Hi Everybody

I’m new to posting on the forum but have been quietly reading for quite a while now.

My partner and I have been thinking about leaving the UK for sometime now, and after having visited Canada and the USA a few times in the last couple of years we’ve decided that Canada is for us.

I’m in the process of filling out the Permanent Resident form and need some help and I was hoping somebody on here could perhaps advise me?

Like I say I’ve done quite a bit of reading of this forum and others – but with the amount of information and initials used for certain terms that I have no idea about I’m afraid I’m just confusing myself.

These are my main queries so far – could anybody give me a little bit of help?


1. If your occupation isn’t on the ‘38’ list is applying a waste of time?
2. How much funds are required to hit the minimum that Canada would expect?
3. What if the majority of your monies are tied up in your house? Is this acceptable?
4. The Canadian official immigration website says that it can take 42 to 48 months from the start of the process to finish – is this really the case?

Thanks again – I’m sure I’ll have more to ask very soon!

IDT.

Hi and welcome to the forum. Answers below.......................

1. Yes, a complete waste of time and money unless you have a job offer. Since the Skilled Worker program was revised earlier this year it's no longer enough to just have the minimum required points, you now also need to be in an occupation on the list of 38 or have a job offer. If you don't meet that criteria then don't bother applying as your application will be rejected and you'll lose your fees.

2. For 2 people, I think it's about $11,000 (will likely increase a bit from April but only by a few hundred dollars).

3. That is acceptable (if you are applying via London, not all visa posts accept equity in house as proof of funds but London does, mortgage statement & 3 estate agents valuations will do it) at the start of your application - but, when you land in Canada the money has to be unencumbered, meaning that it literally has to be cash in your bank account.

4. No, that's no longer correct. Those times are for 2007 I think but in any case, they're very out of date. The reason this new system has been brought in is that the backlog of applications had got so huge (more than quoted on the website, was usually 5-8 years) that they had to reduce it somehow. Now, new applications are apparently going to be processed within 6-12 months.

Hope that helps. If you can't apply as a Skilled Worker then your two best chances of getting to Canada are a Bunac visa if you are both under 30 (gives you a years open work permit which you can then try and upgrade to permanent residency), or if you don't qualify for that you will have to get a job.

Have a read of the following Wiki article (the Wiki is on blue bar at top of page and is full of useful info)........................http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Quick_...an_Immigration

Best of luck.

Thank you for the swift reply!

That's bad news about the list of 38...is it impossible? Or just very hard?

IDT

Sorry, bit confused - what do you mean? Put simply, it's easy if your job is on the list, it's impossible if it isn't!! Either you qualify or you don't, there's really not any middle ground.



Edit: sorry, have just realised that you may have been referring to the 'job offer' part of qualifying as a Skilled Worker, rather than the list of 38 occupations! If so, should clarify that the job offer can be in any area as long as it's Skill Level A, B or O on the NOC Matrix (search Wiki for more info on NOC Matrix), it doesn't have to be in one of the 38 occupations. If you are in one of the 38 occupations then you don't need a job offer to apply which is much easier, it's either one of those occupations OR a job offer, not both.

As for getting a job then it really depends on what you do and whether or not your skills are in demand. Have a read of the following for info on how to start trying to find a job in Canada..............http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...Hunting-Canada

I had my application returned on New Years Eve and I had 87 points so I'd say it is neigh on impossible unless you have a job offer and isn't worth wasting your time and money.

I think from reading you need to get a job offer or look at a PNP programme.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news it is a real bummer.