HI All

I wonder if anyone can help? My partner and I are looking to move to Canada in May this year but have tried the online systems and do not have enough points so we are looking to go over to Canada and work in any capacity.
We understand we need to get a permit for this and wondered if (a) these are obtainable in job agencies, (b) how easy are they to get and (c) how much do these cost.
We have some money to start us off but will also be looking for cheap accomodation in Vancouver (if such a thing exists :0)

we are 29 and 31 and from the UK

Firstly, what are your jobs? There may well be somebody on here that can help.

As for your questions, yes you need to get a temporary work permit. However, you will need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer for that and they have to prove to the government that they have advertised the job extensively and not found any Canadian citizen that could do the job. So I'm afraid it doesn't sound as though you would be able to get a temporary work permit either as you need pretty specialist skills or to be in an occupation that's in demand to qualify really.

Any employment agency won't charge you anything (they charge the employer, that's how they make their money - if they do try and charge you then run a mile!). The same as in the UK. They also won't get your permit for you, the employer and you have to do that together.

Not sure that helped all that much as you were probably hoping it would be easier but do have a look at the Wiki to read more about the temporary work permit. And if you give a bit more info about your situation/occupations then hopefully somebody on here can help you out with some advice.

There is an option called Bunac which under 30's qualify for but I'm not sure how it works to be honest. May be worth checking out though as you never know, the one of you that's 29 might be able to apply and take the other as a dependent! Worth a look anyway.

Best of luck and welcome.

Thank you very much for the reply

I am a manager of a small company (im the 29 year old) and my partner works for a local bank in administration.

do you think shops/retial/waitressing/cleaning or bar work would be available? i realise we will not be able to work in the same capacity as we do here but are really finding this tough as unskilled persons.
I realise that without having the work permit we could face being thrown out and we certainly do not want that. have contacted Bunac but we do not fall into the right catagories there and is also incredibly expensive fee wise.

I will look into wiki as well - had not thought of that - all very new to this.

Thanks for your help

Kate

The Wiki is the info link at the top of the page, it's a very useful place! Full on info from lots of very clever people on here and should tell you pretty much anything you need to know.

I think you'd struggle to get bar work/shop work etc to be honest - I can't see any Canadian employer managing to prove that there was no Canadian that could do the job even if they'd be prepared to go through all the hassle and cost of hiring you and sorting the visa. Sorry but I don't think that would be an option.

But are you sure you don't qualify for skilled worker? Sounds as though you both have sensible jobs?

Also, have a look in the Wiki at something called Nova Scotia Community Stream PNP as that's a way of going without a job offer. But it's (obviously!) Nova Scotia, not Vancouver (but personally I'd go for NS anyday over Vancouver but hey!) and also you'd have to support yourself for around 6-8 months until it came through with no guarantee of a visa or job at the end of it. If you have the cash to do that then that's definitely worth a look.

Keep smiling.........there's bound to be some way to get there!!

Have just looked at the Bunac website and it states fees for Work Canada are:

Registration fee £175
BUNAC membership £5
Canadian Government Programme Participation fee CAN $150 (approx £70).
Insurance from £233 for a six month BUNAC policy

That seems very cheap to me! Certainly a lot cheaper than any other visa that you might apply for? Have you seen a different figure or do you not want to pay more than the above? If the latter then you might want to rethink things as it'll cost you thousands of pounds for any other way to get to Canada - visa costs, shipping, flights, etc.

In addition to the excellent information christmasoompa has given you, here is some stuff to research:

See the Wiki that has been put together on the community identified route within the NSNP program, it is very informative. We are in the process of this at the moment and are going over to Canada at the end of April.

This route is not for everyone however and anbody looking at this should weigh up all the pro's and con's not just take as a given that this route will work for you.

However it is 1 of the ways you could be in Canada assuming you want to be in NS that is

thats great - ive looked on variuos websites and it has appeared to be a lot more expensive than that. I shall contact them immediatly Thank you!!

No probs, glad to help. Not sure what the other website were but perhaps they were 'agencies' that charged for people going the BUNAC route so it's cheaper to go directly?

Anyway, it's definitely worth looking at to see if you can take your hubby with you under that scheme. It'll be a lot cheaper than doing it any other way I would imagine - we're currently budgeting around £6-8k for moving over there!

Katelookingforwork, the Meet and Greet forum is supposed to be a place where you can introduce yourself and say hi. You're not supposed to ask for advice here.

I usually respond to people's questions in the Meet and Greet forum, because I know it's difficult to find your way around this website when you're new and I don't want to be pedantic.

However, now that you're asking quite substantive questions about BUNAC visas, the immigration experts who hang out at the Canada Immigration forum and who don't come to the Meet and Greet forum will not see your questions.

I feel you need to go to the Immigration forum and ask there. As far as I know, a BUNAC visa is issued to an individual on his/her own. Yes, husbands and wives do go to Canada on BUNAC visas together. But, in that case, they both apply for their own BUNAC visas, as far as I know. My understanding is that you can get a BUNAC visa only up to the age of 30, so that may pose a challenge for you.

I don't know if you've read all the articles to which I've provided links. Actually, it would be impossible for you to have read them. I'm sure it would take a week for you to go through all of them, follow the links that are provided in them, and read the linked articles as well.

You really need to get a cup of tea, settle in, and read, read, read. Get yourself at least moderately up to speed with the topic of Canadian immigration. Then you can come back and ask more focused questions.

It also would help if you read the Wiki article called Tips on using the forum.

Hope that helps.

If you're looking at Vancouver BC have a look at BC Occupations Under Pressure and then check out the HRSDC site

You have lots of research to do yet, but for those who are prepared to make the effort to understand the system, moving to Canada is possible.
Good luck.

Thanks for all your help Judy. i was not aware i should not ask questions on here. I have looked at many of the links on here but they are quite confusing and tend to be for the employer rather than the employee. I will continue on this search. The Bunac website is great but I will be 30 shortly and my partner is already 31

im sure we will find something.

Once again thanks for the links

thanks rob, am looking on this right now!!

Hello

I am a newbie here. I really want to move to Canada too. I don't know if we have enough points either. How do you find out, through Wiki? My husband has always worked in finance and is now Head of Operations for a building society. Is there any work out there for him do you think?

One of you mentioned Nova Scotia. I imagine it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Very near to PEI, I am a fan of Anne of Green Gables! I will look under that in Wiki.

Any information at all would be very gratefully received. Sorry Kate didn't mean to gatecrash, just in the same boat as you probably.

Many thanks

See the Wiki on Self-Assessment Test.

Yes, I think he would be able to get work, but I'm guessing he'd have to accept dropping down a couple of rungs.

I suggest you read Beginner's Guide to Canadian Immigration.

Also read Tips on using the forum.

Hope that helps.