Stickyjim

Hi there,

First of all let me explain what i've been up to the last couple of years.

In May 2010 I arrived in Calgary with a year long canada work visa obtained through BUNAC.

Before that visa expired I applied for a visitors visa to allow me to stay in Canada whilst I applied for another work visa, only this time through the IEC program.

I was granted the new work visa through IEC in August 2011, I went 'home' to the UK early august, stayed for 5 weeks or so then flew to Vancouver at the end of Sept 2011.

My current work visa expires in September 2012 and I really don't want to leave as I feel very much at home here (more than I ever did in lovely Manchester).

I've looked into LMO... no go!
Skilled worker... no go!
Provincial Nominee... no go!
PR... yeah right!
Marriage... not that i'd ever marry for a visa anyway but, no go!

Is there anything I can do to stay? You're allowed two visas through IEC, did my BUNAC visa count as one of those? If not, could I get another IEC?

I am pretty much resigned to the fact that i'll have to leave so i'm fully aware i'm clutching at straws here but at least i'll go with the comforting knowledge that I did everything I could to stay.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

James

BTJ

Although the BUNAC doesn't count toward your IEC quota of two, you would not meet the other conditions on the IEC permit. There is a condition that requires you to have lived in the UK for 18 of the past 36 months.

Also the 2012 IEC program has only 26 of the 5350 places left as of today. So its not possible until the 2013 program opens anyway.

If becoming a Provincial Nominee, getting an LMO and being in a relationship with a Canadian or PR are not options then you are only left with one: Return to the UK for 18 months and apply for one last IEC permit in 2014 (if you still qualify then).

Edit: I suppose you could look into studying on a study permit if you have the money for that? In fact if you are in a position to do a PhD in a Science/Tech/Engineering/Maths field money may not be an issue.

CanadaJimmy

If you post more details here we may be able to help you find an immigration route, you may have overlooked something.

Stickyjim

Thanks for your reply.

I can't see the student route being an option, been there done that... hated every second of it. Wouldn't have the finances to support myself here for a year (especially with the extortionate prices Safeway charge!)

Good news that the Bunac visa doesn't count, bad news i've not been in the UK. Not happy, but I certainly understand why that rule is in place.

I would definitely be willing to live in the UK for 18 months with knowing i'd be back in Canada after that, only problem is i'll be too old to apply by that time.

Oh well, it is what it is I suppose. I'd best just make sure I make the most of the last four months here.

Thanks again for you reply.

p.s. Just 26 places on IEC left?! Wow, they soon went this year!

christmasoompa

Why is a LMO a 'no go'?

If you can get a LMO and switch to a normal TWP, then you could also presumably apply for PR, so could stay permanently in Canada if you wanted.

What job do you do?

scottyxx

LMO is very very hard to get unless you are older and very skilled, and have a company backing you. I doubt this is stickjims situation. If you are under 30, you should apply for an AIESEC internship. Its a work abroad program offering 1.5 year max LMO exempt work at a company. Thats how I have managed to stay in Canada so long. It is a student organization, and you would need to get "raised" into the system via a UK University.

It is a paid job, and they sponsor you, so you dont need an LMO.

Once you have 2 years work experience behind you, apply for PR via the CEC route. Other than that, start living with a Canadian if you are in a relationship as soon as possible and build up some Common Law time, after 1 year of living together, they can sponsor you.

Also, watch the FSW list, it changes in July, your skill set might come up on that list. If it does, then you can apply as a Skilled Worker, with no job offer.

If its not on the list, go to the UK for a year, and work in a field that is a Skilled Worker category, and then apply using that 1 year experience the year later.

I am so lucky my boyfriend was willing to sponsor me!

christmasoompa

Well, yes, obviously you need the company backing, as they have to apply for the LMO! But it's not true that you can only get a LMO 'unless you are older and very skilled', LMO's are granted for any jobs, even the lower skilled ones (in fact, it's often easier to get a LMO for a low skilled job as no Canadians will apply for it!).

Worth noting though, that is must be skilled work to qualify for CEC, so if you are correct and Stickyjim isn't in a skilled occupation, then that's not an option anyway.

Not sure that Stickyjim will see these responses now as this thread is a few weeks old (holy thread resurrection Batman!), but just thought I'd clarify the above for the sake of anybody reading.

scottyxx

Yeah the LMO is dependant upon a lot of things outside your own control, thats why you need to have the company really really wanting to back you. My friend who is a Nurse in Toronto got hers rejected, and the company gave up. Same goes for my other friend he got his rejected because they said any Canadian could do it, but for CEC he is fine. Mine got rejected because the company wasn't willing do falsely advertise and post jobs knowing they were going to hire me. I have 2 Master's degrees, and 2 years of experience in a crazy specialist in demand field, and my organization is huge, and they were scared. PWC also refused to fill one in for me.

I have really bad experience with LMOs lol!

tobagonner

Hi Scottyxx,

Thanks for your information on the AIESEC program. Did you apply for PR using the 2 years under the AIESEC internship, with a high skilled occupation?

I may be doing the same and would appreciate your response on the same.
Cheers!~