HRDC Approval
 

Has anyone had recent experience of getting HRDC approval for a job, and then work permit issue? I was offered a job beginning of June and they immediately applied for HRDC approval to go ahead. Now it's beginning of July and I've completely uprooted my family's life to be prepared to go out, and I'm still waiting. I assumed HRDC approval was just a formality but now the employer is using words like "if" when refering to the approval, which is not very comforting.

What's the rought current timescale for Canadian High Commission issue of papers for a work permit, subsequent to HRDC approval?

Thanks in advance,

Paul

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Who, where and when told you that HRSDC approval is "just a formality"???

It never was, it is not and will never be a formality. And if employer is now using word "if" it tells me that they were not even ready to apply for Labour Market Opinion in the first place. If they didn't advertise the position all accross Canada for at least 3 months, offering job with terms and conditions sufficient enough to attract and retain Canadians, if the didn't present solid evidence of not being able to find a Canadian despite required effort then no wonder they are now using "if" in their replies to you.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Hi
Mine took 9 weeks with HRDC and 7 Days with CHC, it was done through an office in Hamilton. Good luck with yours.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

I should clarify - they are an International employer recruiting hundreds of foreign workers and have their own emigration specialist. I'm sure they know the rules and, having succeeded many times before, I confident that they'll succeed. What I mean is that to them applying for HRDC is just a formality in that they're so experienced they know how to present the relevant evidence to HRDC without risk of ommision or discrepancy.

I know for a fact that the position was advertised on their website since the beginning of 2005. This coupled with the fact they have been successful with so many foreign workers, I don't think they are the problem.

Looking at another reply I got, looks like the HRDC approval time is longer than I was expecting.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

What you mean by international employer? Are they in Canada? If not then you have a problem as only Canadian employer, based in Canada, after extensive search and interviews with no luck finding Canadian employee can apply for HRSDC validation.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

I mean they are a Canadian company but with several international offices. I'm applying to work at a Canadian office who is dealing with HRSDC. What I was saying is that they take on several foreign workers every year and don't have problems. Therefore they must be more than familiar with how to present the necessary evidence to validate the recruitment.

Let me be the first to say that it's very poor the way a prospective employee has to be messed around for a post that only they can do (as in my case). I'm beginning to wonder whether the wait is going to be worth it as I'm being head-hunted daily in Britain and I'm having to just sit around waiting for something that may not materialise, for reasons totally beyond my control.

Really not impressed by all this or the lack of guidance of waiting times. A few days to a few months? How many professional people can piss around like this, especially those with families. Having earned a new job I'm now a step behind waiting to see if they can recruit me. Crap!

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Patience is truly a virtue and who knows, maybe Canada is "not for you" ?

Rich.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

I don't think it's about patience and I don't think it's about Canada. Perhaps there's not many on this site that have gone through the work permit route which I'm finding incredibly frustrating. At least with the PR route you get it in hand before you start looking for work, making arrangements, sell your house, announce to everyone you're leaving. I've had to do all these things in the reverse order because they simply can't be done any other way. It's this that I find frustrating and patience or Canada doesn't really enter into it.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Then you don't really understand the psychologial and practical implications of the Canadian PR processes.

Once the application is in, the mindset changes. And partway in, when a job offer or two transpires and sits there hanging like ripe fruit on the vine, it makes it even harder. Then there is the house sale, the psychological detachment from UK life and then some. And in all this madness you sit wondering if anything can go wrong and if so, will it, and how much longer will it all take, and will the job offer run out or be withdrawn, and the exchange rate is plummeting, and UK houseprices are dropping like stones and Canadian real estate is rocketing like 20% per annum.

Yep, patience is the true virtue.

Rich.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

PR is a breeze. The pain is spread out over such a long time that you just don't notice it. You just carry on as normal and when you get your shiny visa you just sell your house and catch a flight. See easy :)

Sarcasm is a virtue when your patience has run out.

Tim

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Then maybe Canada is not for you ? :mad:

Rich.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Err! Rich my post was meant to be ironic!

Re: HRDC Approval
 

Exactly, so was mine.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

What I'm saying is that with a PR you would normally have that in hand BEFORE you apply for a job, whereas with a work permit you have to have a job offer before you can start the application process. I'm sure some people take their chances but as the PR sounds so unpredictable, you're very unlikely to find an employer who has such a need for someone that they could wait between 1 and 18 months.

I can assure you that having spent a year getting this job plus a couple of grand funding my interview trip, as well as flogging all our possessions including my children's toys in preparation to go out, the work permit route is not just about waiting (which is absolutely fine) but the prospect that it might all be in vain.

The thought that the employer could well now say it's taking too long and give the job to someone else leaving me homeless, jobless and with bugger all to my name is not a pleasant one. However, in our circumstances it was the only way we could prepare ourselves for this opportunity. There's a world of difference when you have a family compared with being single or a working couple.

Re: HRDC Approval
 

PR is the same. Lots of people are rejected you know.
If there is anyone else in canada they could give it too , then your HRDC approval is screwed anyway (and rightly so, plenty of canadian residents are looking for a job here, unemployment is about 7%!) so dont worry about it. If they could have found a canadian resident then they would have, and they wouldnt currenty be jumping through hoops and pulling their hair out to get you here, so Chill!

Not at all sure why you jumped the gun in selling everything though, you could have brought it with you, or waited till everything was sorted and then sorted it out. After all, if an employer will wait a couple of months for the workpermit, then another couple of weeks shouldnt make a ton of difference, especially if it means they get a calm, settled new employee, rather than a basket case! Surprised you werent given more of a headsupof what to expect by the agency as it sounds like they handle this kind of thing fairly often.

I came on a work permit...but it was a while ago ('98). I was offerd a Job in September and finally got here in Feb, so it could be a while yet potentially. Its hard being in limbo, waiting to quit a job or whatever, but dont assume anything will happen for sure, and just take your time when it does.

I know you are anxious to get out here, but its a big country, and it will still be here when the paperwork is finalised. I would much rather be coming on a work permit, than applying for PR and waiting and waiting and waiting in Limbo.

Count your blessings that you have a job offer, it seems to me that most of those newcommers unhappy and struggling to get to terms with living in Canada either have no job, or one well below there capabilities.

Cheer up mate, could be worse :)