Job Discussion Forums

[MELEE]

Have you thought about Australia?

Just a thought.

An American friend of mine who had an MA in Linguistics (she now has a PhD) immigrated to Australia. At the time (this was line 8 years ago) an MA in TEFL or Linguistics and experience teaching ESL was something Australia was looking for so she fit the desirable immigrant category. It took about two years for her applicantion to be processed.

The difference is that she always wanted to live in Australia. She did a semester abroad there as an undergraduate and had been back twice before deciding to immigrate. She's still living there now and has become a citizen.

[spiral78]

Good thought, MELEE. I want to add that I think New Zealand also has a pretty open policy regarding new citizens (or did, a couple of years ago). Another possible avenue to check out, naturegirl.

[Vanica]

I disagree. Canada is really easy to get into. I just did it myself! I would not have been admitted to either Australia or New Zealand until I had commonwealth status as a Canadian citizen.

Select a profession from the list and keep trying until you get the requisite number of points. As for English and French, you have a few years to learn them, and the level is not high at all. Most of the Latinos I've met are Peruvians, and they wrote that they speak both English and French. And most importantly, say you are going to have children!!!!!

It is very, very, very, very easy.

[spiral78]

Uh, Vanica, could you be more specific?
Where are you from, and what profession did you 'pick?'

We're talking to naturegirl, who's a US citizen with (nearly) an MA in TESL/TEFL. This particular combination is NOT a key to getting into Canada.

[Gordon]

[Vanica]

I was the very last person examined at the citizenship office, so I heard everyone before me (it was in an open room). Believe me, Americans and people from Latin language speaking cultures have the priority. Everyone else got the third degree about intending to remain in Canada.

I used technical translator. My degree is MATESOL. I applied to Quebec, which requires an extra step and extra money, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. I wasn't interviewed for Canada, but I was INTERROGATED for Quebec and if I hadn't done Quebec it would have been much faster and less costly.

Some people say the opposite, that someone who is more likely to learn French has an advantage because Quebec will take you. This would certainly be true of a Latino because of the language similarity.

Also a young married couple has a huge advantage. As an Algerian told me, They don't want us, they want our children. You get a lot of child subsidies, and 5000$ for your third child's birth.

I notice they've really taken down the number of points and upped the age admissible last year, and the applications are going much faster than before.

[spiral78]

Vanica, I'm still curious where you're from.

I don't honestly think that candidates from the US are welcomed easily, unless you've got a particular skill that's in great demand (health care, air traffic control, possibly high-level accounting)

In fact, I'm sure of it, since I got permanent residency status a few months ago and the 'interrogator,' as you call them, spent quite a lot of time telling me how 'lucky' I am to be able to call Canada home - as most US citizens can't achieve this great honor.

[Vanica]

Well, you just got residency in Canada as an American! It was very fast, right? And three years later you send in the application and ten months after that, you're a citizen.

I think that person spoke to you out of some personal grudge, but you can't take an anecdotal example as fact. I do notice Canadians like to pick on you and make you feel bad. A lot of eye-rolling, it's really annoying. Still, it's a non-violent society compared to almost every other country in the world, so I guess it's a trade-off.


But the pickiness and the cold are the two drawbacks for me. Liberty, equality, non-violence are some pluses here. Supposedly the economy is fantastic right now, so maybe jobs are getting easier to find. My money comes in US dollars and I'm suffering right now.

[spiral78]

Vanica, you still haven't said where you are from.

I got residency based solely on my spouse's sponsoring me. My spouse is NOT a US citizen and works in a field that Canada needs - at the top of the list.

I would in no way have been eligible for residency in CAnada on my own merits. That's very clear.

Again, I'm a US citizen with an MA in TESL/TEFL and 10 years of experience. That would NOT get me into CAnada.

Finally, I personally have absolutely ZERO wish to apply for Canadian citizenship. We will not stay in Canada long-term. Another year or two, max. I don't want to be liable for Canadian taxes on my income from abroad. I can legally work within the EU. That's where we'll be.

[Vanica]

By the way, Canada just eliminated the nearly 1000$CAD fee and they are even refunding people who applied over the past year. I didn't get the refund because I applied four years ago. ):

Anyhow, Naturegirl passed the test, so she can do it if she wants. But this year seems to be the time for new applicants. Strike while the iron's hot.

I take it the Spiral is not too happy in Canada. The taxes are huge, aren't they? But at least, as you say, when you declare non-residency on your last tax return, you don't have to pay again. As opposed to the US, which is FOREVER. (Though at our salaries, it's nothing, so that's moot.)

[Vanica]

[spiral78]

So, Vanica, for the eighteenth time, where are you from? Your original citizenship?

'Cause if you're from the US, you didn't get into Canada on your own quals.

[naturegirl321]

[naturegirl321]

Sorry, I should clarify. I passed the online test for Canada. For Quebec, I failed.

[spiral78]

Naturegirl, thanks for the clarification re: Vanica's original citizenship. She didn't seem to want to say, but the rules ARE different for Central/Eastern Europeans and US citizens.

I'm not sure in what ways Canadian citizenship would benefit you. As you know, it won't help you with living in Europe, or basically anywhere else that doesn't welcome US citizens.

In any case, I can only speak for Canada in very general terms. I know something about the legalities of getting residency for US citizens because I've been through that. Otherwise, I can't even claim to know the country, because I've only lived in Alberta (and that only part-time) and I'm told it's not representative of the rest of Canada (that's probably good news). And I've visited BC. It's not that important to me, because we aren't there for the long-term.