http://www.notcanada.com/

Its a website warning immigrants that they should not move to Canada. There's too many skilled immigrants who can't get work in their field, and are stuck in minimum wage jobs.

Trouble is, many immigrants perpetuate the "Streets are paved with Gold" to the folks back home.
When the next ones move in, they are shocked to find they are not. Canada's fault? In some cases, yes.
In many cases, no. That is the reality of immigrating anywhere in the world. You don't come by wealth easily, anywhere
and the truth is we all have to work damned hard to make a living and nothing is handed to any of us on a silver platter.
However, it should be easier in some cases for some professionals to get work in their fields here, but it depends entirely on what
level the education was in their homeland. Not every country has equal education for fields like Medicine and Engineering. It is sad
when we lose potential professional immigrants because of too much red tape, but for others thinking they will strike it rich just by
moving here, there are plenty of other countries out there to immigrate to.

Trouble is, many immigrants perpetuate the "Streets are paved with Gold" to the folks back home.

They do? As an immigrant, I'd have to say that bitching to the folks back home and lamenting at how everything is far worse in Canada is the more common occurrence.

Truth is somewhere in the middle, of course, but immigration realistically does not make sense for a sizable amount of people that do immigrate.

Many of them do become engineers or doctors turned cleaners - not exactly a great trade off, even considering the standard of life differences (if any).

"Canada: The Worst Country in the World for Immigrants"

lol

In my experience a lot of immigrants most definitely DO paint a fanciful picture of life here to the family back home; in some cases racking up credit card bills to buy expensive gifts to take home to play Beneficent on vacations. I am not underestimating the fact that it is too difficult for some professionals to work in their proper fields here, but that is only one segment of immigrants. I also know a lot of others who are pissed off that they have to work hard here to make a good living, and I am sure they gripe and complain a lot to people back home about how cruel it is here. I knew someone from Brazil who completely forgot about his poverty back home, completely forgot about the reasons why he scratched and clawed to get here, and spent most of his time complaining about Canada, and threatening to move back home to where life was perfect. So move, already. But by and large I think most immigrants are hard working and appreciate the chance to earn a living in Canada.

I am not underestimating the fact that it is too difficult for some professionals to work in their proper fields here, but that is only one segment of immigrants.

A considerable segment, considering the points system is responsible for the largest chunk of immigrants to Canada.


I also know a lot of others who are pissed off that they have to work hard here to make a good living, and I am sure they gripe and complain a lot to people back home about how cruel it is here. I knew someone from Brazil who completely forgot about his poverty back home, completely forgot about the reasons why he scratched and clawed to get here, and spent most of his time complaining about Canada, and threatening to move back home to where life was perfect.

I dunno. Many of the above-mentioned professionals have had much greater respect, and probably relative income, in their old countries. Once they spend so much capital moving, going back isn't exactly a simple proposition.

"Canada: The Worst Country in the World for Immigrants"

lol

Yeah, that's stupid. Without a doubt, it's one of the best countries for immigrants; but potential immigrants really need to figure out whether immigration is such a good idea in the first place. If they can make it to Canada under the most common method, chances are that they're doing pretty well for themselves. So, the impetus should be political (geopolitical instability being a good one), rather than economic. If they're immigrating because of the latter, they're likely to be greatly disappointed.

It's obviously a different situation for the non-points & non-investment immigrants, for whom the immigration is almost a guarantee of a better life.

Salvius, the guy I referred to was not a professional. If he had been a doctor or a lawyer he would not have been poor in Brazil. He was just an example of someone who moved here thinking life was like what you see in glamorous movies. Truth is, life is hard, even in Canada. We make it harder for some professionals than we have to, and that is not good for the country. However, not everyone who was a doctor, dentist, Engineer, or a lawyer can slide in to an equivalent position in Canada without some retraining or testing. We owe it to ourselves to maintain certain standards. People who are trained in countries with legitimate equivalent standards should find it MUCH easier to get qualifications to work here than is the case. So, in some cases it is Canada's fault, and in other cases it is not Canada's responsibility or fault at all.

Hasn't this been discussed before?

However, not everyone who was a doctor, dentist, Engineer, or a lawyer can slide in to an equivalent position in Canada without some retraining or testing. We owe it to ourselves to maintain certain standards.

Maintaining certain standards is great, charging an arm and a leg (upwards of $10,000 for some requalification exams), not so much. Besides, there's more to professionals than doctors and lawyers.

My father, a computer professional with some 25 years of computer experience had to clean for a number of years before finding a job that's somewhat related. The common myth is that it's a few licensed professions which are a problem. Not so. My mother has also never worked in her field (connected to library science) since immigrating. Now, since our immigration was based on some solid & specific political reasons, the trade-off is well worth it and we were very thankful for the opportunity. But certainly, these circumstances are highly specific.

Let's remember, once again, that most immigrants enter Canada through the points system, so they usually have quite a bit of experience or education, or both. Most of them are not poor. The website caters to precisely those immigrants, and while it is hyperbolic, it does raise some important points.

What's with the semi-creepy voice that just starts up when you click on the link?

"Canada: The Worst Country in the World for Immigrants"

lol

I had the same reaction.

Wouldn't it really depend where you're coming from? A doctor turned cleaner from somewhere like, say Zimbabwe, would still likely be better off.

As far as I know, there are many unnecessary obstacles that educated and trained immigrants face that could be removed.

All of that aside, though, making a living isn't something that's handed to you on a plate, regardless of what you do. You have to adapt.

My father, a computer professional with some 25 years of computer experience had to clean for a number of years before finding a job that's somewhat related.

