Scotscouple83

Hi everyone.

My hubby is looking for a mechanics job in British Columbia and obviously he needs a work permit firstly and then what for permanent residency?

We have two girls and myself that will be moving out there too once hubby is there and working. He has emailed the Canadian embassy to ask which forms he needs but they said they can't suggest which forms he'll need but if he knows what to ask for they can process his requests.

So what we need to know is, what forms will he need to firstly get there and working?

Then what forms for the rest of us to follow over later?

And lastly what forms to apply to stay permanently?

Thanks

Simon Legree

Welcome to BE. Start by reading Wiki on the blue bar above, fourth tab from the left. It contains a wealth of information and will have the answers to most questions. Good luck.

christmasoompa

Does he have a written job offer and LMO? It's just that he can't apply for a Temp Work Permit until he's got those, but you mentioned him job hunting which isn't the way it works - the job offer has to come first.

Scotscouple83

Thanks for the welcome, I'll have a read through the wiki section.

With regards to hubby job hunting he doesn't have a job offer, what is a LMO? He was looking for places advertising and sending a résumé. If he was successful in being offered a job how do we get the LMO?

christmasoompa

Ok, so he can't get a Temp Work Permit now anyway, so don't worry about the forms just yet. The first hurdle is to find an employer willing to go through the paperwork/hassle (and cost) of hiring him.

The Wiki will tell you what a LMO is, but put simply unless he is in an LMO exempt occupation, then the LMO is something the employer has to apply for, to prove that they have advertised the job across Canada, and been unable to find a Canadian willing, or able, to do the job.

HTH, good luck.

Scotscouple83

Here is a copy of the reply hubby got from the embassy in the UK. They don't mention anything about needing a job offer or LMO?? Confused.

We understand that you want to apply for the Work Permit.

In order to apply through the Visa Application Centre, you may submit your application in-person or send your documents by post. If you decide to send your documents by post, you should send your application package to the following address: Canada Visa Application Centre, The Battleship Building, 179 Harrow Road, London, W2 6NB, UK. Please note that you may come in-person from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 16.00 as a walk-in applicant. You may also book an appointment from 8.30 to 10.30.

Before you submit your application, please make sure that you have attached all necessary forms and documents which you may find on the following link: http://vfsglobal.ca/canada/unitedkin...rkpermits.html. You should also attach the document checklist. Please follow this link to find it: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca....aspx?lang=eng. Please do not forget to enclose VFS consent form http://vfsglobal.ca/canada/unitedkin...nsent_form.pdf.

After you have submitted your application to our office, someone is going to check your application. If everything is correct and no documents missing, you will be provided with the tracking number with the help of which you can check the status of your application on our website (www.vfsglobal.ca/canada/unitedkingdom). Then your application will be sent to the High Commission.

In order to make a payment, you should make a postal order or a bank draft favouring Canada Visa Application Centre. If you decide to come in-person you may pay in cash or with credit/debit card. All payments should be in GBP. Thus, you should pay 94 GBP for the Work Permit and 22.46 GBP as a service charge for application processing per person. Please visit the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp and find out whether you need to give your biometrics. If you have found your country in the list you have to pay 53 GBP for biometrics instead of 22.46 GBP as a service charge for application processing per person. You may have your processed passport couriered back to you. If you would like to order a courier to deliver your package within the United Kingdom, you should pay 9, 33 GBP. You may also attach for each passport a self-addressed pre-paid Royal mail special delivery envelope to have your documents delivered to your address in the United Kingdom.

The average processing time for the Work Permit is from 8 to 10 weeks. Please be informed that there is no urgent processing

christmasoompa

They sort of mentioned it, although not explicitly - 'Before you submit your application, please make sure that you have attached all necessary forms and documents' . That gives you a link to the document checklist. If you look at the checklist then you can see the LMO is a required document, as is the written job offer/contract mentioned previously. Tbh they won't give you exact info on what's needed, as they'll assume you'll know from the main CIC website.

As I said, unless he's in a LMO exempt occupation (from what you've said, he isn't), then his application will just be rejected without a LMO.

You can check it yourself on the CIC website - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who.asp

HTH.

Scotscouple83

I see what you mean, they do hint at it.

The problem with the links to find out what you need is that there are more links and then more links again lol! We really don't fancy paying a company a few grand to do something we can do ourself but there's far too much information to digest and decide what is relevant to our circumstances

Just to add, the NOC code for hubby is 7321 if that makes a difference?

christmasoompa

Absolutely no need to pay anybody thousands - it's illegal for a company to charge to help you find a job and the employer has to do the LMO app, so you'd be paying them for a simple 2/3 page form which is the only bit you need to sort! And even the TWP can be got at the airport with no form filling needed.

Most immigration consultants will do you a free visa assessment, but from what you've said (a mechanic wanting to go to BC), a job offer/LMO/TWP or job offer/PNP (info in the Wiki) are your only visa options.

Unless there is another route open to you we don't know about (i.e. you have a job in demand/study permit/a couple of million dollars/Canadian relatives etc)? You can check the Wiki for info on all the visa routes, written by us lot in plain English, unlike the CIC website!

This page gives you a good overview of all the visa options, see which may suit then shout with any questions - http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Quick_...an_Immigration

Best of luck.

christmasoompa

One other thought - you say his NOC is 7321, are there by any chance any others that are a good fit? If not and that's the only one where the duties match then no bother, but just thought I'd check.

Scotscouple83

Thanks so much for your patience and help so far. Hubs does have two aunts and cousins in BC plus his dad is Canadian although he's never had any contact with him sadly.


I've had a read through the wiki links and agree with what you say regarding types of visa hubby can apply for. So should he try calling a few companies and ask if they are willing to apply for LMO or just send out a whole bunch of resumes and see what happens?

There's another NOC(9522) that could apply as he does MOT testing here in the UK?

Siouxie

If his father is Canadian, was he a Canadian at the time of your husbands birth? Your husband could be a Canadian Citizen!

If you use the 'am I a Canadian Citizen' tool on the CIC website, you will be able to ascertain if he is or not. If he is, he does not need a TWP or anything else other than to obtain proof that he is a Citizen (which he can apply for online). If he is, it's possible that your children are also (but it depends on when they were born).

If he is a Citizen, then he can sponsor you as Permanent Resident (and your children, if they are not Citizens).

Scotscouple83

As far as we know his dad was a Canadian citizen, his mum has passed away so we have no one to ask.

Hubby was born in Scotland so don't think he would be considered Canadian in any way but would be amazing if we could get into Canada this way.

christmasoompa

Has he taken the quiz given in Siouxie's post? Whether he was born in Scotland or Canada doesn't change the fact that if his Dad was a Canadian citizen, it's likely he is too.

First step, establish whether or not he's actually Canadian, as if he is there's no need for him to get a visa or job offer!

Scotscouple83

Yes he took the quiz and it said he is likely a canadian citizen but how do we prove this? There's no mention of his dad on his birth certificate.