Hello everyone, I wonder if I could get some advice.

I applied to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker in 2007 and have been waiting to be processed ever since. It seems that the rules are being changed and all applications are being returned and refunded. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...012-03-30a.asp just before I am due to be processed.
To say I am disappointed would be a massive understatement.

I had intended immigrating using my experience working in broadcasting which would have been based on working as a broadcast engineer from 2001-2005. Since I left the UK in 2005 I have spent 6 winters and 2 summers in BC, 2 winters and 1 summer were under the working holiday visa program, the rest were under tourist visas. In that time I have retrained in outdoor education (snowboard instructor, coach, adaptive ski instructor, canoe instructor, sea kayak guide, divemaster, commercial scuba diver) as these are the fields I intended to work in.

Under the new rules it seems that either a job offer is necessary or I have to fall into very limited job categories. Also there are caps for each job which seem to be reached very quickly (except crane operator). I see my options as either retraining into one of these jobs and then getting a years experience and reapplying and waiting possibly 2.5-3 years, or using the provincial nominee scheme.

Within the PNP I could either get a job offer in skills 0, A & B (full time permanent) which could be a problem with outdoor education being seasonal or go back into education (either masters or additional diploma). I could potentially go back into education ( I do have savings to pay the tuition) but I would need to get a job that allowed me to stay after graduation or it would be a waste of time and money.

The way I see it my options are thus -

1. Retrain to a strategic job in the UK, get 1 years experience and reapply through the FSW program

2. Attempt to secure a job as a broadcast technician and reapply through the FSW program (could be difficult after a long break in the field)

3. Complete a masters or a diploma/degree in Canada and hope to get a job offer on graduation. Are there any programs that people would particularly advise with good job prospects (ideally in a program lasting 2 years or less)?

4. Try and find an outdoor job that I can work into an NOC classification and apply through the PNP.

Another issue I have is the NOC seems to be pretty vague in regard to what job is considered to be in what category, it's almost like it can be down to interpretation.

Bottom line - I have wanted to live in Canada since I spent 18 months here after leaving the UK. I have waited patiently to be processed which has been dropped by the government at the last minute (I was in line to be processed in the next couple of months). I have diverse skills and would be able to adapt to Canadian life very easily. I just want to be Canadian!

Thanks in advance for any help or advice

Hi, and welcome to BE.

Unfortunately that's correct, it was announced a couple of months ago. Sorry to hear that you will be one of the ones affected.

To be honest, I can't see the point in you 'retraining in to one of these jobs' - the list is due to change again on 1st July, and then will do so again at a later date, so what's the point in retraining just to try and get experience in a job on 'the list' if by the time you've got the relevant experience the job no longer qualifies? It seems a big risk to me to take a chance on something that may not still be on the list in 2 or 3 yrs time.

Why do you think it has to be a 'skilled' job offer? Or even that you need a job offer at all? There are plenty of other options via the PNP, such as semi-skilled streams, or something like the Community Identified Stream in NS where no job offer is required at all. Which province(s) are you hoping to move to, and would you consider others instead?

Here are my thoughts on the options you've mentioned:

As above, can't see the point in this (unless of course it's something you really want to do anyway) as by the time you've retrained and then got the experience required, that job may not longer be eligible for FSW. If you're going to retrain to do something else, then a study permit for Canada would at least give you a 'Plan B' in case the job is removed from 'the list'.

It's definitely worth a shot, although you'd probably have to go over on a TWP first before you could apply as FSW so you'd need an employer prepared to go through the paperwork/hassle/wait of hiring you, and I'm not sure if that would be possible if you don't have recent experience?

You'd get a post-graduate work permit don't forget, so wouldn't need a job offer as you'd have an open work permit (assuming of course that you would so a course that meets the criteria). Plus you could then apply under the Canadian Experience Class after studying and working on the post-grad TWP, so that's another route to PR for you. If you can afford it, it's definitely a good option.

