Hello,
I'm an American wondering whether to seek permanent residency in Canada by the Federal Skilled Worker route or the family (spousal) sponsorship route.
From what I read on the government site, I would score enough points to secure a skilled worker visa, but I currently seem to lack the two things (one of the two would work) for basic eligibility: a written offer of employment or several years' experience in one of the "eligible occupations".
I have applied for several jobs already, but have no written offers yet. If I receive no written offers, is there any chance that I can be considered a "university professor/lecturer"--one of the listed "eligible occupations" for a skilled worker visa? I have a PhD and MLitt from a respected British university, I've taught English language and literature for the last ten years, all of the courses I teach are transferable as university course credit, and scholarly work of mine has been in print continuously since 2006. But according to the government site, it seems that my work experience would be seen as a "college teacher" (not one of the "eligible occupations" of a skilled worker)--since I have spent these ten years teaching at a community college. After reading the job descriptions on the government site, I see that the only thing that I have not done that "university professors/lecturers" do is work with graduate students. So do I have no chance, then, of being classified as a "university professor/instructor" and therefore no chance of getting a skilled worker visa (without a written job offer)? Will my having worked at a community college ruin my chances--despite my academic background, scholarly output, and teaching experience in post-secondary education?
Having attended both a community college and three universities, I can honestly say that some of the teachers I had at a community college were much more skillful teachers (and sometimes more knowledgeable) than some of those I met at university. But according to a strict reading of the government site, a university lecturer with a masters degree and one year of teaching experience would be eligible for a skilled worker visa, but I with a PhD, ten years' teaching experience, and scholarly publication would not be eligible. It doesn't seem fair. In a nutshell, do immigration officials have any leeway on this, or will they simply see that I didn't do my teaching at a university and automatically reject my application?
Also, which takes longer these days, on the average: skilled worker visa or spousal sponsored visa? Is there a significant difference? If so, by how many months, generally? I've red on this forum that spousal visas can usually be processed in around 8 months, if there are no snags. I know there used to be a big backlog for skilled workers that slowed down that stream, but I wonder how much better it usually is now.
Thanks again to whoever may know something about this.
I'm an American wondering whether to seek permanent residency in Canada by the Federal Skilled Worker route or the family (spousal) sponsorship route.
From what I read on the government site, I would score enough points to secure a skilled worker visa, but I currently seem to lack the two things (one of the two would work) for basic eligibility: a written offer of employment or several years' experience in one of the "eligible occupations".
I have applied for several jobs already, but have no written offers yet. If I receive no written offers, is there any chance that I can be considered a "university professor/lecturer"--one of the listed "eligible occupations" for a skilled worker visa? I have a PhD and MLitt from a respected British university, I've taught English language and literature for the last ten years, all of the courses I teach are transferable as university course credit, and scholarly work of mine has been in print continuously since 2006. But according to the government site, it seems that my work experience would be seen as a "college teacher" (not one of the "eligible occupations" of a skilled worker)--since I have spent these ten years teaching at a community college. After reading the job descriptions on the government site, I see that the only thing that I have not done that "university professors/lecturers" do is work with graduate students. So do I have no chance, then, of being classified as a "university professor/instructor" and therefore no chance of getting a skilled worker visa (without a written job offer)? Will my having worked at a community college ruin my chances--despite my academic background, scholarly output, and teaching experience in post-secondary education?
Having attended both a community college and three universities, I can honestly say that some of the teachers I had at a community college were much more skillful teachers (and sometimes more knowledgeable) than some of those I met at university. But according to a strict reading of the government site, a university lecturer with a masters degree and one year of teaching experience would be eligible for a skilled worker visa, but I with a PhD, ten years' teaching experience, and scholarly publication would not be eligible. It doesn't seem fair. In a nutshell, do immigration officials have any leeway on this, or will they simply see that I didn't do my teaching at a university and automatically reject my application?
Also, which takes longer these days, on the average: skilled worker visa or spousal sponsored visa? Is there a significant difference? If so, by how many months, generally? I've red on this forum that spousal visas can usually be processed in around 8 months, if there are no snags. I know there used to be a big backlog for skilled workers that slowed down that stream, but I wonder how much better it usually is now.
Thanks again to whoever may know something about this.