taylor2kay

Hi There,

I am in the process of applying for jobs to Canada from the U.K and have been applying for a year now. I work at KPMG in Finance/Insolvency (AAT Qualified) and was looking for the same type of role in Canada and i am over 30 yrs of age.

It seems they want to offer the job to me but as soon as they find out i am British without a work permit they do not want to help. As you can appreciate I am not entitled to apply for skilled worker jobs and can not obtain a visa this way
I understand the LMO process but employers dont want the hassle of it, instead they say when you get a work visa come down and see us. This leaves me in a awkward situation. All i require is a letter in order to apply for the Work Visa.


Are there any British Agencies set-up out there?
Is there any way of obtaining a work visa if your not a skilled worker?
Can anyone help this is so frustrating?

PMM

Hi


You actually need more than a letter. The employer has to advertise the position on the National Job Bank for a minimum of 2 weeks. Then they have to submit a Labour Market Opinion request to HRSDC and demonstrate why no Canadians/PRs are qualified for the position and that wages and working conditions are norm for the location. Also why the persons who applied for the position are not qualified. If (the big IF) HRSDC approves, then an LMO issued and with it, you can apply for a work permit.

As you can see, the employer has to put some effort into hiring you, and without a face to face to meeting,interview, it is unlikely that they will go to that effort. So your best bet is visiting Canada with a hope that a employer MAY take the effort, if they want you badly enough.

With a 7.8% national unemployment rate, obtaining approved LMOs is getting harder and harder.

It is possible that if you are working in a skilled Managerial position in your present company, they might be willing to transfer you as an intra-company transferee on a work permit.

CIC definition

are taking a position in a Executive, Senior Managerial, or Specialized Knowledge capacity;
• have been employed (via payroll or by contract) by the company outside Canada in a similar
full-time position (not accumulated part-time) for one year in the three-year period immediately
preceding the date of application. Extensions may be granted up to the 5 and 7 year
maximums referred to in the tables at the end of this section (5.31) and in the table in section

taylor2kay

Hey PMM,

Thanks alot for your detailed kind response much appreciated.

Sounds like i will have to get my self down there to inerview stage and sell my self.

Do you know of any British work Agents in canada, who maybe i can apply to direct who understand my process?

Are you currently living and working in Canada?

I am thinking of working in Vancouver area is this a good hotspot for work?

stacey.cook1

Hi, I'm not sure about british agencies out here but if you are looking at large enough companies then chances are they have gone through the LMO process before for another member of staff so understand the process. Check out Job bank as companies who are advertising on here have already done half the leg work as thats a requirement for the LMO application to have it advertised for 2 weeks. Craigslist is another good place to look for jobs in Vancouver.

Don't let the whole LMO approval put you off, I managed to get one on a skill level C role, when in theory there are lots of Canadians that would be able to do my job but because I had varied experience my boss was able to advertise the role around my specific skills whilst still fitting in with the NOC code, therefore reducing the 'eligible' applicants. Don't get me wrong though it took ages (4-5 weeks) and was very stressfull as the first one was declined! so we had to appeal. So you need to think what skills you can bring to the table that other candidates might not have.

It will definately help your case by being over here and available for interviews, I applied for sooo many jobs online from UK before we came out but didn't get a single response. And as PMM says its very doubtful a company will be willing to go through all the hassle of LMO without even meeting with you.

mandymoochops

also you need to ask yourself if you are in a specialised role. Just because you seel yourself, and even if the comapny would "prefer" to hire you over other Canadian applicants - that isn't enough for a positive LMO.

If your job is pretty run of the mill and you think there are Canadians that can do it too it will make it even more difficult. Because if there are, and they apply for the job - even if you come across as the best applicant - HRSDC will not issue the LMO.

Also look into your qualifications and whether they are recognised here, you may need to resit for the Canadian equivalent.

bop53

Although the responses seem quite clear to the poster's question, can I verify for my own situation?

I am a social worker, and although on the skill shortage list, my qualification (despite 18 years experience) will not qualify me to work as a social worker in Canada, so no point going down that route. TBH, if I ever get there, I will be happy with a non qualified assistant post.

