Relocating to Canada - work - how does the process work best?

[hockeypuck]

Hi
DH and I have talked for the last 15 years about one day moving to Canada but work and kids and indecisiveness have kept us here. Recently I've been thinking about it more and wondered what the best way to go about it is.

Basically, I am funded for another 3 years to do a PhD, which to a certain extent ties me to the UK (but not exclusively - I could easily do my final write-up year elsewhere). The UK job market looks awful for getting employed as a lecturer in university when I leave. I hear it is brigher in Canada and my research interest fits better with Canada than with the UK to some extent.

If I am thinking long-term, and thinking of applying for a lecturing job in Canada in 3 years time (relocating me, DH and 2 DCs), should we be applying now for immigration independently?
or
If I got a job offer in Canada in a couple of years, would they arrange all the immigration for me?

I know we have enough points to start the application process, but not sure which is the best way of going about it.

[madwomanintheattic]

i discussed this with a fairly well known (in her field) canadian professor at a conference in the uk a year or two ago. she could think of no british academics working in any university in canada at all. not a one. even she was faintly baffled as it had never occurred to her before (i was asking where the best to do a phd was, if one was intending to pursue an academic career in canada...)

she put it down to the immigration criteria really - do you know if lecturers etc are still on the list? i know the list changed a month or two ago, and it is subject to change at any point, so really whether or not the job is on the list now isn't a great indication that it would be on the list in 3/2/1 year etc.

job offers to non-PRs are pretty difficult to get hold of in all honesty (unless you have very specialist skills and no suitable canadian can be found to fill the job - have you read up on the lmo process at all? quite strict criteria)

points are fairly meaningless now (they are only looked at when you meet the other skilled worker criteria - to ensure you meet the minimum - unfortunately points in themselves are mostly pretty worthless unless you are on 'the list' or do have a valid job offer/lmo)

you really need to read up on the current skilled worker process - it has changed so much over the last couple of years that it is easy to think you know you fulfil the criteria, but actually the system has changed when you weren't looking ...

difficult to say whether you should apply or not now. do you meet the current criteria? if not, then it's a waste of time. (oh, might also be worth noting that even english born and bred primary applicants now have to sit ielts - i know, i know, but it's just another hoop (and expense) to jump through)

anyway, back to my original point really. her opinion was that it would be best to get pr status and then apply for jobs if at all possible (has ever been thus) but don't hold your breath unless you are an in-demand specialist with a brilliant publishing/ conf record etc...

[madwomanintheattic]

oh, i would say look at 'britishexpats' website. they have a very good wiki on immigration on their canada board. and v friendly too. there are a few academics on there who seem to disprove the 'no brits at all' theory, but not many that i've come across.

(as an aside - i put off my phd and am now pr living in canada, and applying for phd start next year... our pr came through in may this year after 3 1/2 years. current applications are taking 6 -12 mos to get processed, but the system is v different and there are now quotas etc...)

[mamakoukla]

There are a fair few Brits in Canadian academia, some of which went across as part of the hiring process. Ultimately, if you are the person for the job and no Canadian can fulfil the requirements/be such a good match, they can hire you. You would probably have to enter the country on a work permit, and apply for permanent residence at a later date. Alternatively, join the permanent residence application list now and if you don't land the job, do you still want to go?

I have also known a few people who went to Canada for academic positions and postdoctoral studies, no problems.

I think if you can prove your proficiency in English e.g. language at work, university, home etc., IELTS is not a requirement.

[hockeypuck]

Thanks for the tips. I need to get reading!so thanks for the directions.

I'm planning on going to the American Society of Criminology Conference next year (where the majority of Canadian academics in my field will be presenting) so I shall make some enquiries of them too.

Thanks :)

[madwomanintheattic]

mama - ielts is a requirement now even for those born, bred and masters level educated in english lol. all principal applicants must sit ielts - this is exactly what i mean - the flipping application process changes every five minutes lol. we got pr this year and didn't have to sit ielts, but current applicants do...

and again, yes, if you can get an lmo saying there are no qualified canadians and the uni have jumped through the cic hoops wrt advertising etc to get a work permit, that's fine.

definitely use the criminology conf for contacts - it's not what you know...

'be such a good match' won't cut it - they need to have a reason why the canadian candidate is not suitable, not less suitable. being the best candidate is not relevant if there is a suitable candian candidate. so a contact who can write a job spec that only you can fill (not any canadian) is a real boon.