How can I find a job in Victoria if I am a US citizen???

Question

I love Victoria and would like to live and work there. My background is (starting with most current) 12 years in real estate, 8 years in investment advice and money management, 6 years in nonprofits. I'm 54, single, in great health, have a daughter who is in her 2nd year at UBC.....open any and all suggestions

Answer 1

First of all, ignore the person who suggested you apply for asylum.

Second, you can't work without at least permanent resident status in Canada or without a work permit.  As a visitor, one of the terms and conditions of your visit is that you are not allowed to work.  One reason why you need at least a work permit is so that you can get a social insurance number (temporary one).  Employers ask for this number.  That said, I do know offhand of Americans working in Canada, although not in the kind of jobs you would have experience and skills in.  

If you were to apply to get PR status here, one way is to apply as a skilled worker (you have to meet a minimum number of points).  However your age counts against you (you lose one point for each year over the age of 49) and in spite of the amount of experience you have, it is all with American companies and as far as I know, there is no labour shortage in those areas that you describe, so like some other very educated people who immigrate to Canada, you may end up here out of a job and looking for work for a long time.  

Why don't you submit your resume to Canadian companies now and try the work permit route.  That is the easiest and fastest way.  The Canadian companies have to show that they tried and were not able to find Canadians or permanent residents to fill the necessary positions and that they took reasonable steps to do so (ie. advertising).  They also have to show that they will be paying you at labour market rates, not under (ie. cheap foreign labour).  If you wanted to get status here, your experience working here on a work permit would give you additional points.

Finally another way is if your daughter applied for PR status.  Once she got PR status, she could sponsor you.  However, she would have to show that she has the financial resources to support you during the sponsorship (which is 10 years for other family members - spouses is 3 years).  

There is also the Immigration Canada website you can look at:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html