Well, it is open to interpretation a bit, but the list of 'main duties' are pretty specific, and if you don't do the majority of them as part of your daily job (and meet the criteria in the opening paragraph of the description) then you wouldn't come under the NOC code.

I hope that the above helps a bit, it sounds like you've researched everything pretty well and just need to figure out your best route, which I hope this forum helps you with.

Good luck.

Hi and thank you so much for writing such a considered reply.

In regards to retraining into one of the jobs that are currently needed, I see your point and had considered the folly of this approach, I'm trying to look at all angles even the unlikely routes. I didn't realise the list changed so frequently but I can totally see if from the immigration needs perspective.

In regards to the PNP program : I have actually only really looked into the BC PNP program as that's where I intend to live and where all my friends are. It actually hadn't occurred to me that different provinces schemes would have different conditions attached. (I did however look into FSW via Quebec but my french wasn't up to standard!) Would I be right in saying that I could PNP to a different province, then obtain PR and move to BC?

In regards to having a job offer on the PNP -
Nominee applicants under the Strategic Occupations component must either have a job offer of indeterminate length from a BC employer or have completed a masters or doctorate degree at a BC post-secondary institution in either the natural, applied or health sciences. I beleive this would come down to being sponsored by an employer in a job that can't be filled by a PR or Canadian citizen in skill class 0, A or B. My issue here is that while I have retrained in various fields my actual work experience in each is limited.

Also from the PNP website under the skilled and semi-skilled section - In order to apply under this category nominee applicants must have worked for their employer in BC, (or within the Northeast Development Region where required), full-time in an eligible occupation for a period of at least nine consecutive months immediately prior to the date their BC PNP application is submitted. If I understand this correctly I need to work for 9 months before my application can be considered. So therefore I would need a temporary work permit (sponsorship) from an employer in one of those fields. I would seriously work in any job that would allow me to get my PR, but of particular interest to me would be 6531 Tour and Travel Guides
6532 Outdoor Sport and Recreational Guides.

I will start looking into the other provinces schemes, ideally I would be able to qualify under the BC nominee scheme.

So a quick roundup then -

Here are my thoughts on the options you've mentioned:

Quote:
Originally Posted by wannabecanadian
1. Retrain to a strategic job in the UK, get 1 years experience and reapply through the FSW program
As above, can't see the point in this (unless of course it's something you really want to do anyway) as by the time you've retrained and then got the experience required, that job may not longer be eligible for FSW. If you're going to retrain to do something else, then a study permit for Canada would at least give you a 'Plan B' in case the job is removed from 'the list'.

I agree totally with your assessment of this route.

Quote:
Originally Posted by wannabecanadian
2. Attempt to secure a job as a broadcast technician and reapply through the FSW program (could be difficult after a long break in the field)
It's definitely worth a shot, although you'd probably have to go over on a TWP first before you could apply as FSW so you'd need an employer prepared to go through the paperwork/hassle/wait of hiring you, and I'm not sure if that would be possible if you don't have recent experience?

Also I would tend to agree with you here as well, it has been some time since I worked in that field so would definitely need a skills update to be easily employable.

Quote:
Originally Posted by wannabecanadian
3. Complete a masters or a diploma/degree in Canada and hope to get a job offer on graduation. Are there any programs that people would particularly advise with good job prospects (ideally in a program lasting 2 years or less)?
You'd get a post-graduate work permit don't forget, so wouldn't need a job offer as you'd have an open work permit (assuming of course that you would so a course that meets the criteria). Plus you could then apply under the Canadian Experience Class after studying and working on the post-grad TWP, so that's another route to PR for you. If you can afford it, it's definitely a good option.

This is definitely something I will consider. A couple of points I am unsure about - for the Canadian experience class I need to be either
a temporary foreign worker with at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada, or
a foreign graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work

I read that when you get a work permit for while you are studying and work you do will not count towards your skilled work experience. Therefore I would still need to be sponsored by an employer to stay after graduation and then go through the PNP. I guess that is a similar route as a above but I could work and study in Canada while I wait?


