Job Discussion Forums

Vanica · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 368 Location: North Carolina

Spiral you funny guy. Seems you are giving Americans a bad name out there in Alberta! Razz

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Gee, thanks, Vanica Shocked

There are more US citizens living in Calgary than in any other city outside of the US. It's called Little Houston. I'm probably not having any significant impact. In any case, I'm not there more than three or four months out of every year. I'm not there now. Won't be until sometime in 2008.

Naturegirl, so far as the 'lot of money in a little time' - not anywhere I know of!! While not all provinces have the super-high housing costs featured in Alberta, pay for ESL is generally relatively low. You would be eligible for university positions, but they are not wildly lucrative -not enough to save up any significant amounts. You might want to read up on earlier threads about the relatively low pay for ESL positions. You woudn't even want to consider working for private schools - they pay subsistence wages only. The uni jobs are thin on the ground and USUALLY go to Canadian citizens - I got super-lucky, but remember that I found a job from inside the country, and had been there a year before I landed one.

Vanica, enjoy your new country. You're obviously in the honeymoon stages, and I hope it goes on forever for you. But other people have to be realistic.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Hey, IS650, you're forgetting that naturegirl probably can't get into Canada in the first place.

advice · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 39 Location: USA

I do not know how it is about Americans. I am from Eastern Europe. Ph.D in linguistics from my country, M.A. in journalism from the USA, more than 10 years of experience of teaching English at the university in my country.

What is written on the official website of Canadian immigration, the profession does not matter. The level of education matters + years of experience.

If you have M.A. - maximum points, if you have at least 4 years for the period of the last 10 years in this profession - maximum points.

My husband is in computing, but with his education we would get fewer points than if I am the main applicant. This policy was accepted in 2003 or 2002.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The standards are different for US citizens, Vanica.

advice · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 39 Location: USA

I am not Vanica

Vanica · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 368 Location: North Carolina

Here I am!!! Laughing

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Saying we were to apply to go to Canada, how long does the application process take? spiral78 and Vanica, you've done it, what was your experience?

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yes, for the 12th. time - I went through the process as a US citizen with MA + 7 years experience at the time.

May I please emphasize one last time:

I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED ON MY OWN QUALIFICATIONS. I WAS SPONSORED IN AS A DEPENDENT. MY SPOUSE WORKS IN A FIELD THAT HAPPENS TO BE AT THE TOP OF CANADA'S NEEDS LIST.

If I'd tried to get into Canada by myself, or if my spouse had different qualifications, we would have had NO CHANCE.

koshechka · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:57 am Post subject: vancouver

hello,
i don't want to interrupt but my situation is very similar to naturegirl's in that i am an american citizen, my husband is mexican, we have been living in chile and are now looking to move to canada, vancouver specifically. i have a few questions, one, spiral78, why do you say that it is difficult to get in being an american, i thought that as long as you had education, so many years and a job experience it was no sweat. does it really matter which country you are from? i know this sounds naive but bare with me. second thing, this one for vanica, where did you get the idea that we no longer have to pay 550 a piece for the application. i've just downloaded it and there it is in black and white.
finally, would a mexican architect (my husband) have better luck getting in than an american tefl teacher (myself)? i am getting worried now. and the wait time is around 2 years from what i gather, i think someone asked before. well, hope to hear from you soon,
koshechka