That is totally unfair if he was biased against for his foreign experience... computers are the same the world over. Was this some time ago? A brother of a fellow I work with from Sri Lanka moved here a couple of years ago. He worked with computers back home, and slotted into a job here in a reasonable time. Is it possible it depends on the timeframe of the market and how much they are hiring? I've also known periods of Canadian trained computer guys having a hard time getting a job.

it is kinda true - my moms friend is a doctor - she got it in Romania, she is originally from Iran and if she wanted to be a doctor here she would have to go back to school here - her and her husband at the time believed she would be able to work here no problem - anyway after many jobs such as subway she got a job in the childrens hospital basically taking blood - at least its in the field and she likes it but its not quite like being a doctor

and i have a friend right now who has his law degree from another country and I want him to stay but he said his degree would be useless and he can go home and have a great life etc - he only came here as a student anyway but anyway he sees all these people from his part of the world driving cabs, working in low paying jobs and he gets discouraged cause I think if he could stay he would but the thought of going through school again at his own expense is too much to do now

all that said people should do more research into Canada before making a huge decision

another thing is inter provincial problems - my dads cousin's daughter is a fully qualified teacher - she taught in england (originally from south africa) before coming here to BC and could not get a job teaching in the public school system - the union i guess is tricky - but she was offered a job in ontario - anyway she eventually got a job at a private school and most of her fellow teachers are in the same boat as her - immigrants who can't teach in the public system

and I spoke with a guy i dated once he moved here from italy a few years ago - he thought it would be easy to get a job since thats what he was lead to believe but its very hard with the unions - he was a bus driver in italy for nearly 20 years - and he came here and was told that he doesn't have enough experience - i mean a bus is a bus yeah some differences but they told him to come back in 5 years when he has more experience here - so that would mean take a low paying job with some private run charter probably on the hopes that he could one day get a better job - hes sort of past that stage in his life - anwyay he ended up in another field entirely but was a little disappointed in that he felt a little let down by Canada after arriving

Canada is just one option. People should do research before they move to find out their chances in other potential countries. Might cut down on disappointment that Canada has let them down.

my dads cousin's daughter

I think that makes her your second cousin.

I think that makes her your second cousin.

i think so :lol: never really met her once quickly at the ferry

imigrants not finding work hmm same reason why we have a brain drain in canada to the us

I think Canada has potential and if someone is smart enough he'll make it - hard workin, skills, fittin in and positive attitude can make it happens. But nothin for free as TB said - streets are not "paved with Gold" and if someone thinks so i see only one option - huge disappointment...

Very interesting discussion btw, good to see many points of view, especially i'm a potential immigrant - seriously thinkin about movin to the maple's leaf country :-)

That is totally unfair if he was biased against for his foreign experience... computers are the same the world over. Was this some time ago? A brother of a fellow I work with from Sri Lanka moved here a couple of years ago. He worked with computers back home, and slotted into a job here in a reasonable time. Is it possible it depends on the timeframe of the market and how much they are hiring? I've also known periods of Canadian trained computer guys having a hard time getting a job.

I think he was looked over because of his age (in his late 40s at the time); it's much different, I think, for immigrants who are younger. I certainly have never had any problem, but then again, I did all my postsecondary education in Canada.


Very interesting discussion btw, good to see many points of view, especially i'm a potential immigrant - seriously thinkin about movin to the maple's leaf country :-)

Think long and hard about it, realize that unless you're in some very specific fields your standard of living will not be any higher than it is in Poland. There are definitely advantages, though, especially an unheard-of tolerance for immigrants (compared to Europe), and the fact that the majority of people will think of you as a Canadian once you get your citizenship regardless of the fact that you were born elsewhere (again, compare this to Europe). It's my favourite thing about Canada, in fact, and I hope we never become an insular country.

I think if the people come here and find out their own qualifications are not any good they should be abler to stay or if they don't want to stay the government should pay for their fare and recover the costs they incurred moving here. It is completly disingenuios for a country to say we need, doctors, engineers, nurses etc and people apply for that reasons only to find out that they can't work in their field when they get here. In short the government lied. Usually these kind of qualifications are recognized through out the world. Canada is ridiculous in it's transfer of skills. My god if you teach in Nova Scotia you have to retake the exam in BC.
Canada goes out of its way to find skilled immigrants and so there is a reasonable expectation their qualifications will be accepted. If these immigrants are told at the beginning of the process that you couldn't work in your field then they should be told so before they begin the process or they may have to do one year of internship but that's it. The whole thing makes a complete mockery of our immigration policy.
Also remember that there are few countries in the world that do this. These are well educated people and they have the right to know first. They can ussually go anywhere with high qualifications and probably would have having missed out on all that potential income. There was a recent case I read in the G&M where a guy had a PH'd in Sociology from the U. of Zimbabwua anh his qualifications weren't deemed acceptable in Canada to apply at any Canadian University eventhough he had been working for that last 7 years as a Prof.......................at the University of Minnestota!

Think long and hard about it, realize that unless you're in some very specific fields your standard of living will not be any higher than it is in Poland. There are definitely advantages, though, especially an unheard-of tolerance for immigrants (compared to Europe), and the fact that the majority of people will think of you as a Canadian once you get your citizenship regardless of the fact that you were born elsewhere (again, compare this to Europe). It's my favourite thing about Canada, in fact, and I hope we never become an insular country.

I thought about it long enough - more than year and i know Canada is the place I want to live. I'm not in any specific field, i'm just a regular network administrator with additional quality assurance in food processing diploma, I don't expect higher standard, also I want to move not because i can’t manage with my life – i have a job and doing pretty well – but because i don’t like Europe, i feel i don’t belong here. Previously i was thinking about USA, but it’s overrated and Canada is more safe and has this charm ;-) And you're right - peoples attitude is awesome!!

I came back home and saw this website - what a bullsht! Only complains something is bad, but not a single compare!

"Very High Taxes.
Yes, you have the GST, the PST, totaling 15%, on practically everything you purchase" - compare it to 22% i EU!

"From rent, to utility bills, to shopping, to phone, internet and cable bills, to gas, to car insurance, to eating out, to basically anything you have to pay for or buy, the cost of living in Canada has become astronomical" - apartment in Toronto is cheaper than the same size in Warsaw, shopping - twice cheaper for all brands of cloths, 30% cheaper electronics... Gas - more than 50% less in Canada than EU

"Money Hungry Government. " - as every government...

"Worst Weather. " - check UK, Canada is not a hawaii

To be honest, the website seems hysterical. I am leery of any such fanatical overstatement. I hope whoever set the website up has done us all a favour, and moved
on to wherever life is beautiful. He can then set up a website about how that place is the worst in the world.

As a former licensed professional myself (before I retired), I find it really amazing that other licensed professionals outside of Canada who are considering the move don't always bother to check with the respective professional association/licensure board to determine the details/facts about any possible future in their profession in Canada - that is something extremely easy to do. To place the bulk of the blame upon Canada - which doesn't owe anyone a job (including its own citizens) in the first place - for the consequences of their credentials not being recognized by the licensing boards is the height of personal irresponsbility to say the least. Licensed professionals (doctors for example) in other countries know very well that they will need to be licensed in Canada.... not checking the details on this before committing to a move here goes way beyond stupidity... IMO. It's not like they are buying a fishing license FFS!

