I'm just curious if anyone has ever retrained to be bale to gain entry in Canada? My current job specification isn't listed on the 'New occupation list for FSW Cat 1' however I've been considering retraining for a while now and with the encouragement of my friends and family I'm seriously thinking of taking the plunge. Currently what I would like to retrain as is on the List, do you think it'll be worth doing?

I'm sure it will prolong our stay in the UK whilst I'm studying and then obviously gaining the relevant work experience, but I suppose it'll give us more time to save a larger sum of money as well, so it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Has anyone else ever done this and if so how did it work out for you?

In all honestly, I can't see how it would ever work. You'd have to train first, then complete at least one year full-time work experience in that occupation, so you're looking at a couple of years before you can apply and by that time the list is likely to have changed another couple of times! So you could train for something that gets removed from the list next June.

If it's something you really want to do then fair enough, but I certainly wouldn't do it just to be eligible for Canadian immigration as things change so quickly - jmo though. There are other ways to Canada (Skilled Worker is only one way to a visa, and there are over 50!) so perhaps look at other options?

Another thought, if you want to retrain, why not do it in Canada? That way you get a visa, plus retrain in whatever it is you want to do, and you've got the advantage of a Canadian qualification which will be recognised over there so you don't have to jump through any other hoops.