We came over 10 years ago with nothing other then our dreams of life in Canada.
Was it hard? Yes sir
Was it worth it? Yes sir
Would we do it again? No sir

Sorry to bring up an old thread!
Linz, are you serious? It would take that long?
I heard that whilst doing the 4 year apprenticeship this was also covering the so many hours experience needed.

Also wanted to ask, the areas i visited where beautiful, but im guessing Vancouver would be far too expensive to live in for me.
Is Kamloops expensive? Because i really liked that place.

Wouldn't a nice long back-packing holiday meet your needs?

no, clearly stated that i want to actually LIVE in Canada, but thanks for your comment . . .

I did it on my own, came here without a job and place to live but with PR status.

I did BUNAC 2003-4
Applied for PR (old system) in July 2005
Got my PR visa in April 2008
Moved to Vancouver in January 2009 - I'd turned 28 the previous month

Now I'm nearly 2 years down the line and am still in Vancouver, working for the same organization (started work 2 weeks after arriving) and live with my Canadian boyfriend. In a few weeks I head back to the UK to spend a month with my family and friends and celebrate my bday and Christmas with them. OH is coming out for the middle 2 weeks and will meet everyone for the first time

It can be done - it took me years from first deciding it was what I wanted to actually getting the visa and moving, but if it's your dream and you take your time to do your research and preparation then there's no reason why you can't be successful.

Good luck

That's great! What was your job/qualifications when you applied ?
Also is that the average time it takes to gain PR or does it vary?

Things have changed A LOT since I applied so my case really isn't relevant anymore, but I have a degree and my work experience was in NOC codes 1221 and 0632. I doubt I would qualify under the current system (although if you do, at least the wait times are a lot shorter!). Check out the CIC website for current routes to PR and their processing times.

All the best!

I'm afraid so! It depends on where you move to. BC will accept the apprenticeship as part of the hours but you are still looking at an extra 3 years on top of your apprenticeship to get the hours needed. AB does not take into account the hours of the apprenticeship and you have to have gained the hours over 72 months! So an extra 6 years on top of the apprenticeship!

You can apply for a FSW visa 1 year after you have completed your apprenticeship but you will not be able to register as a Plumber over there for another 2 years. So the apprenticeship could get you the Visa but then you will not be able to work as a Plumber there.

Basically, if you start your training now, you are looking at 2016 before you are experienced enough to apply for registration as a Plumber in Canada.

Have a look through the links I gave you before. They have all the info that you need.

If you PM me your email address, i forward on all the correspondence I have had with the ITA in BC.

HTH

It says on the Canadian Visa Bureau that minimum requirements are completion of a four to five year apprenticeship.
Do you mean that some companies in Canada will only take me on if i have more experience?

And ill have a look through then links, thanks alot.

Hi
The requirements vary for each province. We have researched NS, ON, AB and they all require at least 8340 hours of experience on top of your apprenticeship. BC is the only province that we have researched that includes the apprenticeship as part of these hours.

I can only conclude that the Canadian Visa Bureau is talking about the Visa application.

You will not be able to work as a Plumber unless you have passed the exam to become a Journeyman Plumber. You cannot even apply for this exam without having the above hours of experience. Therefore, you will not get a job without passing this exam. You have to prove the experience you have by getting your employers to sign a declaration to say you have completed the requirement - they do check up on your references too.

HTH and Good Luck with it all

Ok, so my original plan was to complete apprenticeship then apply to BUNAC and go on a 1 year working holiday- cant quite remember - and look for a job as a plumber, and i was told on here that a job offer would get me PR.

Would i not be able to live in the country until i have these hours under my belt ? Ahh dissapointing!

You have youth and determination on your side but unfortunately without experience you may have to wait until you are a bit older.

I came over here almost 50 years ago at the age of 33 with 18 years of work experience and a young family and even then it would have been pretty tough to get a job with your age and experience.

Don't give up it's a great country with a great future.

I do wish you lots of luck.