I think Australia's immigration system is one that Canada ought to follow.... but a whole lot of immigrants that were able to get into Canada (under our current system) would have been excluded under a system like Australia's.... then people would complain about that.... I say let them, no one has a right to immigration. I like the Australian system because it is more employment based (IIRC), whereas Canada's is primarily points based. I agree that giving points for credentials that aren't worth the paper that they are written on to the professional licensing boards (here in Canada) doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Just because some "degree" is deemed to be worth "points" doesn't validate the assumption that licensure in Canada is assured. This seems to be part of what some of these whiney immigrants (the "professionals") are hanging their hats on.

In other words, I'm saying that if a professional's credentials are worthless in Canada, not only should they not be worth any "points", they probably should not be given permission to immigrate to Canada in the first place. I wonder if people in that situation would like that change? It's either what I have suggested, or the status quo, or water down our professional standards.

As a former licensed professional myself (before I retired), I find it really amazing that other licensed professionals outside of Canada who are considering the move don't always bother to check with the respective professional association/licensure board to determine the details/facts about any possible future in their profession in Canada - that is something extremely easy to do. To place the bulk of the blame upon Canada - which doesn't owe anyone a job (including its own citizens) in the first place - for the consequences of their credentials not being recognized by the licensing boards is the height of personal irresponsbility to say the least. Licensed professionals (doctors for example) in other countries know very well that they will need to be licensed in Canada.... not checking the details on this before committing to a move here goes way beyond stupidity... IMO. It's not like they are buying a fishing license FFS!

The problem goes way beyond just licensed professionals; employers discriminate based on age, on where the experience was gained (Canadian experience vs elsewhere), etc.


I think Australia's immigration system is one that Canada ought to follow.... but a whole lot of immigrants that were able to get into Canada (under our current system) would have been excluded under a system like Australia's.... then people would complain about that.... I say let them, no one has a right to immigration. I like the Australian system because it is more employment based (IIRC), whereas Canada's is primarily points based. I agree that giving points for credentials that aren't worth the paper that they are written on to the professional licensing boards (here in Canada) doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Just because some "degree" is deemed to be worth "points" doesn't validate the assumption that licensure in Canada is assured. This seems to be part of what some of these whiney immigrants (the "professionals") are hanging their hats on.

How about making licensing tests more affordable? We're sitting in the midst of a doctor shortage but we cannot license foreign-trained doctors because the medical union -- err, I mean, association -- likes the system just like it is.

The problem goes way beyond just licensed professionals; employers discriminate based on age, on where the experience was gained (Canadian experience vs elsewhere), etc.

That's true I know, but I've always wanted to hear from human resources personnel what their reasons are for this discrimination regarding non-Canadian job experience.


How about making licensing tests more affordable? We're sitting in the midst of a doctor shortage but we cannot license foreign-trained doctors because the medical union -- err, I mean, association -- likes the system just like it is.

If licensure should be made more affordable, then it must be made more affordable for Canadian educated professionals too - that's not exactly free either.

The medical "union" isn't the problem.... residencies for doctors takes government funding.... but there isn't enough of it.... and there is a reason why professionals have to be licensed in the first place. That's to protect the public interest. You wouldn't want to have anyone with a diploma mill degree operate on you, would you?

Immigration to any country is tough. If I immigrated to Italy, or France I would encounter many difficulties, as well. Discrimination based on age is not supposed to happen here or in many other countries, but you can bet your boots it does. Moving around the world is never easy, never completely fair, and rarely going to be a situation where you can slot in at the same level automatically as the country where you previously practised. Like Ocean says, research is extremely important.

That's true I know, but I've always wanted to hear from human resources personnel what their reasons are for this discrimination regarding non-Canadian job experience.

Probably because they consider it 'unworthy,' even if it's the same type of a job. At least they're inclusive in their discrimination -- they don't consider the experience to be equivalent for pretty much anywhere in the world except for US.


If licensure should be made more affordable, then it must be made more affordable for Canadian educated professionals too - that's not exactly free either.

The medical "union" isn't the problem.... residencies for doctors takes government funding.... but there isn't enough of it.... and there is a reason why professionals have to be licensed in the first place. That's to protect the public interest. You wouldn't want to have anyone with a diploma mill degree operate on you, would you?

Foreign-trained doctors need to shell out the kind of money most of them do not have far before the residency stage (which, of course, is the final hurdle). I disagree that the union is not the problem -- an artificial shortage of doctors (both domestic and foreign-trained) means higher salaries for doctors and greater lobbying powers. Any good guild knows how to play that game.

Immigration to any country is tough. If I immigrated to Italy, or France I would encounter many difficulties, as well. Discrimination based on age is not supposed to happen here or in many other countries, but you can bet your boots it does. Moving around the world is never easy, never completely fair, and rarely going to be a situation where you can slot in at the same level automatically as the country where you previously practised. Like Ocean says, research is extremely important.

Because I actually know many immigrants to Italy (and also Austria, Germany, Sweden, and UK) I will note that the challenges are completely different. For example, non-EU European residents (it's not worth it talking about EU residents -- their qualifications are pretty universally recognized across Europe with some exceptions) have a much easier time getting their experience or their professional qualifications recognized. However, it is far harder to immigrate, gain citizenship, and even once you gain it, you would never truly be considered Italian. They also choose their immigrants based on the skin colour that they like (but that's, of course, not acknowledged). Heck, not even your children would.

The thing that burns my ass is the number of non-english speaking students at our schools. It has drained the system of money and caused so much of a teachers time by having to try accomodate them in classes.
The first basic rule of immigration should be an ability to speak FLUENT english and/or french. You can have all the qualifications in the world but if you can't communicate then they are useless. I recently worked with some people and they were all really nice and hard workers but they managed to get into the country without speaking either official language. None of them were refugees or in the country under temporary work visas but they still managed to get in.

The thing that burns my ass is the number of non-english speaking students at our schools. It has drained the system of money...

