Canada WORKINGRBROAD
VISAS
Depending on your reason for visiting Canada, there are a number of different visa options available to you. For full details on visa options you should visit the official Canadian High Commission Website.
Before you decide if you want to immigrate to Canada you can work temporarily there first under a Work Permit. This visa is usually only valid for a specific job and length of time.
The other temporary work permit available falls under the International Experience Canada (Working Holiday). This visa is designed for 18 – 30 year olds (UK) or 18 – 35 year olds (Ireland) to travel and work for up to one year in Canada.
For a more permanent move there are a few different ways to apply. Skilled Workers & Professionals for those who meet certain educational and work experience requirements. There are two categories; applications submitted through an Arranged Employment Offer (AEO) and applications from skilled workers with evidence of experience in the last ten years under one or more of the National Occupation Classifications (NOC).
All applicants will now be required to provide results from an accredited language testing agency, such as IELTS or TEF.
It might also be worth checking out when the next Working Abroad Expo is taking place as Canadian High Commission regularly exhibit as well as a number of registered Canadian migration agents
JOBS
Working Holiday Makers Preparation is key to finding a job in Canada & it is strongly recommended that you try and secure employment before arriving in Canada. Once you receive your Working Holiday Visa for Canada you can learn about the different steps you can take before you leave to ensure you are successful in Finding Employment.
If you received your visa through USIT they can also offer you assistance in finding you a job.
Some of the most popular job sites in Canada are Jobbank, Workopolis & Monster
Skilled Workers & Professionals
Finding a job in Canada may be different from finding a job in your home country. New immigrants face some significant challenges when trying to get jobs in Canada.
Education and work experience that you obtained in another country may not be equivalent to the standards established for Canadian professions and trades. You need to know how your credentials compare with those of someone trained in Canada for a similar job and the steps you need to take to qualify to work in Canada. This will help you better prepare to come to Canada and find a job.
Many levels of government and many different organizations are involved in the Credential Recognition process in Canada. Each of them has different roles and responsibilities. If you are going to go through this process, you need to understand who does what.
The Working in Canada website can further help you prepare for the Canadian job market Use the tool on this page to produce a report based on your occupation and a location. It includes information about job descriptions, licensing and certification, wages, skill requirements, language training and job opportunities, and much more.
Another tip is to contact your local branch of global recruitment agencies such as Manpower, Monster or Hays as each of them have offices throughout Canada and would be able to assist you. The Working Abroad Job Board is regularly being updated with jobs from employers and recruiters while the Working Abroad Expo always has plenty of employers, recruiters and state governments who can advise you on sponsorship and employment opportunities.
MOVING
Moving house or apartment is difficult at the best of times without the added complication of being in another country. Renting before buying is always recommended as you will obviously need to find your feet before making such a substantial financial commitment.
Accommodation:
Where you end up living will ultimately depend on the proximity to your place of work and obviously what you can afford. Apartments and houses for rent are usually listed in the classified advertising section of your local newspaper. It is also a good idea to walk around the area where you would like to live and see if there are any For Rent signs posted on buildings. There may also be Internet sites that advertise houses or apartments for rent in your community.
Some apartments can be rented by the month, but to rent a house you usually need to sign a rental agreement (or lease) for a year. This is a legally binding contract between you and the landlord. You may also be asked to pay a security deposit to rent the property you have chosen. You will be required to pay rent in advance. The first payment will include a bond that is refundable at the end of the rental.
For more information about renting in Canada, visit the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website for newcomers to Canada. Information on renting a home is available in eight languages.
Whether you decide to rent or buy a home, it is essential that you establish a good credit history in Canada. Banks will use your credit history to determine whether they will loan you money to buy a home. If you decide to rent, your credit history will be used by your landlord to determine whether you are likely to meet your rent obligations
Shipping
If you’ve decided to bring your household goods with you to Canada you’ll need to arrange for international shipping. Household goods are transported around the world by various means, depending on the quantity of goods for shipment, urgency of delivery, topography en route and cost considerations. Depending on the quantity and your deadlines, the most cost effective means is by Sea however is does take significantly longer than Air Freight. There are advantages for both and you will need to decide which best suits you based on cost, how much stuff you have, when you would like your household items to arrive etc. Air Freight can be a cost effective way of transporting goods. It has the advantage of speed of delivery, which may be a good option if you have already arranged permanent accommodation. It may be the best option if you are moving to a land locked country or inland areas. Sea Freight usually involves either a full container, if you have a lot of items or Groupage if you don’t have enough to fill a full container.
Using a full container usually involves the shipping company coming to your home and loading the container there and then as long as there is sufficient access. There is also the option of your container being customs checked in front of you, giving the assurance that what is in your container after it leaves your sight is only what you will receive at the other end.
However, if you don’t have a lot of items to ship but still a considerable amount then you may choose a Groupage Option where the container is shared with other company clients that are shipping to the same destination.
Settlement Services:
Before you arrive in Canada there are a number of things you can do to make your life a little easier when you arrive. We’ve listed some below.
- Contact Immigrant-Serving Organizations in your community
- Apply for your Social Insurance Number
- Find a Job
- Some jobs in Canada require Licensing or Registration
- Apply for your Health Insurance Card from your provincial or territorial government
- Open a Canadian Bank Account
- Enrol your child in school
MONEY
Between finding a job and securing your visa, transferring your money to Canada is probably the last thing on your mind.
Foreign Exchange
If you have large sums of money that you need to transfer to Canadian dollars, from the sale of a house for instance, you will need to get the best exchange rate. Getting this right could be the difference between buying a new car or swimming pool without needing additional finance, such are the savings that could be made. Buying Foreign Exchange (FX) is one of the least considered aspects of moving overseas and is often left till the last minute. You can exchange your money for Canadina Dollars in one of two ways – by using a high street bank or through a specialist foreign exchange broker. Specialist brokers trade in foreign currency everyday and are able to advise you on trends and buy/sell patterns. Companies who offer this service include HSBC Bank, Halo Financial, Moneycorp & HiFX.
Bank Account
One of the biggest banks in Canada is the HSBC Bank who have branches in the UK as well as Australia. They can set up your Canadian Bank Account before you leave, transfer your funds at a very cost effective rate and have your money ready for you in your new account when you arrive in Australia.
Income Tax
All residents of Canada are subject to income tax. Income Taxes and other deductions are usually taken from your pay cheques by your employer. These income taxes are used by governments to provide services, such as roads, schools and health care.
Residents can benefit in many ways from programs that have been paid for through their income taxes and deductions. These programs include social assistance for people in need, employment insurance for workers who have lost their jobs and worker’s compensation for workers injured on the job.
NEWS
Updated Occupations List and a Cap on the number of applications to be processed per year
A maximum of 20 000 Federal Skilled Worker applications, without an offer of arranged employment, will be considered for processing each year.
Within the 20,000 cap, a maximum of 1,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications per National Occupation Classifications (NOC) code will be considered for processing each year.
