REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

Levitron · 05-31-2011, 11:22 PM

I'm curious about looking for work in either the US or the UK in the IT industry.

What are your experiences and what kind of tips do you have?

RFlush · 06-01-2011, 08:55 AM

Best is to find a company in Vancouver and do an internal transfer to a foreign branch.

freakshow · 06-01-2011, 12:32 PM

I worked in Boston for a while, got the job through a local head hunter. I still get requests all the time with job opportunities in the states, most coming from CA or WA.

Post your resume on different jobs sites, and mention that you're ok with travel. Also contact some head hunters directly.

I have no clue about the UK..

danned · 06-02-2011, 07:21 AM

what would you say to customs when you return to canada?you moved out because you are looking for a better employment? or just work for excuse?

freakshow · 06-02-2011, 09:03 AM

You just tell them you work in the states..

danned · 06-03-2011, 07:58 AM

how about outside usa? working internationally?

Nssan · 06-03-2011, 06:43 PM

Option 1:
1. Find job in the country
2. visit the 'country' embassy here in Vancouver and apply for a work visa if required.
3. Go there and work, I think you still need to file income tax for Canada for earnings, that you would need to consult with an accountant.

Option 2:
1. Book a flight to the country you wish to work
2. Go on a 'vistor's visa
3. Try and find job.

Levitron · 06-04-2011, 10:37 AM

For the UK, we have a country-to-country agreement for a "working holiday" visa. It's called the "Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme" visa for those of us who are between 18-31 years of age. I think I'll look into that.

Levitron · 06-11-2011, 03:29 PM

Here's some more info: http://www.workgateways.com/working-cost-of-living.html

danned · 06-12-2011, 07:43 AM

i don't know, just i'm not sure what to say to customs if i'm going to return to canada from asia

Dasani · 06-12-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danned

i don't know, just i'm not sure what to say to customs if i'm going to return to canada from asia

Just tell them your working overseas? There isn't much else you could say since it is the truth.

Here is a helpful link on going and returning.
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/publications...nger-eng.asp#4

noventa · 06-21-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danned

i don't know, just i'm not sure what to say to customs if i'm going to return to canada from asia

just tell them you are a canadian citizen and you would like to go home. you don't have to tell them shit.

danned · 06-22-2011, 07:02 AM

there is nothing i can say about it?
then what if they ask me (5 years) what did you do in this five years?
just for work?

6793026 · 06-22-2011, 07:45 AM

first of all, awesome for those of you who are working elsewhere, it's not hard / easy by any means.

US economy is in shit. why would they hire a person in Canada? do they have issues trying to find a person locally in the ENTIRE state / let alone country?
Are you that qualified and have skill set they are looking for? I find it extremely hard to believe you're such a superstar (if u're in sales) or that tech. savvy for them to hire you all the way from canada with all the paper work.

Moving from Van (for example) to USA? I'm sure you'll move to Toronto way before you get to US or Asia for that matter. Don't get me wrong, I've people work elsewhere but he was specific: I want to work in ASIA and I expect to go there in 3 year if I come into this company.

if you're the employer: why should i go thru all the trouble to do work visa?
If you're the current employer: why would I hire someone, train them, and then send them away and then have to rehire someone who might be worse than you....

just a thought

LYC · 06-30-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danned

there is nothing i can say about it?
then what if they ask me (5 years) what did you do in this five years?
just for work?

I just came back from Japan where I spent 6 months working. I only had my Japanese passport on me and I just told the Canadian customs guard that I was Canadian. All I had on me was my birth certificate and all I told the customs guard was that I was working in Japan and I'm Canadian. I just walked right back into the country. Not a single issue with Canada customs.

flagella · 07-03-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6793026

first of all, awesome for those of you who are working elsewhere, it's not hard / easy by any means.

US economy is in shit. why would they hire a person in Canada? do they have issues trying to find a person locally in the ENTIRE state / let alone country?
Are you that qualified and have skill set they are looking for? I find it extremely hard to believe you're such a superstar (if u're in sales) or that tech. savvy for them to hire you all the way from canada with all the paper work.

Moving from Van (for example) to USA? I'm sure you'll move to Toronto way before you get to US or Asia for that matter. Don't get me wrong, I've people work elsewhere but he was specific: I want to work in ASIA and I expect to go there in 3 year if I come into this company.

if you're the employer: why should i go thru all the trouble to do work visa?
If you're the current employer: why would I hire someone, train them, and then send them away and then have to rehire someone who might be worse than you....

just a thought

Pretty much, unless you got unique experiences or a top student from a university. Most of the good firms in the states have never even heard of universities in Canada, especially the western ones.

danned · 07-08-2011, 07:13 AM

what if you are outside canada and US?
LYC, i would try to use work for excuse if i'm coming back
i'm afriad the custody staff would ask me bunch of questions

Minata · 07-16-2011, 06:40 PM

I've been researching into this as well, and I understand chances of finding a respectable job are pretty slim to none -- unless you are extremely lucky.

