This week we shall examine an important change that has been made to the procedures for obtaining work permit in Canada, which can enable Visitor’s Visa holders to easily convert their status to work permit within Canada.
Prior to this time, work permit applicants are required to appear at a Canadian Border agency to apply for work permit and complete their biometrics. However, due to lock down, the procedure has been revised to enable applicants to complete the process entirely online from any location. The advantage of this is that if you have a Visitor’s Visa and get a job offer while in Canada, you can apply for you work permit without having to leave Canada and change your status. Here are the few points you need to know if you want to take this route:
1) Secure your Visitor’s visa. Presently, this can be done for essential travels only. Tourism is not counted as essential travel. Family reunion, Conferences and Trainings and Medical Visits are deemed essential travels.
2) Be ready to spend a couple of months in Canada for Job search and interviews. Canada employers are not comfortable with Job applicants who are not already in Canada. Being in Canada gives you the edge to meet with employers and attend interviews
3) Target provinces with lowest unemployment rates. The lower the unemployment rate, the easier and faster it is to get a job. Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba have employment rates below the Canadian average, Ontario is slightly above average.
4) Attend Job fairs while in Canada. Check the regional schedules of job fairs in your province of Choice and attend the job fairs to meet with potential employers.
5) Target high demand jobs. This will enable you to get an offer faster. High demand skill areas are the Marketing- Sales and Customer Service, Technical- Plumbing, Painting, Landscaping, Welding, Electrical Installations and so on, IT- Software, Hardware, Telecommunications, Healthcare- Medical, Social Worker, Health Scientists and so on, Production- Packaging, Industrial Production and so on.
6) Prepare for your work permit application in advance. Get the essentials ready, such as your IELTS English Language General test result, Credentials Evaluation report, Past and Present employment letters and recommendations.