Considering Immigration to Canada

[NickToye]

Hi,

I'm a 36 year old professional designer, married and currently live in the UK.

I am looking for advice on what is the first step in emigrating to Canada, preferably Alberta. My best friend from childhood lives in Lethbridge and have always wanted to come out here permanently as I find the way of life is so much more appealing then in the UK.

I understand that the application fees are non-refundable so I need to ensure that my chances of acceptance are very high indeed.

Any advice anyone can give me would be great.

Thanks

Nick

 

[scylla]

You really have two options if you want to settle in Alberta. The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program and the Alberta provincial nominee program.

Information about the FSW program is here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp

To qualify, your occupation needs to fall on this list:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/complete-applications.asp

Since your occupation does not appear on the above list, this means that you would need a job offer in Canada in order to qualify for the FSW program. (You don't say what your wife does. If her occupation qualifies then she could be the primary applicant.)

Information about the Alberta PNP program is here:

http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/immigrating/ainp-eds-employer-driven-stream.aspx

You will need a job offer in Alberta to qualify.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[NickToye]

My wife is a restaurant supervisor/manageress.

So it seems I am going to need a job offer.

There was recently a position I saw in Calgary for a Web Designer, although I would need to be further down the line then say a months notice.

What I mean is I can't take a job a month or two after seeing it, I would need to be ready to move. So not sure how that would work.

 

[scylla]

That's actually not how the job offer (AEO - Arranged Employment Opinion) would work. Instead, the employer would essentially agree to hire you once you are approved to immigrate and come to Canada.

See the following page and read the "2. In all other cases" section:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-employment.asp

 

[scylla]

Did you read through the links I provided? (If not, you should do that.) Your wife might qualify as the principal applicant. That occupation has now reached its cap - but the caps will be reset July 1st and they will start accepting new applications. ***Caveat - this is assuming that the list of occupations that is in place now is the list that will apply as of July 1st. Sometimes there are changes year to year.***

 

[NickToye]

Ok I see, well thanks I'm going to dive head first into this this weekend.

I'll report back if I have any more questions.