Hi, I've posted on this forum before when we first started looking into moving to Canada. I was informed then that the occupations of my husband and I would make things quite difficult if not impossible. Well, unfortunately it looks like all the advice was correct! This forum has always proved a great source of information for me, but I was sort of hoping people were mistaken on this occasion, but unfortunatley not. Anyway, I hope I can rely on your frankness and honesty again as we've got another plan!!!

I am a teacher and my husband is a Housing Manager for the local council. Well, we've been looking for jobs for the last 6 months to no avail. We keep getting told we need to be in the country to stand a chance of being recruited. So, rather than giving up completely we realise that we need to perhaps look at another route.

We've come up with another possible way in but I'd be grateful if people could point out any flaws in the plan and offer any advice to help us to get there! We are hoping to move to Lethbridge in Alberta.

We've decided to try the Study Permit route and now we need to decide which one of us would be better off being the student.

As a qualified and experienced teacher in the UK, I thought it would be best to look at doing a Post Graduate Diploma that would provide me with some experience and knowledge of the Canadian school system. I've managed to find a place on a one year full time Post Graduate Diploma Course.
It is my understanding that my husband would then have an Open Work permit and hopefully be able to find employment. He's got some general office management experience and quite a few tranferrable skills, so hopefully he'd be able to find something. I'm hoping this year would give both of us the opportunity to network and hopefully find employers willing to take us on on a more permanent basis.

The other scenario is that my husband (who does not have an undergraduate degree) enrols in a two year Diploma in Business Management. This would then give me an open work permit. I'm a bit worried about this route though, as firstly it means two years with only one of us working and also, I've lost a bit of confidence in my ability to get a teaching job out there, and I've never really done anything else! It wouldn't be too bad if my husband was working too, but if I was the sole earner and couldn't secure a teaching job then we'd be in trouble.

Sorry for the long post but I am getting to the point... finally! So, I have a few questions

1. Anyone know about the situation for teachers in the Lethbridge area. Is there are a surplus? I would be particularly looking at the Catholic Division.
2. Does anyone know if the Business Management Diploma would be that useful in securing a decent job afterwards? How would a qualification of that level be perceived?
3. And the BIG ONE...! We want to settle in Canada permanently. After the study period is over, what is the best way to try and remain in the country and work toward PR?

Like I said, sorry for the long winded post but wanted to give you all the facts.

Thanks in advance, although I'm half dreading the responses in case we've overlooked something obvious and the plan won't work!!

Amanda

I work in a university - a 2yr diploma is the minimum qualification level requirement for a unionised position that pays around $23 p/hr. It'd be a pretty junior role.

Personally I think it'd be best for you to get your teaching qualification here while your husband works, then you're potentially both in a position in a year or 2 to be earning. Securing a teaching job is pretty tough though.

What he said.
x

Thanks for the advice, it confirms what I was thinking. Any ideas on how to stay in Canada and work towards PR once my diploma ends?
Thanks
Amanda

Most post graduate courses in Canada seem to start in September each year, so are you looking to start September 2009 or have you found something for January 2009. It seems 2 year diploma courses start in either January or September each giving you more flexibilty. Just asking because I have looked into this.

Or you can opt for a distance/open learning course that has continuous enrolment, and not have to worry about start dates.

We have the option of starting either of the courses in Jan 09 providing visa comes through in time.

Just out of curiosity, would distance learning still satisfy the visa requirements?

Yes, as long as it's a full time course based from an accredited Canadian University.

Had looked at that and certainly helps with dates, but thought that actually attending would be far better. Because your attendence gives you, firstly a part-time work visa and then on graduation this is upgraded to a full work visa visa, thus giving you the option to go through fast-track SW or PNP options and also for the future CEC option as well.

You can still do a distance learning course or program while living in Canada, and it wouldn't prevent you getting a part-time work visa, and subsequent full time WP. It just saves the commute to the uni, or the need to live close by to your chosen institution. It's the full-time enrolment criteria that's important, not whether it's campus based or not.

Out of interest which university or college is offering you these courses?

Should I put in a Skilled Worker Visa Application before we go? I wasn't sure if this would complicate the process but can't see how else we'd be able to stay after the course finished?

Unless you're prepared to wait years, a SW application's not a particularly viable option - find a job with LMO while you're here and that's the best route to PR.

Well I'm a Catholic Head of Religious Education so the course I'm looking at is the Graduate Diploma in RE at Newman Theological College in Edmonton. My husband was looking at the Diploma in Business Management at Lethbridge Community College. They both have start dates of September or January. My course also has an option for distance learning, which I had assumed I wouldn't be able to take advantage of. If it was only 1 course out of 10 that was distance learning could I still get the part time work permit, or would it ruin my chances?

Any ideas about how to stay on in Canada after the course is finished? Is the Full Work Visa you mention difficult to get or a formality?


Sorry RICH, just read your comments about the distance learning still being compatible with a Part time work permit

So to do this option would you still need to apply and come over on a study visa? Also I have a list of participating institutions from the CIC site so I would imagine the institution has to come from this list? Is a post graduate certificate from a college recognized as well as its equivalent from a university? Anyway this is great advice.