The ones that can't speak English are usually sent over from mainland China and elsewhere, who fork up $15K per semester. Those who enjoy the benefits of the system tend to have lived here long enough to know English.

You should see a Movie (Ghosts) 2006.It's about 10 chinese friends from mainland china immigrants in uk.http://media.photobucket.com/image/ghosts%20chinese%20movie%202006/avistazshowcase/Ghosts2006.jpg

THIS MOVIE WAS MADE BY A REAL LIFE STORY WHEN 10 CHINESE FRIENDS IMMIGRANTS CAME TO UK TO WORK AN LIVE... THEY HAD A VERY HARD TIME THERE... NO ONE LIKE THEM NATIVE UK PEOPLE HATE THEM ... THE MOVIE ENDS WHEN THEY ALL DIE IN THE SEA BY SEARCHING TO SELL SOME CR.... .ONLY ONE SURVIVE ...when i saw that movie how native are doing to those chinese :

I thought about it long enough - more than year and i know Canada is the place I want to live. I'm not in any specific field, i'm just a regular network administrator with additional quality assurance in food processing diploma, I don't expect higher standard, also I want to move not because i can’t manage with my life – i have a job and doing pretty well – but because i don’t like Europe, i feel i don’t belong here. Previously i was thinking about USA, but it’s overrated and Canada is more safe and has this charm ;-) And you're right - peoples attitude is awesome!!

I came back home and saw this website - what a bullsht! Only complains something is bad, but not a single compare!

"Very High Taxes.
Yes, you have the GST, the PST, totaling 15%, on practically everything you purchase" - compare it to 22% i EU!

"From rent, to utility bills, to shopping, to phone, internet and cable bills, to gas, to car insurance, to eating out, to basically anything you have to pay for or buy, the cost of living in Canada has become astronomical" - apartment in Toronto is cheaper than the same size in Warsaw, shopping - twice cheaper for all brands of cloths, 30% cheaper electronics... Gas - more than 50% less in Canada than EU

"Money Hungry Government. " - as every government...

"Worst Weather. " - check UK, Canada is not a hawaii

we only pay 12% in BC and PST isn't applied to a lot of stuff like it is in Ontario - just so you know

You should see a Movie (Ghosts) 2006.It's about 10 chinese friends from mainland china immigrants in uk.http://media.photobucket.com/image/ghosts%20chinese%20movie%202006/avistazshowcase/Ghosts2006.jpg

THIS MOVIE WAS MADE BY A REAL LIFE STORY WHEN 10 CHINESE FRIENDS IMMIGRANTS CAME TO UK TO WORK AN LIVE... THEY HAD A VERY HARD TIME THERE... NO ONE LIKE THEM NATIVE UK PEOPLE HATE THEM ... THE MOVIE ENDS WHEN THEY ALL DIE IN THE SEA BY SEARCHING TO SELL SOME CR.... .ONLY ONE SURVIVE ...when i saw that movie how native are doing to those chinese :

One of the big things we need to focus on, obviously, is ESL and FSL training. Teach people the language as soon as possible so that they can fit in, and we can avoid unintentionally funny posts like this one. :)

The thing that burns my ass is the number of non-english speaking students at our schools. It has drained the system of money and caused so much of a teachers time by having to try accomodate them in classes.
The first basic rule of immigration should be an ability to speak FLUENT english and/or french. You can have all the qualifications in the world but if you can't communicate then they are useless. I recently worked with some people and they were all really nice and hard workers but they managed to get into the country without speaking either official language. None of them were refugees or in the country under temporary work visas but they still managed to get in.

The best way to learn is to be completely immersed...

Canada is rather the best country for immigrants.... its much better then US and Britain... but you have to do the Hardwork.... purely biased website... thumbs down to that site

Well, this sucks. I guess my degree wont do me any good after all. But to be honest, I don't care what job I had in Canada, I'd clean public restrooms with a toothbrush in the Yukon if it got me across the border! lol But that's just me.

Marry a nice Canadian boy!!! Problem solved!! :D

Or pretend you have mental problem..

^^

lol.

Marriage ftw! I'm already waiting for my permanent resident card :)

Could somebody advise?

If I apply for PR through Federal Skilled Worker track, I with my common law partner, while my common law partner has no working experience in the NOC list, could she be refused while I am accepted for PR? or both of us will be rejected or accepted?

Could somebody advise?

If I apply for PR through Federal Skilled Worker track, I with my common law partner, while my common law partner has no working experience in the NOC list, could she be refused while I am accepted for PR? or both of us will be rejected or accepted?

No, if you are the main applicant then your wife's career is something secondary, you will be given extra points to meet the quota if she's able to speak English and/or French and if she has a career, but you can't be denied because of that.

No, if you are the main applicant then your wife's career is something secondary, you will be given extra points to meet the quota if she's able to speak English and/or French and if she has a career, but you can't be denied because of that.

Hi thanks for your valuable advice.

My further question is:

How do I prove the common law partnership?
We do not have document regarding sharing home; we only have joint accounts, joint credit card, etc.

Hi thanks for your valuable advice.

My further question is:

How do I prove the common law partnership?
We do not have document regarding sharing home; we only have joint accounts, joint credit card, etc.

That should be enough. Gather enough documents that show cohabitation and joint accounts, bills, etc. for a period of at least one year. things such as phone bills, bank accounts, even testimonies from family members. That should be more than enough. :)

Need anything else just let me know, I basically memorized the whole Canadian immigration website since I've been reading every piece of information there for two years straight, (even the training manuals the immigration officers use for procedures, criteria, etc.)

If you live in an apartment and are registered as a resident in that unit, that helps.

Marry a nice Canadian boy!!! Problem solved!! :D

Well there is my ex in Vancouver! lol

Edit...

Well there is my ex in Vancouver! lol

You could have your pick of new guys... forget about exes!
Yellow Fever is referring to the refugee case of the Korean woman.

You could have your pick of new guys... forget about exes!
Yellow Fever is referring to the refugee case of the Korean woman.