Hubby, who is an amazing Occupational Therapist, has skills and experience that have been sought after by every potential employer to date. He would wish to continue with his career in Canada and meets their registration recognised requirements.

We are both too old to apply for permanency, and having gone down that route already for NZ, it is not something we wish to do again anyway. Once bitten etc.

So... if we visit Canada, on a visitor permit, and hubby is offered a job, can he apply for a work visa from there, or does he have to leave and apply for the work permit from outside Canada? And I take it I would have to find an employer before being considered for a work permit too? Almost impossible without the recognised qualification equivalent.

We would both love to come and work there for a few years as Canada is considered to be one of the most forward thinking countries in terms of allied health.

So just trying to find out if whether it will be possible. If not, it's back to Scotland.

taylor2kay

Hi All,

Thank you for your responses.

I currently work for KPMG in the UK and have applied for numerous jobs in Canada, and have had some interest but as soon as they find out I don;t have a work permit thay say they can't sponser me. I have tried to obtain an internal transfer but they will only support managers and above.

You would think that whatever your age you could get a years working visa!! No such luck.

If any one has any other suggestions maybe even other countries that I could work where its not so difficult to obtain a work visa???

bop53

Although I do not recommend coming here to NZ, my son in his mid 30's came here as a visitor, found an employer willing to employ him, and applied for a working visa immediately.

It took about 8 weeks in total to get the visa but he was not allowed to work during that time. He renewed it yearly three times before heading back to Scotland.

I would persevere with Canada, as despite the apparent difficulties, it still appears to be the better option.

Good luck

Essay

With my limited experience helping construction workers with work visas, the standard process for the worker is to cross & return at the closest border crossing to a) obtain official approval to work in Canada, b) pay for the work visa, and c) obtain the work visa. However, none of the people I've worked with have been on a visitor visa at the time. Do you need a visitor visa to be in Canada? Also, I'm not sure how long the LMO process would be, relative to the length of time you could afford to remain in Canada.

(Keep in mind, I could be wrong -- this is just my experience and we haven't had any work visas available since mid-2010)

Not trying to put you off -- Canada definitely needs qualified, dedicated workers like you & your husband, imho!

taylor2kay

Thanks for the feedback.

I am thinking of coming over to Canada on a holiday for a few weeks and pre arranging some interviews with the hope of selling myself and obtaining a job.

I have heard that if in Canada and a job offer comes available I can leave the country and come back in stating to border immigration that I have a job offer, does anyone know if this is true?? It is a bit similiar to the feed from the above quote.

I am willing to try anything to get that job, like they say never give up on that dream!!

Does anyone know of any cheap places to stay in Vancouver town for a few weeks? Need it central location to be in with a chance of getting to thoe interviews.......

Essay

Can't help wrt Vancouver, but in terms of getting the work visa, the border guard can only provide the work visa that has been issued by the government to the company. In my experience, the company then provides, to the prospective employee, a letter of offer stating the work visa is ready to be picked up. (OK, the letter is more formal than that!)

The border guards require more than one's word that one has a job offer. The guards (in my experience) require the letter of offer to start their "approval to enter Canada" process. The letter of offer is not a guarantee that one can enter Canada for work; it is merely a guarantee that the government agrees there is no one in Canada more qualified for the job in question than the person named in the letter.

taylor2kay

Hi Essay,

Thanks for responding.

How long have you been in Canada?
How has your experience been?

Where are you from originally?

Kind regards

PMM

Hi

QUOTE=Essay;9267944]Can't help wrt Vancouver, but in terms of getting the work visa, the border guard can only provide the work visa that has been issued by the government to the company. In my experience, the company then provides, to the prospective employee, a letter of offer stating the work visa is ready to be picked up. (OK, the letter is more formal than that!)

The border guards require more than one's word that one has a job offer. The guards (in my experience) require the letter of offer to start their "approval to enter Canada" process. The letter of offer is not a guarantee that one can enter Canada for work; it is merely a guarantee that the government agrees there is no one in Canada more qualified for the job in question than the person named in the letter.[/QUOTE]

The job offer isn't good enough to get the work permit. You need a copy of the approved Labour Market Opinion that HRSDC sent to the employer.