Canada's leading Business Immigrant Integration Support consulting. We specialise in career reentry strategy, settlement, economic integration of entrepreneurial immigrants.

Having chosen to do what is known as skilled migration, a friend enlisted an immigration agent to submit  his visa application. In enlisting the help of an agent only to advise him and submit  his application for a visa, he did a very independent move. The process cost 3000$CA and took  close to four years and once he got here the real work of finding a job started.

For many, like himself, three years can be a long wait particularly as you don’t know if your application is going to be successful or not. The alternative to this  is a job sponsorship visa. This is by far the quickest way as the process can take as little as 9 weeks and having a job to come to solves all the waiting and job hunting stress.

Whilst based in the DR he tried to get directly sponsored by an Marketing technology company, (my friend’s profession), but in his experience they weren’t in themselves very forthcoming. Since living here he have found that most companies outsource their overseas recruitment.

There is a skills shortage here, particularly but by no means only, in the medical or health profession, information technology and trades. Listed on the official  Occupations in Demand are, to give a sample, Anesthetists, Nurses, Civil Engineers, Dentists, Hospital Pharmacists, Health Technologies, Medical Laboratory, Technologies, Audiologist, Radiography, Rehabilitation Medicine,Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine TechnologiesPersonal and home care aides,  OT, Computer software engineers, systems software, Network and computer systems administrators, Brick layers, Plumbers, Welders, Plasters ……the list goes on. (for a copy contact details are given below).

With trades there is a huge shortage of apprentices and little home trained skilled workers growing up in the trade profession due to the way the training is organized. So if you are exceptionally skilled but 45 or over this is a good visa option in Canada. You could come and train tradespeople. There may be some options available to you under the  Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) Scheme. What happens here is that with the help of a specialist migration company ( email me I know  a reputable one: email: hinenisyndicator@gmail.com e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and our database you could be matched up with an employer who is seeking to recruit someone with your type of skills (trade). The employer may well be able to sponsor you to migrate.

Skills assessment forms and sponsorship assessment forms do tend to frighten people off as for all visa types but selection is based on experience or qualifications or a mixture of both depending on the nature of the job. It is possible to cross over on several categories and produce a mixture of supportive application evidence. For example, a plumber by trade may currently be working in another job but can apply using all his experience. In a portfolio demonstrating ability, evidence can range from customer recommendations, to photos of jobs done, as well as written references, depending on the nature of the employer/industry you are hoping to be sponsored by.

As with all visa types ask for advice and keep an open mind. Give as much information about the nature of your experience, background and knowledge of your skills as well as qualifications. Formal qualifications aren’t the only way for all professions.

Talking to an Immigration Agent, it is clear that companies struggle to get themselves ready to sponsor people, even though they desperately need to bring in skilled workers. To sponsor someone companies need to: offer a good salary, provide a moving package, write a good solid contract with a job outline and description, they have to prove their commitment to training existing Canadian residents, produce various information about themselves as an organization and be of a certain size in number. For many this has been hard work in the past but is now becoming essential and an easier process.

 
Looking for Work Once Here
One of the problems independent or sponsored by relatives new immigrants encounter is finding work once here. I picked up a job teaching (the field of work I’ve been in for 3 years apart from my consulting) in an non profit institution, without too much trouble. It does on average however, take up to six months to get a first job here.

To avoid too much disappointment it is worth enlisting with a honest Employer’s database  and  as many recruitment agents as possible, as well as checking job ads in the papers. For searching for general work Job Network is the government agency for job searching and there is the weekly newspapers advertising jobs ( www.Torontojobs.ca) . The best website we’ve found for professional, trade and general local jobs list is Hineni Database  www.hinenimedia.memberlodge.org  and Seek www. poss.ca. For a list of  recruitment agencies: www.addeco.ca

Follow  here 

 “Getting a Job Sponsored Visa to Canada or Finding a Job once there   ” PART II

Marisol Diaz  is  an experienced workshop presenter, specialized information publisher, and  a SOHO specialist. She also  has been writing on Canada settlement and  immigration law since 2006. contact her @ hinenisyndicator@gmail.com. You can improve your Canada job search through the Canadian database  for Int’l Employers  here ,  an informational services run by Hineni Media. 

Note and disclaimer: No attorney/client relationship is formed through the submission or viewing of this article. This article is not intended as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney. The facts of every case are different and individualized advice should be sought from an attorney before proceeding with any case.