The challenge of the Pink Fluffy Bunny

[Wereman]

Talking to some fellow members in the community has gotten me on my feet and share with you the major challenge I am currently facing.

From Switzerland and speaking three languages, I have worked and studied in the US for the past 12 years. At the beginning of the year I moved to Vancouver with the intention to remain here for a longer period of time, if not permanently. The challenge ahead lays to find a solution to remain in Canada.

As this challenge was seen as a threat I decided for the sake of visualization to turn it into Pink Fluffy Bunny (now aptly referred as PFB):

Thanks to Mike Starr, he had a pink fluffy bunny in his bag to give me when attending Vancoufur :-)

There are different options to remain in Vancouver:

- One option is to acquire a certificate in business or management from BCIT. This would also allow to apply for a work permit, though college fees are the challenge.

- The other is to apply for a permit for young professionals, whose criteria I fit. An employer only needs to provide a letter confirming employment rather than undergoing the seemingly tedious task of a labor market opinion.

- For a temporary work permit as well as sponsorship the employer needs to go through a labor market opinion when they are ready to offer employment.

- In the longterm I foresee to apply for the permanent residency, which is a process that can take up to 2 years. If being employed, it shortens the application process drastically.


By choice I decided to relocate to Vancouver for work opportunities, quality of life and recreational activities in the region. In addition to the aforementioned international experience and a background in the design industry I have become meticulous, disciplined and detail oriented, which are all crucial skills in performing other tasks. These are all transferable skills to be used in other industries. Furthering my research, I am seeking opportunities in office management.

One challenging factor is lacking relatives residing in Canada. The only possibility is my father being a British National, both the UK and Canada being in the Commonwealth, but this is an overly far-fetched tangent. Sister tried similar approach a decade ago to no avail.
Furthermore the option of getting married has been crossed off the list, for it then becomes an arrangement which is ethically and morally wrong, even when considered as a joke.

Thus, having explained PFB (Pink Fluffy Bunny), I am open to suggestions and advise. The primary intention is to seek employment through legal means which will be a step towards residency in Canada.

To conclude, let me share a quote that an acquaintance passed on last week from Albert Einstein:

"Logic, can get you from point A to B. Imagination can take you everywhere."

Gizmo, if the large pink-fluffy-bunny is still in the storage unit, I'd be very much interested in borrowing it until I found a permanent solution for PFB.

[Lady Serpent]

Apologies, but I'm not quite sure what you're looking for, other than feedback (and possibly the actual PFB itself).  If you fit the criteria for 'young working professional' and are able to apply for permanent residency on that basis, where lies the problem?  Or, a bit of time to work under that criteria, in order to save the maximum amount possible and then to use the funds to pay for the business or management certificate. 

I assume scholarships are available that you'd likely be able to apply for on top of that, and likely at least one or two specifically for 'foreign' students studying in Canada.  (Unfortunately I know how high those international student tuition fees can be!  Not sure if it applies to certificates as well.)

Good luck!
-Sephren

[Wereman]

It is true that I am seeking advise and input. The international fees at BCIT are high though it is worth applying for scholarship.
In addition to considering BCIT, which will lead to employment opportunity, I am currently seeking opportunities in design (video, graphic design and office management, administrative tasks). Though this will tie into overcoming PFB.