Immigration Forum / Canada / June 2006

Hi:

Well, thanks.  And good luck in your situation too.

I'm not an expert, but I do know this:

If you have the funds to attend a university in Canada, then you should
be able to in most cases.  You just need to apply to a school and get a
letter of acceptance -- then apply for a study permit.  You may have to
prove certain things, and provide documents.
I'm pretty sure that in some provinces you may be able to hold a part
time job while studying here [if you can find one] off campus, and in
most you can definitely take an on-campus job.  There was something in
the news about this recently, but I forget the details.

As for education prior to university -- I do know there are some foreign
students who do that here, but I don't know how it works.  You might
want to check the web site for the Minister of Education in the Canadian
province you are interested in attending, or the Minister of Advanced
Education if for university.

As to your spouse or future spouse, I think you need to prove that you
are in a relationship for a certain duration of time.  I don't know if
there are age limits [i.e. you are only 16 now], or what time limits
there are.  That would better be asked of a good quality immigration
attorney.  I do know that Canada recognizes married partners [opposite
and now same sex too] and also they recognize long term domestic [long
term relationship but not officially married] partners [opposite sex and
same sex] [i.e. together but not formally married] as long as it's a
legitimate relationship, i.e. you aren't making it up.  They do ask for
supporting documentation, such as a lease signed together, joint bank
account, own property or whatever to prove your relationship etc.

Now, if she is already Canadian or a permanent resident, she may at some
point be able to sponsor you to live here.

It's interesting to read about different people from the UK coming to
Canada for better job opportunities and whatnot.  Whereas, most people
from the USA that come here it seems aren't looking for a better job,
but just a way to be here because it is a different country and
supposedly more socially "liberal" and "tolerant".  But then again,
salaries in Canada tend to be equal or lower than the same positions in
the USA, but the taxes are higher....so you earn less than you would in
the USA.  So, I guess it's all depending on where you are from and why
you want to leave your home country.

You might also check to see if there are any differences in that you are
coming from the UK rather than another country.  Are there any other
programs that may not be known about or may only apply to members of the
British Commonwealth.  Again, never heard of anything like that, but
it's worth checking into.  Also, are there any scholarships you might be
able to apply for.

I took some courses out here while my partner was looking for work --
and earned about 15 credits in at a university-college so far.  I found
that it was more expensive than if I took the equivalent courses at a
state run university in my home state in the USA, but not nearly as
expensive other universities in my home area that are not gov't
affiliated.

Another thing you might look for if you take some university [or
similar] program in Canada is whether or not they can help you get an
internship [paid or unpaid] in the program of study, and also if there
are opportunities for the school to help you land a real life job after
you graduate.  In some cases you may be able to get a work permit for 6
months or maybe a year, if you have an offer of employment upon
graduation in the field of study for which you were studying in Canada.

This is about all I can think of.  The real problem is making it work
within the guidelines, and also finding a way to be sure you can support
yourself through your education financially and if you have a work
permit or become a permanent resident -- that you have a good position
to make it happen for you.

Again, you should probably consult a qualified immigration attorney for
complicated or detailed questions, and/or the international studies
office at a school you plan to attend if that applies.

Now, if you are just looking to go to Canada to work and/or immigrate,
but you don't have any university or similar credentials, i.e. associate
degree, etc. and not much work experience it may be difficult.... but
not necessarily impossible.  If you have a spouse who is Canadian, they
can sponsor you, if you go into certain fields there may be differences
[check the immigration Canada web site] and also there could be certain
situations in which a certain province within Canada has a specific need
and can nominate you, so the rules may be different with that.

The best thing to do is figure out why you want to be here and do as
much research on it as you can.  I'm sure there are others on this forum
with more knowledge about moving to Canada too....but always do the
research with both the immigration web site and the province you want to
go to, and of course consult some experts.  Some immigration lawyers may
be willing to talk to you by email or phone for a short time for a free
consultation and tell you what you do or don't qualify for, without
collecting a fee.  I think it's best to call one in the province that
you are interested in because they should know details for that area.
Also check the immigration web site http://www.cic.gc.ca/     and also
look for links to web sites for the province or provinces you are
interested in.

Another point I thought of in your situation, as you say that your
girlfriend is becoming a permanent resident in Canada  with her family.
Talk to her and her parents and whomever their Canadian immigration
attorney is.  If this is a long term relationship and you are of the
appropriate age, it shouldn't be that hard to be together  -- that's all
I can think of.

Take care,

D in B.C.