Ninum88

Evening Folks,

This is my first post so if it's been covered or in the wrong section, my apologies!

Im looking to live and work in Canada full time as the UK isn't exactly an attractive prospect at present.

Ok so the story is I'm a British graduate, lived here my whole life, no negative police history and I work as a retail manager in which I have 4 years experience. I've been to Canada several times as my fathers biological father is Canadian, however my father isn't.

From reading these forums the IEC visa seems to be the best way to get your foot in the door so i'll be applying for that when they release them, However I'm interested in how I turn that into PR. I don't have a girlfriend or anything in Canada so I can't take that route, however I've seen posts on here about getting Canadian work experience and doing it that way, but is my profession and experience good enough, by that I mean retail isn't exactly specialist so am I of any value?.

Im just wondering if anyone has any advice or perhaps a reality check to help me realise the possibility of doing this? If any more information is needed ill chuck it on here...

It doesn't seem this difficult to get into the UK, guess you guys have got it right!

Thanks for reading

ninaDGBCA

Welcome to the forum. Have a read through the wiki http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Canada

There is tons of info to get an idea on different routes into Canada. IEC or LMO+TWP or PNP+TWP....apparently 50 ways to emigrate to Canada

Regarding turning the IEC into PR: either via the Experience class (CEC) or via LMO+TWP whilst the IEC is still valid or via PNP or meet a nice Canadian girl and get sponsored...you see many options depending on your experience and the help of potential employers or love

If you have any specific questions after reading the wiki then feel free to ask and we'll do our best to answer.

Former Lancastrian

50 ways to emigrate, 50 ways to leave your lover COINCIDENCE

Ninum88

She didn't share the dream, plus from experience Canadian women are nicer!

Just reading through the wiki..

Ninum88

I guess what I was really getting it is my profession, I work as an Assistant Manager for a company called Tesco in the fast moving consumer goods market of retail, previous Manager of Toys R Us. Not exactly a high skilled job or one in demand as anyone can be trained to do it without any significant qualifications.

I've seen on here people having issues with not having "Canadian experience" or having positions prioritised for Canadian Citizens, would the reality more than likely be working as a shop assistant for a year then trying to return on a Provincial programme once the 12 months experience was obtained?

As for love, its a risky business and not one id be willing to gamble on!

I'd be looking to settle in Ontario, my grandfather lives in Hamilton, so any surrounding city really!

Also Im aware of the costs of the IEC, but what other costs are involved in getting your PR, PNP or any of the aforementioned programmes.

I just get the impression that because i'm not a construction manager or doctor or something extremely beneficial it may become difficult to make the transition. Or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

ninaDGBCA

Very basic: Either one is highly skilled or has a high in demand job where Canada has not enough of it's own or one is willing to work on minimum wage in a job a Canadian doesn't want to do. And then there are some exceptions as always.

You don't have to be a doctor, i.e. restaurant managers where on the demand list (not sure if they are still), Canada is lacking trades etc.

Maybe give us an idea of your qualifications, A levels, degrees, college/uni, trainings.

Have a look you might fall under NOC 0621 Retail and wholesale trade managers which would mean you could qualify to apply for the skilled worker FSW Noc 0 but would have to get a job offer/LMO/ etc. Or the Ontario PNP again with job offer. But best have a look yourself, you know best what you can do.

Have a look on workopolis in the Hamilton area/Toronto/Burlington/Guelph/Mississauga/ (GTA), if they are looking for retail managers to get an idea how many jobs are out there.

My husband had no Canadian experience at all but very specific qualifications that were interesting for his employer and they went trough a long process of LMO/PNP/PR with us. So it is possible

Siouxie

Have a look at the working in Canada website - there are presently 50 jobs for assistant managers, retail, available in the Hamilton area - there are probably an equal amount of manager jobs too (I see them advertised all the time).

http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca/rep...tion=final&s=2

Look at the NOC Matrix: http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/...ml/Matrix.html

Then look at the NOC coding here and ascertain if the duties match closely to what you have been doing: http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/...h.aspx?val65=*

As ninaDGBCA said, it looks like you 'could' qualify for CEC after 1 year of working (if you can get a supervisor or manager position).

I would come over on an IEC open work permit, don't validate it when you first arrive - find a job and then go to the border and activate it, that way you can get a complete year of working and can qualify for the CEC - or see if the employer will nominate you for Provincial Nomination.

I have lived in Hamilton for the past 11 years, so if you have any questions about the area, fire away!

Quick question. If your grandfather lives in Canada, is he a Citizen? Was your father born in Canada or does he have Canadian Citizenship through his father without knowing (if his biological father is Canadian there is a good chance he is). Is it possible you are a Canadian Citizen without realising?

Use the "Am I a Canadian Citizen" tool on the CIC website here to check! Do it as if you were your father first, to see if he is - if he is then do it for yourself based on that fact.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizen...es/tool_04.asp

Ninum88

I have 11 C and above GCSE'S in all the major ones English, Maths, Science

4 A levels in History (B), Geography (C), Media studies (C) and Communication studies (A)

A Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Film Studies, such a bad decision!

Training wise just a management training programme with Toys R Us and Tesco management academy training! I've been in retail management around 4 years.

As for my Grandfather, he is a Canadian citizen, has been for over 60 years before they moved from the UK, However my father was born in the UK and things didn't work out between Grandma and Grandpa which lead to no "official" documentation to prove anything as he's not on the Birth certificate.

He says he's willing to help anyway he can but doesn't know how! So I'm not sure where I stand on that one otherwise i guess it would make things a lot easier if I was a citizen.

Otherwise I guess the IEC is my best option, is that a difficult process, I've seen third party programmes that offer assistance and employment opportunities but would you recommend going with them?


Thanks for all the advice and help.