I dunno, since I've put on some weight the pickings seem to be getting slimmer. Now if I only I was getting slimmer! lol But seriously, I think its unfair that I, of all people can not get into Canada. I have a college education (B.A. in Urban Studies with a focus on Historic Preservation), I speak English and, if I tried hard enough, some French, I'm learning German, and I'm not a criminal. But yet getting a visa seems impossible! Its not fair! lol

I dunno, since I've put on some weight the pickings seem to be getting slimmer. Now if I only I was getting slimmer! lol But seriously, I think its unfair that I, of all people can not get into Canada. I have a college education (B.A. in Urban Studies with a focus on Historic Preservation), I speak English and, if I tried hard enough, some French, I'm learning German, and I'm not a criminal. But yet getting a visa seems impossible! Its not fair! lol

Have you tried the working holiday Visa program? Another thing that you could do is look at the PNP (Provincial nominee program) which is basically when one province sponsors you, the requirements are more lenient and you have higher chances, notable provinces with PNP programs are BC, Alberta, Winnipeg and I believe Saskatchewan and Quebec are implementing one soon, I don't know where you want to live but if you do get accepted then you can try your luck in that province for a few months or a year out of respect, and if nothing works then move to where you originally had planned.

Try to look for jobs related to your field in Canada, even if you just manage to get an employer to sponsor you for a temporary work permit, that might lead to permanent residence in the long run, don't give up! there are many ways :) Just find what you're willing to give in order to obtain permanent residence.

Have you tried the working holiday Visa program? Another thing that you could do is look at the PNP (Provincial nominee program) which is basically when one province sponsors you, the requirements are more lenient and you have higher chances, notable provinces with PNP programs are BC, Alberta, Winnipeg and I believe Saskatchewan and Quebec are implementing one soon, I don't know where you want to live but if you do get accepted then you can try your luck in that province for a few months or a year out of respect, and if nothing works then move to where you originally had planned.

Try to look for jobs related to your field in Canada, even if you just manage to get an employer to sponsor you for a temporary work permit, that might lead to permanent residence in the long run, don't give up! there are many ways :) Just find what you're willing to give in order to obtain permanent residence.

Thanks for the advice! I apperciate it! I'll give/do anything. As I said, I would clean public restrooms with a toothbrush in the Northwest Territory if thats what I had to do. =-0)

Too bad we didn't have more people like you wanting to immigrate to our country! Would make for a better place...

Too bad we didn't have more people like you wanting to immigrate to our country! Would make for a better place...

Thank You! I LOVE Canada. I really fell in love with it in the summer of 2007 when I spent a month in QC and a month in Chicotimi (went to UQAC). I also adore cities like Toronto, Halifax, and Montreal. But even before 2007, I visited often. I first started going to Canada in Feb 2003 (I went to a model UN at U of T) and haven't stopped visiting since. I've been to London once, Toronto six times. Ottawa three times, Montreal four times, Qubec City Four times, and Halifax once. I love it. Plus I find that my world view tends to be more like that of many of my Canadian friends.

You should do like the Chinese, and pay a human smuggler everything your family has to get into the country illegally.

There are few options - if you had at least one year full-time paid experience in your field you can try Skilled worker program - it's the best way to get into canada. Also you need a job offer - but - here's the catch you don't have to show there at all - you need it only in application process to be eligible. How is that? You need a job offer to be eligible in FSW, but when your application is proceed, you'll get an immigration visa and when crossin canadian border you'll get a Permanent Residence - that means you're a free man in Canada with full rights and can work wherever you want. Cool - huh? I'm also searchin a job offer - not a job - just job offer to be eligible. (btw - anyone can help - let me know)

If you don't have any experience you could try Youth Mobility Agreement - you'll need a job offer or be a student to get an open work permit - max 1 year stay

Good luck! :-)

This Toronto Star article pretty much sums it all quite nicely...

Brain Drain II: Immigrants let glass ceiling gather dust
TheStar.com - Insight - Brain Drain II: Immigrants let glass ceiling gather dust

Foreign credentials: going to waste
A major problem with Canada's current point-based immigration system is the use of a scoring system that does not translate to employability.

Three new reports shine the light on a global labour market in which talented newcomers aren't sticking around for a breakthrough job. Canada should worry

July 21, 2007
San Grewal
Staff reporter

The term "flight capital" probably doesn't mean much to you, but if you have a stake in the GTA economy it should.

Three reports released in the last three weeks underscore the potentially harmful trend of "flight capital" – the loss of skilled immigrant and second-generation labour to competing job markets – and the effect it could have on the Southern Ontario economy.

This week, data from the 2006 census revealed a fact that's obvious even without the numbers: Many of the youngest neighbourhoods in an aging city with serious labour shortages are dominated by immigrants.

Another report, released by TD, detailed Toronto's relative economic decline compared with other Canadian cities, such as Calgary. It highlighted the myth of immigrants being the economic panacea for the GTA – an area where, in fact, huge numbers of young immigrants are likely to be unemployed or underemployed and earn considerably less than their non-immigrant counterparts.

And in late June, Catalyst Canada released its comprehensive survey of visible minorities in the Canadian workforce, which revealed a perceived glass ceiling that prevents immigrants and other non-whites from advancing beyond mid-level positions.

In a fluid, mobile global economy that allows the most skilled migrants and their educated children to cherry-pick the best jobs in the world, perception is everything.

"If Canada doesn't want the brightest computer programmers, science PhDs, doctors and financial experts there are a hundred other countries that do," says Myer Siemiatycki, director of Ryerson University's graduate program in immigration and settlement studies.

"Canada is gaining a reputation overseas as a place that's not as friendly to immigrants as people like to think. And, now, immigrant patterns and opportunities aren't what they used to be."

The historical view of newcomers destined to toil for generations before gaining a foothold in their new country has been replaced by what Kenny Zhang, senior research analyst for the Asia Pacific Foundation, calls the signal effect, "which means a person with high human capital probably has a better potential return on that capital (wage) in their home country or their parents' home country."

Zhang says that based on his research, "the situation in Canada and other parts of the world is that immigrants are now reassessing their opportunities and moving to other countries or returning to the countries where they came from. Immigrants are much more educated and mobile than in previous times."

Zhang says 675,000 Canadians have moved to Asia alone – the majority over the last decade – and that figure doesn't include those who left the country before getting their citizenship.

"The numbers are soaring," says Don DeVoretz, a professor of economics at Simon Fraser University who has studied the trend of immigrant flight for over 10 years. "Hong Kong, India and the U.S. are the most popular destinations.
"I did a study to find out who is leaving and it's the best and the brightest, immigrants and those born in Canada. The research shows they do much better than those they left behind."
Zhang agrees.