Quote:
Originally Posted by wannabecanadian
4. Try and find an outdoor job that I can work into an NOC classification and apply through the PNP.

Another issue I have is the NOC seems to be pretty vague in regard to what job is considered to be in what category, it's almost like it can be down to interpretation.
Well, it is open to interpretation a bit, but the list of 'main duties' are pretty specific, and if you don't do the majority of them as part of your daily job (and meet the criteria in the opening paragraph of the description) then you wouldn't come under the NOC code.

Ok, I think I need to study the NOC very carefully and see where I can fit in.

I want to thank you again for your knowledgeable and timely reply, this place seems to be a great source of information.

Oh one more thing - I just found the unfairCIC campaign also, the guy wants $750 now and $750 if my original application gets processed. I'm really not sure about this in any way, almost seems like he's cashing in on other peoples misfortune (I know that's what lawyers do). However the case is set to be heard on the 5th of June and if the litigation is approved I will be angry at myself for not getting involved. Any thoughts?

Cheers

Hi wannabecanadian,
Ontario has a pnp program ,Pilot program for international masters graduates, where you do not require a job offer at the end of studies to apply for PR. May be worth looking at but they do require you to be willing to settle in Ontario. I am thinking about looking into this myself as I have just finished the first year of a Masters Degree with the O.U here. It would require a big leap of faith to study for two years self financing but what the hell I am seriously considering it.

BC also has one that ends in 2013 for selected study programs.

Hugh

Hugh

Hey

How old are you bud? Your not eligible for the new IEC are you?

I'm going to say discount option 4, outdoor guide job, Unfortunately it is very very unlikely to get PR with that as an occupation

I'm an outdoor instructor myself with over 10 yrs experience and with a decent set of outdoor quals. I came over to BC in October on an IEC, had a few outdoor interviews and spoke with several outdoor companies. It became obvious pretty quickly that I wasn’t going to get PR working in the outdoors

As you know outdoor work is very seasonal. Most places for summer you start April ish and your contact ends by Mid Oct. As a ski instructor obviously your employed for just the winter. Its fine if your not trying to emigrate but because of the dead season your never really going to be full time year round. Like the UK the only full time year round jobs are senior/manager roles which are normally promoted internally and even if not there's a super high demand as everyone wants that full time non seasonal job.

The Outdoor industry in BC is also unlike the UK with it being mostly tourism/adventure based as opposed to Outdoor education and personal development. My point with this is that the dead season is even more evident as it really revolves round holidays and there's no youth groups comming for a cheaper development course later in the year etc

For a guide job in BC and most of Canada you will also in 99% of cases need a 90hr wildness 1st aid and your class 4 driving license.

Obviously try to get an outdoor job but I’d be seriously looking for other options. Some summer camps recruit and will get you LMO if you wanted to look into that. Jobtrekker is ok for jobs but most are in Ontario

What I think wannabecanadian means with regard to the noc list is that there is a very fine line between what is classified as noc 5254 Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness which is skilled and Noc 6532 Outdoor sport and recreational guides which semi skilled.

For example a guide working as a camp counsellor or for say outward bound is skilled but someone employed as climbing guide or canoe guide for an adventure company is classified semi skilled.
It really is a very fine line and in reality the duties and responsibility would be the same for both types of job but for PR it would mean the difference between eligibility for PNP straight away and needing to work for an employer for 9 months first. Or even not being eligible at all if the province dosnt have a semi skilled stream

Myself I’ve got a job in a kitchen as a full time cook which is my plan B should my other half’s pnp not work out.

You could look into remote parts of Northeast BC too where there is a labour need to see if you could get a LMO for pretty much anything and then go for PR under the northeast pilot project (something I considered too)

If you wouldn’t mind working as a cook it might be a cheap and quick option to retrain? If you start as prep chef you could very quickly be on the line.
I don’t know if it will still be on the list in a few years but reading through the research on http://www.go2hr.ca suggests that cooks might be needed for a while

Best of luck