Getting a job offer before you can apply for a work permit.

00Gambit · Feb 1, 2020

dunchues said: ↑

You're getting there, contacting a prospective employer is your first step. Canada is different to UK, if you email you'll likely hear nothing so ALWAYS phone first and speak to whoever is in charge of recruiting. That person will tell you straight away if they're interested and what they want from you.

You're idea of passing your test on your own dime wont fly. Not just because its outside your visitor Visa to study but because you also have to change your licence over to Canadian to get your learners permit needing address etc, so put it out of your mind. Its dim in my memory, but a little while back there was a lot of MB asians getting their license ( not really taking their test wink wink) at a center using their own language in ON, then changing to mb. The provincial authorities got wind of it and changed the rules on out of province new passes, you wont need that ag.

Your list of companies seems to be all the big outfits, you may well do better with smaller firms. You will find plenty of opinion on here on those you list, but I'm not from MB so have no knowledge of my own only what I've read. Met a bloke from Payne once who was very happy and one from big freight too actually.

The licencing rules between each province are very different . So is the geography and type of work, in fact everything really so like I said ages back first choose your province, then what work you want to do, then as you focus down you can get away from your shotgun approach and target a real strategy. For instance, I wanted to go long haul so MB wouldn't really have suited me whereas the left and right coast would . BC wouldn't work as I only speak english so maritimes it was. If I were wanting to be home more regularly then my choices may have been more open.

The ainp is an option but the lmia route is still used by some companies in the maritimes.

I know it seems incredible, it did to me too, but a lot of these outfits here really do need you more than you need them and will help you get over so keep your money in your pocket, you're going to need it.
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Thanks for the tips. My preferred province is Manitoba and my preferred line of work would be long haul all throughout north america, either flat bed or dry van, out for at least a week at a time.

I've checked about studying on a tourist visa and here's what the official immigration website says on the matter.

I want to study in Canada for less than 6 months. Do I need a study permit?
No, you don’t need a study permit if your course or study program lasts less than 6 months. You must complete your course or program within the time you’re allowed to stay in Canada.

I've also emailed several trucking schools about enrolling on a MELT course in Manitoba as a tourist and they've all confirmed it's legal and they'd be happy to have me.

I know it seems incredible, it did to me too, but a lot of these outfits here really do need you more than you need them and will help you get over so keep your money in your pocket, you're going to need it.
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So do you recommend trying to get a formal job offer before paying for any courses?

3noses · Feb 1, 2020

00Gambit said: ↑

Thanks for the tips. My preferred province is Manitoba and my preferred line of work would be long haul all throughout north america, either flat bed or dry van, out for at least a week at a time.

I've checked about studying on a tourist visa and here's what the official immigration website says on the matter.

I want to study in Canada for less than 6 months. Do I need a study permit?
No, you don’t need a study permit if your course or study program lasts less than 6 months. You must complete your course or program within the time you’re allowed to stay in Canada.

I've also emailed several trucking schools about enrolling on a MELT course in Manitoba as a tourist and they've all confirmed it's legal and they'd be happy to have me.

So do you recommend trying to get a formal job offer before paying for any courses?

You've made progress on the issue of studying on the tourist visa, good for you. But the fact remains that most companies that participate in the foreign worker program, especially in the trucking industry, are well-known in Canada as the bottom-feeders. They only are in the program because they don't pay enough or offer benefits attractive enough to recruit local people. Some are worst than others, outright fraudsters who require kickbacks of cash, don't pay as the labour laws require, the list is endless. The Canadian government is well aware of this, but so far has been unable to muster enough courage to toss the whole program into the trash. It has been tweaked and assessed when publicity about the rampant fraud occasionally gets loud enough, but the pressure from the big corporations keeps it afloat, for now.
Be forewarned, several of the companies you mentioned are known here as the worst of the worst...
At least you have been warned about what you are thinking of getting involved in, the choice is yours...
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dunchues · Feb 1, 2020

Oh well if you read it online and the training school agrees theres no problem then. I do have one or two stories but you're way ahead of me so I'll not waste my time.

As the other poster with the unusual facial features warned you, a visitor visa is very limited and if you cross the immigration and border people you may well regret it.

You misunderstood me a bit regarding paying for training , I dont really know what's involved in a melt, ( I come from London and it means something different there) but I wouldn't be happy paying for it at all.

Paying for the cost of the test, medical, accommodation and all the actual costs may be reasonable but the training wouldn't be. And I certainly wouldn't do anything without a job offer.

I've tried, but I'm out now. Good luck, you'll need it.

00Gambit · Feb 1, 2020

3noses said: ↑

You've made progress on the issue of studying on the tourist visa, good for you. But the fact remains that most companies that participate in the foreign worker program, especially in the trucking industry, are well-known in Canada as the bottom-feeders. They only are in the program because they don't pay enough or offer benefits attractive enough to recruit local people. Some are worst than others, outright fraudsters who require kickbacks of cash, don't pay as the labour laws require, the list is endless. The Canadian government is well aware of this, but so far has been unable to muster enough courage to toss the whole program into the trash. It has been tweaked and assessed when publicity about the rampant fraud occasionally gets loud enough, but the pressure from the big corporations keeps it afloat, for now.
Be forewarned, several of the companies you mentioned are known here as the worst of the worst...
At least you have been warned about what you are thinking of getting involved in, the choice is yours...
Click to expand...

As with every industry there are ####ty companies and good companies. You think I'm not doing my research on every company I find? I maybe excited about trucking in Canada, but I'm not a desperate 3rd world immigrant who will take literally whatever job they're offered so they can feed their family back home. I'm from the UK...

If I am treated disrespectfully or in anyway which I feel like I'm being abused then I'll simply find another company or worst comes to worst I'll go home. You miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take, but thanks for your reply.

upnorthwpg · Feb 1, 2020

00Gambit said: ↑

As with every industry there are ####ty companies and good companies. You think I'm not doing my research on every company I find? I maybe excited about trucking in Canada, but I'm not a desperate 3rd world immigrant who will take literally whatever job they're offered so they can feed their family back home. I'm from the UK...

If I am treated disrespectfully or in anyway which I feel like I'm being abused then I'll simply find another company or worst comes to worst I'll go home. You miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take, but thanks for your reply.
Click to expand...

Almost every company treats new drivers like slave labour here in Manitoba. If you resign yourself to being treated like dirt, apply with anyone here

not4hire · Feb 2, 2020

Highly unlikely you'll need a visa as a UK citizen.

You can apply to study at the school of your choice without a study permit if both of the following apply:

your studies aren’t part of a longer study program

you complete your studies within the amount of time we’ve approved you to stay in Canada

This is usually 6 months after you enter

However, you may want to get a study permit even if you don’t need one.

- You don’t need a study permit: 6 months or less - Canada.ca

The above information came from an online, short questionnaire from this page:

- Find out if you need a study permit - Canada.ca

not4hire · Feb 2, 2020

If you do choose the route you are suggesting, one thing that you will want to be ABSOLUTELY CLEAR on and be able to articulate without question is that you have NO intention of trying to work while you are here... NONE.

Alex Smith · Feb 8, 2021

thank you all for your interesting comments.
it's really useful information.

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