Hi

A little background first.... I'm a single 30 year old IT person with no family overseas, I'm pretty fed up with the UK etc and am looking to try and move away.

I looked at quite a few options (Europe is readily available as a UK citizen) but in the end I decided Canada looked the best (my first choice would have been the USA but with no family it looked less likely)

My question really is this... given I have no chance of family sponsorship and little chance of employment sponsorship (I imagine Canada has more than it's fair share of IT professionals) is it worth me applying for skilled migrant PR ?

I know for anyone to make an informed decision they'd need information, I was basically looking for opinions from people with more knowledge on the matter than myself.

My finances are more than up to the task of supporting myself while in Canada and my education and work experience is good but I find myself thinking that this has to be quite common and that you'd need a better than average chance to be successful ?

I appreciate this is quite a basic question, I appreciate anyone who can offer any advice ?

Thanks.

Your first port of call should be the canadian immigration website, where you can assess your points score for immigration as a skilled worker. You can find this at www.cic.gc.ca

Good luck and hope this helps...


Sarah

Hi, thanks for that.

I really should have mentioned that I've already checked my points score (higher than the current pass mark) and I've downloaded the relevent forms and checklists for the UK.

I was curious as to peoples opinions about my situation. No offer of employment and no family with a fairly normal employment history and qualifications.

I find it hard to believe that it's simply a case of "yes you score more than the pass mark - you're through" or "no you score less than the pass mark - you're not"

Is it really that simple ?

Yes, it is that simple. You satisfy all the requirements (including funding, no criminal stuff), you are in!

On the other hand, preparation of the application is important. Good case, bad presentation will cause rejection.

Decide you want to immigrate, consult this forum for info or contact a consultant/lawyer, file your papers, sit back and pray there is no policy change that will cause your application to suffer.

Hope this helps

Certainly does, this is making the whole thing look a lot more likely now.

Two other questions ..

With regards to previous employer references... I read in the guidelines that it should specify roles, responsibilities, salary and include a business card of a person signing it ?

What happens if the letter that's returned doesn't have all these particular features (I can only request them when I ask, I have no way of forcing the company to provide it to my exact requirements - no business card for example)

My other question is about proof of a second language. I'm learning French and hope to have proof in a while. Should I delay my application for that or would I be able to add that to my application (given it can take up to 2 years) once achived ?

You must provide whatever the CHC ask for OR give a written explanation on why you could not.

Anything short of this is unacceptable!

You should go over to the Canadian lifestyle forum and check out the opinions of others in relation to IT jobs. They can be hard to find for a newcomer to Canada. You will find yourself setting your career back a number of years - and with a very slow catch up period.

You need to decide exactly why you want to leave the Uk. Do not expect to be able to land in Canada and just carry on the way you were in the UK. It will be much tougher - the minimum cash requirements for landing are not realistic in our opinion. You will need more than that to help you survive until you get a job in your field - even if you take something else in the meantime!

Sorry if this seems rough - but it may help focus your mind on whether Canada is the right place for you! Better to be fully informed!

Tony,

Canada is pretty tough for an outsider. Networking is extremely important in this country so it may take you some time before you land a good job. I would advise you to look well into your business card stash and maybe find people from Canada that would be willing to employ you. The IT is still in crisis and then there is the H1B spillover problem. Hidden job market exists but it takes time to tap into it. However, I know people coming from like Ukraina who are making around 90k in tech sector after 4-5 years here, I am sure you will succeed too if you are prepared to take some hardships in the beginning.

Canada's a really great country, I do not regret moving here at all but I knew what to expect at the start.

Take care,

Although not asked for, if you have your tax returns, it would be a good idea to add them, as they prove that you actually worked for that particular company.

However, not everyone in the UK is required to submit a tax return - so this may not be an option!

Its nice to hear that people want to come to Canada. If you really want to come, apply now and wait. It may take some time, maybe over a year or so.
Don't be worried about job too much. If you want to work, you will find a job. There is always an option to go to job agency and they will find something in your field.
When you look around here in Toronto area, there is a huge % of people that either have an accent or do not even speak English well.
Try to find as much as possible information about Canada.
I will be honest and tell you that it will not be easy, its not easy for anybody, but if you want to success you will.
One big advantage is that you already speak English. Keep that in mind! Good luck!