ukoptom

I am getting completely confused.

I read late last year that in Alberta there was a shortage of Optometrists in Alberta, & that they are fast tracking visas, however looking at various links, I can't see anywhere that this is the case.

I have to undertake assessment @ University of Waterloo, and then become state registerd, and I'm not sure the best way to apply for visa.

There are several ifs here.
1. If I can undergo assessment & licensing by trips over to Canada from the UK, I can apply for PR visa whilst undergoing this ( I think it will have to be via skilled worker). Once completed, & am licensed, If i find employment, can I then try & get visa fast tracked?, or do I apply for work permit as interim measure?

2. If I start off applying for PR, & have to do 12 months @ uni, can I change my visa to student visa so I could start course before waiting for PR?

3. When applying for visa is it best to use immigration lawyer/ specialist.

Sorry its long, thought it would be best to get it over with in 1 long post rather than several short ones.

Thanks for your help

Judy in Calgary

I've just looked at the list of Occupations under Pressure in Alberta, and optometrists -- National Occupational Classifiction (NOC) Code #3121 -- are not on the list. Neither are they on the OUP list for BC. If they're not on the OUP lists for BC and Alberta, I doubt that they'd be on the OUP lists for any other provinces, but you can check the other lists here.

You probably mean provincially registered.

A Google search has brought up the University of Waterloo's International Optometric Briding Program, which looks to me as if it would involve fairly extensive stays in Canada. I believe you would need a study permit in order to enter the program.

Then, once you've satisfied the requirements of the IOBP, you'll still have to apply to the relevant provincial organization for accreditation. For example, in the case of Alberta it would be the Alberta College of Optometrists.

In order to get your permanent residence visa fast tracked, you first have to be working in Canada on a temporary work permit.

You don't have to change your visa application. If you already have submitted a permanent residence visa application via the skilled worker route, you can also apply for a different kind of visa that would permit you to enter Canada while you're waiting for your PR application to be processed. For example, you could apply for a study permit, or you could apply for a temporary work permit.

People on this forum have differing opinions about immigration consultants. A January 2008 survey on this forum found that 75% of respondents had prepared their own applications, while 25% had used immigration consultants or immigration lawyers.

If you don't use a consultant, you're going to have to become a lot more familiar with the way in which Canadian immigration works. It's not difficult to understand, but it requires patience. I suggest you read the following:
I have a feeling that you'd have a better chance of getting a temporary work permit if you were willing to take a job in a community that was a bit further north -- like Prince George, BC or Grande Prairie, Alberta, or some such place. That's just a gut feeling, because you'll only get a temporary work permit if no qualified Canadian resident wants the job. I have absolutely no problem getting an appointment with an optometrist in Calgary, so my feeling is that the bigger cities have enough optometrists.

Hope that helps.

ukoptom

Thanks for your reply Judy, Iwas thinking along the lines of moving to somewhere like Grand Prairie, Red Deer,Medicine Hat, Lethbridge. (Possibly where there is a shortage)

I'm sure Canadian cities are lovely but tbh I'm not a city person and prefer a much more rural area

Its really weird about the occupation thing as I actually read in a professional UK journal about the shortage!

I am hoping that I will only need to do the Bridging one program which will be a month course, the prior learning is 2 weeks, and State boards are about a week I think.

From your reply, I'm thinking it may be better to apply for a study permit to get licensed, get employment, come over on a temporary work permit, then apply for PR once I'm actually working in Canada. Or I'm getting completely confused, and overcomplicating the matter ( totally normal for me )

*edit* looking @ the government site for study permit for the IOBP if I'm doing several trips over ( still waiting to hear from the Uni if its possible) I don't think Il'll be able to get a study permit as I won't be resident in Canada for the full time.

ukoptom

Next question

If I have to be resident whilst doing the IOBP, there is quite a gap between each bit of the programme, so ideally I may want to work, would it be possible to get a work permit along with my study permit, or would have to sit twiddlng my thumbs between each part of the program & my OH get a work permit and kick him out to work

I'm sure he'd bem ore than happy to work as a shelf stacker ( I see they are on the OUP list)

If it meant getting to emmigrate, I'd do it myself ( providing I ca n have a stuy & work permit)

Judy in Calgary

I don't know. There are a couple of forum members who are studying in Canada and whose spouses are working on the spousal open work permits (SOWPs) to which spouses of study permit holders are entitled. But when I say these forum members are studying, I mean they're studying towards degrees or diplomas. They are not on-again-off-again courses like the International Optometric Briding Program. So I don't know what rules would apply to your spouse.

As to your ability to work, I don't know. There is some provision for people on study permits to work, but again I don't know if the provisions would apply to you.

They may be on the OUP list for Alberta, but they're not on the OUP list for Ontario, where Waterloo is located. However, if he's entitled to an SOWP, it's irrelevant whether or not an occupation is on an OUP list. An SOWP would entitle him to accept any job with any employer in any part of Canada.

Another issue that I found out in the Meet & Greet forum is that you have three children. I don't know what ages they are, but I think that will increase the number of logistical issues you face. If your kids are of school going age, are you going to move them from their schools in the UK to schools in Waterloo, perhaps back to the UK, and then finally Alberta? If they are pre-schoolers, who is going to look after them while you're attending classes? I don't know about childcare in Waterloo, but childcare here in Calgary is expensive.

What is your spouse's occupation? Knowing the answer to that question would help you to determine who should be the principal applicant -- you or your spouse.
x

ukoptom

My spouse currently stays at home with our three children, and I work full time. His degree is in Software enginerring, and he worked in a primary school as a support assisstant for children with special educational needs until we had children.
He had intended to do a post graduate teaching course, but 1 it seemed impossible to get on the course, & 2 everyone we knew who were teachers said not to bother.

My eldest child is of school age ( turns 7 in August), my middle child is 4 in August so starts school in January, my youngest is just turned 12 months.

It looks if I have to be resident for Uni it may make things more difficult, unless I'm going for a full twelve months.

I'm starting to think my OH needs to get an evening/ weekend job stacking shelves in local supermaret, and to apply for residency that way!

ukoptom

I can do the first assessmnet and Bridging One on a visitors visa