"Even (the) Canadian-born are taking advantage of the mobility of the global workplace. "I know a guy, a brilliant guy who lived here and got his PhD. He worked here at the foundation for a few months. He found a job in Toronto, and was very active in the business community, but wasn't satisfied with the opportunities at his workplace. He went to China and is now the chief investment officer of one of the largest Chinese insurance companies.

"There's a glass ceiling here, so more and more Canadians are going to India and China, especially. (Those countries are) newcomers in the world market, with huge emerging economies. They're looking to the diaspora overseas, for people that have been educated in the U.S. or Canada. The opportunities those educated immigrants or second-generation professionals can't get here are being handed to them in Asia and other parts of the world."

But Canada, with its declining birth rate and aging population, can't afford to lose its most talented immigrants and their children, who now dominate professional programs and graduate schools across the country.

"The Bank of Canada has said, in essence, the objective is to let the economy grow in line with its potential," says Cliff Halliwell, director general of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development's strategic policy research.

"The governor of the Bank of Canada has alluded that slow population growth means the economy can't expect to grow beyond that. An economy has a speed limit. If output per worker grows by one per cent a year, which is where it's been, and the labour force grows by about one per cent a year, then the economy can only grow by about two per cent."

Which is where it has been, rather anaemic compared with the 8 to 10 per cent annual growth of emerging economic superpowers China and India, which happen to be the source of most of this country's immigrants.

To meet Canada's one per cent growth rate in the labour force, according to HRSD (formerly HRDC) the government's goal is to bring in about 230,000 immigrants a year, the equivalent of 0.75 per cent of the country's overall population. In 2004 239,000 immigrants arrived.

Of those, about 125,000 enter the workforce each year. Meanwhile, last year, 325,000 people left the Canadian workforce, a figure that's projected to increase drastically as baby boomers retire.

By 2015, the supply of new workers in the labour force coming from the Canadian education system, including those leaving high school and post-secondary studies early, will be about 110,000, more than the number leaving the workforce.

So immigration will provide well over half the new workers in Canada. Yet while Canada desperately needs skilled immigrants, whether it wants them is another question.

"The research suggests visible minorities will represent 50 per cent of Toronto's population by 2017," says Deborah Gillis, vice president of Catalyst Inc. a global non-profit organization that promotes the interests of women in the workplace.

With Ryerson, Catalyst conducted a survey of 17,000 employees working for 43 public and privately held companies to find out how visible minorities, many of whom are immigrants to Canada, perceive the workplace here.

"Their perceptions are there's a lack of fairness and equality. They reported access to fewer high visibility assignments, being looked over for promotions. It's clear we're not leveraging the potential contributions of this growing part of the labour force.
"But it's important to point out that the survey is only reporting perceptions."

In a competitive, highly mobile global economy that ultimately rewards the best talent, perception may be everything.

http://www.thestar.com/article/238305

You should do like the Chinese, and pay a human smuggler everything your family has to get into the country illegally.

Way to slag an entire ethnic group.

As an immigrant myself, I think that in general people who move somewhere know what they are getting into. I think a lot of the complaints are general complaints. While some people may have unrealistic expectations, I think people in general just like to complain about anything, whether it is the weather, or whatever.

I don't think one can seriously think of moving to ANY country in the world and expected to be treated like a local. It just doesn't work that way, and if you really sat down with people and made them think about it, they'd realize it.

Whenever you move somewhere that you don't know anyone, don't know how things work here, and aren't 100% proficient with the language you're going to have a hard time.

Still I think Canada is one of the best places in the world to move to as an immigrant. At the very least I think people treat foreigners the best in this country of any I've been to, USA included. As well, considering we finally are getting non anglosaxon people getting into positions of power the whole discrimination thing is getting better and better and will only continue to get better in the future.

We're lightyears ahead of other countries in terms of this.

Let me put it this way. Most of those immigrants that seek the premium jobs in their field, they do not have realistic view on the situation. There is quite a number of induviduals with Canadaian post seconady education without jobs. If those immigrants had the same rights, such as to be seeking an employment with education from their country......It would be a mess here. Let the fact alone that each of those induvidials with Canadian post secondary education has 30k debt to start off.

Let me put it this way. Most of those immigrants that seek the premium jobs in their field, they do not have realistic view on the situation. There is quite a number of induviduals with Canadaian post seconady education without jobs. If those immigrants had the same rights, such as to be seeking an employment with education from their country......It would be a mess here. Let the fact alone that each of those induvidials with Canadian post secondary education has 30k debt to start off.

It's true, imagine if some American immigrated to Canada and wanted to get by with their Harvard diploma :nuts:

^ My friend, that is the bottom line. They are left with no comments. Our airports are open 24/7/365.

????

I don't know what's the big fuss about it. I'm immigrating myself to Canada and I'm well aware of the process. The immigration forms clearly states in HUGE letters. "The fact that you are accepted to immigrate to Canada does not meant that your foreign credentials will be recognized, this might be particularly true if you practise a regulated profession, please check with the provincial authorities, you might have to pass several examis which might be expensive"

This legend is ALL OVER the forms, guides, etc. etc. If people are not reading it then honestly I don't know what's going on, yes if you want to be a doctor in Canada and you graduated from Harvard you might be subject to some exams as well, and this doesn't mean that Harvard sucks compared to say, University of Toronto, it's just because if you're gonna be a doctor in Canada you will be helping the Canadian public and are under its regulations, rules, etc. It's just a different system.

But people know about this :dunno: it's clearly stated in all the forms, so I don't know why some arrive to Canada and are shocked that people aren't hiring them or that they need to do 10 exams which cost approx. CAD $500 each in order to have their degree validated. Immigrating is never easy, as a matter of fact it's a pain in the ass and it takes a while to get used to the new life in your new home, but if you're willing to endure the pain, then it's damn worth it in the end.

Just my two loonies.

One of my friends is a guest worker from the US, go figure. She says she actually makes more money here in BC than she did in Colorado working the same fast food job. So for non-skilled immigrants, I think Canada still has a lot to offer.

One of my friends is a guest worker from the US, go figure. She says she actually makes more money here in BC than she did in Colorado working the same fast food job. So for non-skilled immigrants, I think Canada still has a lot to offer.

