Let’s face it—immigrating anywhere in the world is not a right but a privilege and not all prospective immigrants will be granted permanent residence status in Canada. Is it unfair? In a way, I guess so. Ideally, I would love to see borders and visa systems abolished but it’s not likely to happen any time soon.
I get many questions from prospective immigrants and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a reality check on their immigration project is sometimes needed.
Finding a job in Canada from abroad is almost impossible
One of the questions prospective immigrants ask most often is “Can I immigrate to Canada even if I don’t have a job offer there yet?” Good news: the answer is “yes.” I think the large majority of landed immigrants do not have a job lined up when they arrive in Canada.
But if you are not eligible for permanent residence in the first place, stop browsing job ads in Canada. Finding a job that will give you access to a work visa is almost impossible.
In theory, a Canadian employer can sponsor a foreign employee and have him come to Canada. In reality, it is very unlikely to happen. First, employers have to go through a lot of red tape to bring an employee to Canada. For instance, they have no proof that no Canadian or landed immigrant in the country can fill the position. Second, a work visa is not permanent residence—it is tied to the position you were hired for in Canada. If you lose your job, you have to leave the country—as simple as that. It happened to hundreds of work visa holders in Canada during the economic crisis.
I only know two people who were hired by a Canadian employer from abroad, and both had highly specialized and sought-after skills (think scientists with PhDs).
If you do not have the skills or the experience, you are out of luck
I get emails from prospective immigrants who ask me how they can immigrate to Canada. I usually send them to the Government of Canada website. A few days later, they email back: “But I don’t speak English or French, I haven’t completed high school and I have no work experience! I can’t qualify as a skilled worker!”
Well, duh. It’s called the “skilled worker category” for a reason. I’m sorry but if you don’t have the skills or background Canada is looking for, you are out of luck. It sucks but that’s the way it is. The good news is that you can probably gain work experience or upgrade your skills—and no, don’t even think that marrying a Canadian citizen will be the easy way in.
There is no such thing as a “fast immigration process”
“How can I get a visa to Canada? I want to move there before the summer!” Well, buddy, that probably won’t happen. Ask Chiruza Canadiense or the thousands of immigrants who applied for permanent residence and are stuck in immigration limbo. Getting permanent residence takes time—count at least a year, sometimes several years if your visa office is very busy.
Some people are lucky and manage to get permanent residence status within a few months but they are the exception, not the norm. And no, there are no tricks to have your application processed faster. You can do the best you can—gather all the paperwork, provide all the information and documents needed—and hope for the best. That’s it.
You won’t know whether your life will be better in Canada until you actually live there
A lot of prospective immigrants basically want me to guarantee them their life will be better in Canada. Uh uh, can’t do that. No one can.
I don’t know what your expectations are, I don’t know how your life at home is. Some immigrants think that moving to a first-world country is a sure way to upgrade their life. Materially speaking, maybe. But you won’t have your family around and adapting to another culture can be tough. Money isn’t everything. Some people fall in love with Canada during a two-week holiday but are bitterly disappointed after immigrating there. Every day’s life can be quite different from a two-week break visiting and enjoying the country at its best.
The bottom line is, do research and take your own responsibilities. No one but you will know if Canada is the right place for you.
No one can do the work for you
Click on your browser. Go to www.google.com. Type “immigration+canada.” You’ll spot the Government of Canada website on the first page.
Yes, it is a bit technical (although very user-friendly) but it is the starting point of your journey. You can read about the various immigration categories, download applications, etc.
And yes, you have to do it yourself. No one else can do the work for you unless you have a few thousand of dollars to spare and would rather hire an immigration lawyer—it’s up to you.
But for Christ’s sake, stop asking me to “pls explain detailed process for a visa to Canada—thx”!
Great post… but it won’t stop those emails. You know that, don’t you?
cheers!
Meh that’s okay. Silly emails make for great articles!
You said it all. Thank you. I’ll share it.(bloggers who have to answer stupid questions, UNITE!)
Yay! I know you get your fair share of questions, I love the FAQ you wrote about them 🙂
Right on!
You deal with these too, don’t you!
Great article! I wished I knew this during my time. You will for sure receive follow up questions 🙂 Good Luck!
I always welcome questions, but some are really weird, trust me!
I think people e-mail you with stupid questions because they think they can find a shortcut to the immigration process. If they cannot deal with the burocracy, they won’t be able to make it here. Immigrating is hard, and it’s good to be ready for the worse, but like you said, hope for the best!
Amazing!! I have been applying for the IEC for two years now, hoping against hope that my partner and I can be together, it has been so hard. So I know, even when you are in love with someone in Canada and even when all you are doing is applying for a year long visa, it is still going to be a longer process than you think!
Holly 🙂
I know 🙁 Are you going through the sponsorship process? Where are you from? I hope the process won’t be much longer for you!
The last part sums it all. The best place to start with for anyone who wants to work/live in Canada is the Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
It’s a website that every immigrant should befriend. Through CIC you can pay online and submit some of the documents. You can also check your status if your applying for Permanent Residence.
It’s definitely a website not to miss.
Amen to that1
Wow, in the immigration limb for 2 years is a lot of time.
And yes, in the CIC I’ve found all the information I need, but isn’t my time yet to apply.
Regards from Venezuela. 😀
I’m sorry to hear that. Many on the continent are in the same boat… I know, it doesn’t help knowing that. Life goes on meanwhile, any additional skill you learn while waiting, any money you manage to save will help you later on 🙂
hi I’m a srilankan secondary school teacher with post graduate depoma ..I and my husband( same qualification) want come to Canada as skill migration category….I don’t have much money .but can manage nearly$10000 as bank loans in my country……so is it possible to dream about it…..further I have 2 year son also…
I wouldn’t be able to advise you. You should check if you’re eligible online, using Canadian government resources.