I'm finishing my courses in December and I plan to go to Australia on a working holiday visa. I know that I will probably end up in a job totally unrelated to my degree (environmental), but my main purpose is to travel while making money to cover for my travel expenses. However, I don't want to rule out the chances of finding a decent job there, albeit the chances are only 0.01%. Does anyone have experience working in Australia? Any information would be helpful.

Thanks.

LiquidTurbo · 07-16-2011, 10:15 PM

^ wow. nice. Should be a great adventure!

syee · 07-16-2011, 11:37 PM

OP: What are your educational qualifications? It's a lot easier to get a work visa for someone with a degree. With that said, it's not impossible - just expensive. I was able to get a work visa with just a BCIT diploma and 3 years work experience but it was an expensive process. (paid for by my employer though)

Also, can you be more specific as to what type of IT work you were looking to get into? Check here to see if the position you're looking at fits into any of these categories. Computer Systems Analyst would probably be the broad category that IT folks fit into under NAFTA if you plan to go to the US.

My personal advice? Look for a company that has locations in Canada and the country you want to move to and look for opportunities there and then work towards moving across that way (which is what Rflush suggested). They'll most likely cover your moving costs as well as take care of the paperwork (i.e. visa) to get you to your country of choice. I'm not too sure about how well it works if you just walk into a US or UK company and apply for a job that way since to do any work, you'll require a work permit in the form of a visa in most cases.

As for the filing taxes thing - you'll definitely need to file on the partial year you were in Canada. You'll need to be out of the country for more than half the year (183 days) and have no ties to Canada before you can get away with not filing taxes in Canada.

Levitron · 07-18-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syee

OP: What are your educational qualifications? It's a lot easier to get a work visa for someone with a degree. With that said, it's not impossible - just expensive. I was able to get a work visa with just a BCIT diploma and 3 years work experience but it was an expensive process. (paid for by my employer though)

I've been working in support for quite a few years in different companies, recently moved over to doing technical writing. University degree that's sort of related to this work, but sometimes it's a stretch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by syee

Also, can you be more specific as to what type of IT work you were looking to get into? Check here to see if the position you're looking at fits into any of these categories. Computer Systems Analyst would probably be the broad category that IT folks fit into under NAFTA if you plan to go to the US.

Probably trying to get into tech writing. That's an awesome link by the way, thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by syee

My personal advice? Look for a company that has locations in Canada and the country you want to move to and look for opportunities there and then work towards moving across that way (which is what Rflush suggested). They'll most likely cover your moving costs as well as take care of the paperwork (i.e. visa) to get you to your country of choice. I'm not too sure about how well it works if you just walk into a US or UK company and apply for a job that way since to do any work, you'll require a work permit in the form of a visa in most cases.

Yeah, I do plan on doing that. My current company is actually a multi-national company that has a huge presence over in the UK and also the US. Too bad they're not really hiring over in the UK...but I can always try.

Quote:

Originally Posted by syee

As for the filing taxes thing - you'll definitely need to file on the partial year you were in Canada. You'll need to be out of the country for more than half the year (183 days) and have no ties to Canada before you can get away with not filing taxes in Canada.

Good advice.

syee · 07-18-2011, 06:30 PM

I'd probably leverage your support side (especially if it's specialized proprietary equipment that you're supporting). That's essentially how I got myself in. The company basically has to prove to the powers that be that nobody else locally can reasonably fill the job before they bring someone from outside the country in. That's how I got in at my last company. (we made specialized call recording hardware and software)

I'd maybe try to get onto some projects that involve the US or UK folks. Make yourself known to them so they know who you are and if possible, to the point that you're the go-to guy for big projects. Getting the attention of the folks offshore will hopefully get your foot in the door for a transfer if you do choose to go that route.

mb_ · 07-22-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danned

there is nothing i can say about it?
then what if they ask me (5 years) what did you do in this five years?
just for work?

Not sure if this applies to Canadian citizens but when my uncle and his family moved here as immigrants (a couple of years ago), he flies back and forth (Philippines) every now and then since he didn't terminate his job there. AFAIK, he has to be in Canada for a total of 2years in 5 in order to retain his permanent residency. Hope that helps.

RFlush · 07-23-2011, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danned

what would you say to customs when you return to canada?you moved out because you are looking for a better employment? or just work for excuse?

Why would customs care if you have been out of the country for 5 years? They just see you and stamp. I have been out of Canada for work for 2 years now and all you have to do is declare non residency to avoid tax.