Are they hiring in BC? If so, hook me up. lol

You mean, a guest worker like they bring from places like Mexico to help harvest crops in the autumn? They have such a thing for fast food workers?!??! How does one get permission to work in Canada for that type of job?

How does one get permission to work in Canada for that type of job?

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/provincialnominee/strategicoccupations/entrylevel.htm

This could answer your question TB ;-)

You mean, a guest worker like they bring from places like Mexico to help harvest crops in the autumn? They have such a thing for fast food workers?!??! How does one get permission to work in Canada for that type of job?

I am not sure how my friend went about obtaining a work visa. For what I know, guest workers are allowed to work low-paying jobs as well as temp jobs. However, the conditions state that she must work 40 hours a week in order to remain in the program.

In addition, I have met several Filipinos who came to Canada on work visas and work as in-home caregivers, usually for about $1200-$1600 a month.

Wow! Ok, thanks for the news! I wonder if this might be an answer for Chadoh25 to work here for awhile and find out if he likes it....

Quebec Immigration Update: Changes to selection grid to improve immigration and settlement process
Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Since 1991, the province of Quebec has had an agreement in place with the Government of Canada, called the Canada-Quebec Accord, which allows Quebec to select its own immigrants. In the June 2009 edition of our newsletter, we reported that the Quebec Immigration Minister had announced changes to Quebec’s immigration programs. Some of these changes have already been put into effect, while others will be implemented in October. More information has since been released about how the new amendments will facilitate immigration to Quebec.

Quebec’s population is aging at a faster rate than that of the rest of Canada, as well as that of most developed countries. This is combined with the fact that current birth rates in Quebec are not enough to allow the population to grow, or to replace the loss in the workforce resulting from this demographic shift.

The Minister expects that the proposed amendments will help combat these challenges by welcoming a greater number of qualified immigrants to Quebec.

The changes are being implemented in three stages.


First of all, some minor changes to Quebec Immigration were made earlier this month, aimed at facilitating the process for families, students, and people currently facing distressful situations in their home countries.


Individuals who have been issued a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (Quebec Selection Certificate, commonly known as a CSQ) can now add a new spouse or child to their application without having to pay additional Quebec government processing fees.

Study permits are now valid for 49 months, as opposed to 37 months, in order to accommodate students in programs that require four years to complete.

To facilitate the application process for people applying under the category of persons in a particularly distressful situation, Quebec immigration authorities are now waiving interviews for these applicants whenever possible.

The second stage is the new Programme de l’expérience québécoise (Quebec Experience Class), an essential component of the new immigration regulations, which will be rolled out sometime before October. This program will allow foreign students and workers in the province to immigrate to Quebec under a simplified, accelerated process.

People who have studied in Quebec have already been integrated into Quebec society and have educational qualifications that employers in the province will recognize, Quebec’s Immigration Minister said in her announcement of the changes.

Finally, the last stage of the changes will be implemented on October 14, 2009. Modifications to the requirements and processing of Quebec Skilled Worker applications will be made, to ensure that applicants who fulfill the immediate needs of Quebec’s labour market are selected on a priority basis.

The system will favour young workers and families, as well as those who have worked, studied or stayed in Quebec.

The proposed changes are being implemented to attract more immigrants who have the potential to successfully settle in Quebec and participate in its workforce.

Quebec’s Skilled Worker program operates under a “selection grid” of criteria used to determine whether an applicant would be able to successfully settle and work in the province. Points are assigned to applicants and their spouses, if applicable, according to their level and field of education, work experience, age, previous experience in Quebec and language ability.

In order to be eligible to apply for immigration as a Quebec Skilled Worker, a pass mark of 50 points for single applicants and 57 points for applicants with accompanying spouses must be met.

The updated breakdown of the Quebec Skilled Worker selection criteria has not yet been released, but general changes have been announced.


Applications where the principal applicant or their spouse has the necessary training for occupations that are highly in demand in Quebec will be processed on a priority basis. The Quebec Immigration Minister recently issued a “List of Preferred Areas of Training” which lists the fields of training that fall under this priority-processing category.

Education, age and previous stays in Quebec will be considered differently under the new system. Points allocated for the level of education of the applicant and his or her spouse will take two-year university programs into account. While applicants are currently awarded extra points for having obtained their degree, diploma or certificate in Quebec, no matter what their field of education, the extra weight given to education in Quebec will now be built into the List of Preferred Areas of Training.

The number of points allocated for age will now decline less dramatically after the age of 35.


Previous work or study in Quebec will earn the applicant additional points, if the applicant does not qualify for the Quebec Experience Class.

The selection grid was last revised in October 2006. Quebec regularly reviews its immigration programs and policies to ensure that individuals who can make a successful transition to Quebec society and its workforce are able to immigrate to the province. The adjustments to the grid that will be made this year are in response to Quebec’s current labour market and demographic needs.

^^ Excellent news for me :banana:

^^

See you in Montreal once my Permanent Residence arrives! :)

interesting... is it possible to have a succesful aplication for Quebec's program without knowing french language (only english)? And is it possible to live there without french?

interesting... is it possible to have a succesful aplication for Quebec's program without knowing french language (only english)? And is it possible to live there without french?

i have been told that french is essential. they do give residency to people who have the willingness to learn the language though so if u can show in ur application that you have done french courses or classes you might make it

interesting... is it possible to have a succesful aplication for Quebec's program without knowing french language (only english)? And is it possible to live there without french?

Yes to both questions, but if you're not willing to learn French, then don't bother moving to Quebec, and choose another province. Montreal is the only place that would accommodate an anglophone, but you'd be missing out on so many things that you ruin the point of moving there in the first place. It's like moving to L.A. and not learning how to speak English because there is a large Spanish-speaking minority. French is the only official language of Quebec. ;)

they do give residency to people who have the willingness to learn the language though so if u can show in ur application that you have done french courses or classes you might make it

I heard the same thing - if i told them i want to learn they will accept my application. I had 2 years of french in one of my postgraduate school and some course at my current job in french company ;-)

Thx MexiQuebecois for info about montreal, can you write something more, especially how much i'll miss if i don't speak french.

And last thing, maybe you know how long i have to live in quebec to be eligible to legally move to another province?

