jamiehinchliffe

Hi,

Could anyone please help on how I should go about applying for a PR in
Canada.

I have been with my Canadian girlfriend in England now for nearly 7 months
and she is due to go back to Canada In August 2003 after completing her studies
here. I do not live with her as she lives in a different city but visit her
every weekend so I want to start my application for immigrating to Canada so I
will be at least closer to completion when she returns to Canada.

I have a few problems though which I am unsure of.

1. I have gone through the self assessment procedure and should be OK in regards
to gaining enough points if I can find a job in Canada before arriving. My
question is do I have to have the job before I apply or are the points awarded
on the fact that I will have to have a job before I arrive. It is going to be
very hard to convince an employer to employ me if I don't know when/if I will
get the PR especially if it is going to be possibly 1-2 years before I arrive.

2. The other thing is do I have to be employed in the profession I have gained the
experience in. I have had 4 years experience as a design engineer in the UK and
it is this profession a gained my BSc Degree in. I also have unqualified skills
as a web designer/programmer and have done some freelance work and also run my
own ecommerce company with other partners. It would probably be easier for me
to gain a job as a web developer over such a long distance and it is in the
occupations list. The problem is I don't have any formal qualifications in this
area. Could I use my experience as a design engineer to gain the requirement
points but try and get a job as a web developer of which I have had no formal
education but a good chance of getting a job from my portfolio.

3. Would it help my application to mention my eccomerce company as it is something
I would transfer to Canada when I hopefully move (I cannot however rely on it to
support me as being self employed).

Am I choosing the right method of gaining PR in Canada, or is there a better way
involving my girlfriend to speed things up or gain me more chance of getting
approval?

Am I right in thinking applications from the UK can take between 1-2 years ?

I really appreciate your help.

Thanks

Jamie

Leisure

I wish you the best of lucks in looking for a job before you are landed. I've been trying to do the same thing while my application is being processed, and even the potential employer/head hunter thinks that I am the best candidate, I've been hiting the same walls:

1) They prefer local candidates even though you let them know that you will pay in full for your relocation and travel for interviews

2) Openings are immediate - they cannot wait for MONTHS, needless to say years, for you to get there

3) In general, they are not familiar with the immigration process. They are not very comfortable for going with an EA while you are landed.

4) This is what strikes me most - They do not understand why if you are in the US (or elsewhere, specially with a warmer weather), you would like to, sincerely, move to Canada

But the good news are that there are some jobs out there and that companies are interested in getting you on board. I've read so many posts about shortage of jobs that at some point I was really concerned. I am not really concerned any more. Actually, I've stopped looking for a job before I am landed or have the landing document with me.

My recommendation is to go with a relative, friend, or someone you or your girlfriend know for your offer of employment.

Good luck!