I was always enamored by human resources and wanted to be a professional in this field. My name is Neha Aggarwal and this is the story of my journey from Dubai to Canada as a HR professional.
I started my career path by doing an undergraduate course in psychology and then a management degree in Human Resource management. After that, I worked in talent acquisition for ten years in India. I spent seven of those ten years working for a major corporation. I learnt different business dynamics in my previous work as an Assistant Manager – HR Business Analyst, where I analyzed HR data and provided informative reports to assist organizations.
After ten years I was keen to try for an overseas job. I landed a job as a HR manager in a leading MNC in Dubai which I took up with great enthusiasm.
Move to Canada
After five years in Dubai, I was keen to move to a country for permanent residency and chose Canada. I wanted to get a job here before I moved to the country.
When I started knowing more about Canada’s immigration system, I realized that I should seek professional help to migrate to the country.
I did some research and asked around and one name that kept coming up was Y-Axis.
The Y-Axis consultant invited me to come down to their office for a more in-depth discussion. The consultant understood my goals during our face-to-face meeting. She also mentioned Y-Jobs, a distinct division that assists job seekers in finding work.
They can assist you to understand how the job market in Canada works and provide you advice on how to improve your resume. They float your resume on their employment website. In a nutshell, they use their website to link job searchers with employers.
Canada work visa
I decided to move to Canada on a work visa after consultation with Y-Axis under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues Canada work visas under the TFWP. When there are labor shortages in Canada, TFWP assists firms in hiring international workers. It also assures that foreign employees have the rights they need to work in Canada safely.
IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) work together to ensure that foreign employees are not filling occupations that may be held by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Remember that you must obtain the following documentation from your employer before submitting your work visa application:
- Job offer letter
- A copy of the LMIA
Foreign employees may be eligible to apply for non-LMIA programs such as the International Mobility Program, depending on the province. A number of temporary worker choices are available under this program, allowing firms to hire workers without the need for an LMIA. Exemptions from the LMIA are granted if certain circumstances are met, such as:
- Canada's economic or other competitive advantages
- Permanent residents and Canadians benefit from each other's contributions.
I qualified for a work visa based on my qualifications.
Canada work visa to permanent residency
Canada has come up with several work visa options to encourage migrants. There are two types of work permits given by Canadian authorities- open work permit and an employer specific work permit.
An open work permit basically allows you to work for any employer. This visa is not job-specific, so applicants do not require the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an offer letter from an employer who has paid the compliance fee.
The employer specific work permit as the name suggests is a permit that allows you to work for a specific employer.
A work permit visa will help you work and stay in Canada on a temporary basis. However, you can always apply for a permanent residency in the country. You can apply under the CEC in Canada’s Express Entry system to gain permanent residency in Canada.
Eligibility requirements to apply for a work permit
Irrespective of the work permit you are applying for, there are certain eligibility requirements you must meet, these include:
- Provide proof to the immigration officer that you will leave Canada on the expiry of your work permit
- Proof of financial resources that can support yours and your family’s stay in Canada during the work permit validity
- Proof that you have no history of a criminal record
- Proof that you are in good health and are willing to undergo a medical examination
- Must prove that you are not a danger to Canada’s society
- Willingness to adhere to the conditions of your work permit
- Meet eligibility conditions such as language skills, biometric data, and insurance to prove that you can enter Canada
With help from Y-Axis, I was able to meet the requirements and get a work permit.
Settling in a new country
I was lucky to get a once-in-a-lifetime professional chance to move to Canada. However, I believe that for a migrant, settling in Canada is the easiest. In terms of language, there is no barrier. The inhabitants are generally pleasant. The best part is that Canada has a large Indian population! I have made a lot of new friends in the few days I have been here. It certainly feels like home in Canada.