Stingu, I think it would be simpler if you just applied through the regular channels to immigrate to Canada. I have lots of friends who have done so and moved here from Poland. The key is to make the application, and then do the waiting period.
Then you can live anywhere in Canada that you choose, including Quebec.

Or go cougar hunting in Canada and marry one. :D

"Marry in haste, regret at leisure"! ;)


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/dawnd_01/WINTER%202008/Winter%20Part%20Two%202009/doh-1.jpg

I heard the same thing - if i told them i want to learn they will accept my application. I had 2 years of french in one of my postgraduate school and some course at my current job in french company ;-)

Thx MexiQuebecois for info about montreal, can you write something more, especially how much i'll miss if i don't speak french.

And last thing, maybe you know how long i have to live in quebec to be eligible to legally move to another province?

No problem, if you attempt to live in Montreal without learning French, you will most likely be segregated to the west island, it's like the "english" part of town, I don't know what you do for a living but your employment opportunities will also be sharply reduced. If you try to apply for a job, they will hire someone that has the same qualifications as you AND speaks French, or they would just hire someone that has the same qualifications and doesn't speak English, but French. This is the language of the province and it just makes sense that it's given preference above the rest.

Another thing is that you would miss out a lot culturally, anyone who's been to Montreal will tell you how lively that city is, there are festivals pretty much all the time, events, etc. it has an amazing nightlife, tons of restaurants, and pretty much almost anything you can imagine. Some events like the Francofolie are, well... .In French, and you just can't enjoy them the same way like you would if you spoke French. I don't see why anyone who moves to Quebec wouldn't try to learn French though, the government basically pays for your classes, it only costs CAD $40 (!!) per semester, that's nothing. Segregating yourself from society isn't good.


And you don't have to stay a designated amount of time in any province before moving, as different as Quebec may be, it's still a part of Canada and this is where you are immigrating to, but I honestly think it's disrespectful and a kick in the nuts to take advantage of a province that is putting all its efforts and trust in you just so you can live there and also benefit the province, and you just stab them in the back and move to another province right away. It's like biting the hand of the person who feeds you.

Honestly if you use the Quebec program to immigrate, then try your best to settle in Montreal, or another city in Quebec. I'm sure Montreal won't disappoint you, but if you already have your mind set in another province/city then just go through the Federal program, it's not fair for the province, and definitely not fair for Quebec ;).
I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful girl while I was there and we recently got married here in Mexico. :) We're applying through the Federal system, but as soon as I get my PR, we're settling in Quebec, unfortunately I can't take advantage of the Quebec program because she doesn't live there :(

Montreal is a wonderful city, it would be my next city if I have to leave metro Vancouver.

Stingu, I think it would be simpler if you just applied through the regular channels to immigrate to Canada. I have lots of friends who have done so and moved here from Poland. The key is to make the application, and then do the waiting period.

Belive me TB - i'm pretty familiar with all the programs that Canada's gov has to offer and for now i'm not eligible for a skilled worker (no confirmed job offer and after almost a year of searching i think it's impossible to find a job being abroad), pnp - job offer required (exception - quebec), temporary worker - job offer needed plus i can work only for one employee, no family in Canada so a can't apply through that stream - and that basicly it's it.

Right now I'm waiting for august 1st - youth mobility agreement begins - it has a nice option called Working Holiday Program (WHP) (http://www.international.gc.ca/missions/czechrepublic-republiquetcheque/youth_jeunes/working-holiday-vacances-travail-eng.asp - based on czech version - it should be similar, no official polish details avalible yet) - visiting Canada for max one year with open job permit - i think it's a best option for me right now, it will be like a "demo version" of living in Canada - if i like it (and i'm sure i will) i'll make application for skilled worker. For destination i choose of course Toronto - cause it has biggest potential and i think it's best for start. I was also thinking about Winnipeg, watching photos that 1ajs maked i'm just astonished, but as far as I know it's not a safe place. Anyway if my application will be accepted i hope you'll help me with some advice where to go and where not to go in Toronto ;-)

Or go cougar hunting in Canada and marry one. :D

No, no, no - not my style ;-)

MexiQuebecois thank you for your advices and opinion, i think you're right - it would be unfair to come and leave this way, especially if Quebeck belives in me and gave me a chance. It's like a last chance option for me - but if i get qualified i sure do my best to learn french and stay im Montreal - i owe him that...

^^ What style do you prefer? :D I can do many styles. :lol:

Haha, YellowF it sound like you get too much sun lately ;-)

He is a horn dog! :naughty:

I love polish girls too.

I love Polish food!!! :D

I love polish girls too.

yeah, but who doesn't? ;-)

^^

See you in Montreal once my Permanent Residence arrives! :)

Marry me so I can come up. :)

Marry me so I can come up. :)

Its too late, he is taken! TB may be still available.:D

Marry me so I can come up. :)

The thing is, that's how I'm going back up there :lol:

I used to joke around with a few gay friends here like that, making it into this big divorce/marriage fest and then all my buddies move with me to Canada :lol:

TB is taken as well I believe :( But you live in the USA right? Go up there for a few months, maybe get a student permit and spend a semester in Canada, you might meet the right one ;)

Find a polygamist who will marry a whole bunch of people!! :)

How can I join them? :D

The thing is, that's how I'm going back up there :lol:

I used to joke around with a few gay friends here like that, making it into this big divorce/marriage fest and then all my buddies move with me to Canada :lol:

TB is taken as well I believe :( But you live in the USA right? Go up there for a few months, maybe get a student permit and spend a semester in Canada, you might meet the right one ;)

I don't have the money to go to university in Canada, already tried that, but my dream will forever be to move up whether it happens or not.

If it is your dream, make it happen! Where there is a will, there ALWAYS is a way! :cheers:

If it is your dream, make it happen! Where there is a will, there ALWAYS is a way! :cheers:

Exactly!! If you want it you can get it!

Now it's time for my "yes canada" - see you all in Toronto at Nov 3rd :-D

Fantastic! You will get a chance to walk down Roncesvalles! How long are you going to be here?

Yes, and i also get to chance to take some downtown and subway photos and integrate with canadian culture :-)

I want to stay for one year if i get a job, if not i think 3 months

The grass is greener complex is interesting to see here. I, for example, dream of moving to NYC one day.

^^

And I dream all the time about moving to Melbourne. ;)

But Canada is where it's gonna be for me due to several events in my life.