome to the forum BB and it's certainly not naive to ask questions about such a major life shift. Not sure about the possible technical legal aspects of emigrating, but I'd suggest writing down the pros and cons of such a move as that can really help unmuddy the emotional and psychological waters.

BelfastBowler

Its been a burning desire to move to either the USA or Canada but although i have spent a total of about 4 months in the USA and 2 weeks in Canada it was Canada that had the bigger impact on my life..

I do not want to live this pipe dream idea if it never comes to anything!!

Do you know if any companies can offer jobs to unskilled workers?

Thanks guys for the replys you have given already!!

Alan2005

Read these:

Job hunting

Work Permits

christmasoompa

Without knowing everything about you, it's unfortunately impossible for anybody to tell you if you would be eligible for a visa or not - there are over 50 routes to a visa.

If you don't have any family there, and don't have the amount required for investment, and don't have any self-employed experience or business experience, then you will probably be limited to going over on a Temporary Work Permit. Three problems with that - firstly, finding an employer prepared to go through the wait/hassle/paperwork of hiring you and getting the LMO for you (for which they have to prove that they have advertised the job across Canada and been unable to find a Cnaadian willing, or able, to do the job). Tricky enough with specialist skills, but could be even harder in your case, although definitely worth a try.

Secondly, that if you get an unskilled job on a Temporary Work Permit, your wife wouldn't be able to work, so you'd be reliant on your income, and Canada is not a cheap place to live.

And thirdly, that you may not be able to apply for Permanent Residency if you are in an unskilled job - it will depend on the province as you won't qualify for any Federal program so your only option would be to apply via the province's Provincial Nominee Program, and not many have a stream for semi-skilled or low skilled workers.

Don't want to be discouraging, but I think the visa issue could be a problem I'm afraid to say. How about furthering your education, if you did that you'd have more options open to you? You could even study in Canada on a study permit (then your wife would get an open work permit too).

Definitely forget the US - waaaaaay harder than Canada to get in to. Maybe have a trip to Canada and do some job hunting, and see if you can find an employer prepared to sponsor you? Have a read of the Job Hunting section of the Wiki to find out how to go about it.

Alternatively, look in to the study permit as I think that's your only other visa option from what you've said so far.

Best of luck, and welcome to the forum.

Alan2005

I didn't know that.

The OP mentioned that his missus was a teacher in the Philippines. I know nothing about teaching there - but if she's got some sort teaching qualification it might just boost their points enough to apply under the FSW program if she were to be the main applicant (providing, of course, teaching is on 'the list').

christmasoompa

Yep, unfortunately so. He couldn't apply for PR under any of the Federal programs (FSW, CEC etc) as they all require Skilled work, and many of the provinces only have streams under their PNP's for Skilled workers as well. Alberta has a semi-skilled stream, and I think BC does too, but not sure if any others do, so that will be something the OP will need to consider. He'll need to make sure he's in a province where he can actually apply for PR if he wishes at a later date.

Sadly, teaching is not on 'the list' so unless she can get a job offer approved by HRSDC, FSW is not an option at the moment.

Alan2005

Oh well. I wish the OP the best of luck - but I don't envy him with that lot in the way.

Oink

On a side note, the etymology of the term "pipe dream" apparently originated "in the 19th century as an allusion to the dreams experienced by smokers of opium pipes." Interesting stuff on Wikipedia.

Tangram

I love your insights.

el_richo

I misread that for a second

Alan2005

Funnily enough the missus said something was "pie in the sky" yesterday and so taking this thread as inspiration I looked up the origin. Apparently it's a satire of the salvation army theme tune or whatever they call it.