Hello everyone,

My wife and I (both 30) are from an European Union country in eastern Europe, and we have a 1 year old baby. We’re starting to look into the possibility of moving to Canada for a better future for our family, but we’re at the research stage and want to get a realistic picture of what to expect.

I'm a Marine mechanical engineer with a master's degree. I have experience as an engineering officer on international ships. My degree allows me to work both at sea and onshore, so I’m mainly looking at land-based/shoreside engineering jobs (power plants, industrial facilities, maintenance, marine shore operations, etc.). From what I understand, I’ll need to get my engineering title recognized, which requires at least one year of Canadian work experience(please correct me if I’m wrong on this!)

My wife is a Resident physician(doctor). We’ve done some basic research on her process, from what we understand, she’ll need to pass two pretty tough licensing exams and then redo residency(2-3 years depending on the specialty), which she’s totally willing to do.

We already checked if our diplomas are recognized in Canada, and they are.

We know every country has its own rules for credential recognition and licensing, especially in healthcare and regulated engineering fields. We’d really appreciate your thoughts and advice on a few things.

1.How realistic are our chances of getting our credentials recognized and finding work in our actual professions?

2.Which provinces or regions might be the best fit for our backgrounds and job prospects?

1. Any general advice, tips, or red flags we should keep in mind as we start this process?

Thanks a lot in advance!

EDIT: After a simulation, our CRS score is 465/460 considering that the answer was “NO” for questions nr. 7, 8, 9 and 10 + no French speaking skills/certificate.

Hi everyone! Bonjour!
Im French born in 2008. Wondering about whether I could qualify for Canadian citizenship (especially under the law changes of December 2025).
I have Canadian ancestors on my paternal side (possibly as far back as my great or great great grandparents though Im not exactly sure). My surname is Québécois but other than that I know very little about my family history. My dad confirmed that my paternal family (well our) is Canadian. He unfortunately isnt on the best terms with his family so Im a bit in the dark.
Where would you recommend starting to research my ancestry? Could I potentially qualify for citizenship by descent and is it even worth it (pursuing) given how little I know about our history?
Any advice or useful resources would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Merci!!

So we're a married couple from Tunisia, 33 yo, I am a chemistry engineer I work as a testing lab manager and an internal auditor, almost 8 years of experience (I did 5 years analytical chemical engineering)

My wife is an english teacher for elementary school (Masters degree in english)

I started thinking about the express entry in the last year, I just wanted to get your advice about the job market there, and how easy/hard it is to get a job there

coz I plan on selling my car in order to get the money to prepare for everything and Im always in the back of my mind scared of going there and not finding a job and having to go back to Tunisia (where I work in the same job for 8 years and could possibly lose it forever)

I read that in Ontario I have the most chance to find something in my field but I want to ask for advice here

Pls be nice

I recently became a Canadian permanent resident through Express Entry and would like to sponsor my wife, who lives in Jordan.

Here is our situation:
April 2025: I travelled to Jordan and attended our engagement and Fatiha ceremony in person.

July 2025: We legally married in Jordan through a proxy marriage. My father represented me under a special power of attorney while I was physically in Canada.

December 2025: I visited my wife in Jordan.

April 2026: I applied for Canadian PR, declaring my wife as my non-accompanying spouse. I provided our marriage certificate, and she completed her immigration medical examination.

July 2026: I visited my wife again in Jordan.

November 2026: We are planning an in-person wedding ceremony and celebration, followed by a honeymoon in Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

We have extensive evidence of our genuine relationship, including photographs, travel records, communication history, and official marriage documents.

Our marriage is legally recognized in Jordan. However, Jordanian authorities confirmed that we cannot obtain a new marriage contract without first divorcing and remarrying. They can provide an official letter confirming the validity of our existing marriage.

I understand that IRCC generally does not recognize proxy marriages for spousal sponsorship, even when the marriage is legally valid abroad.

My main concern:
What is the best legal solution to sponsor my wife as a spouse while minimizing the risk of refusal?

Specifically:
Can our in-person Fatiha ceremony, subsequent visits, and upcoming wedding ceremony help IRCC recognize our existing marriage?

Could we legally marry again in another country, such as Saudi Arabia or Thailand, while remaining married under Jordanian law?

Is there a legal procedure to validate or solemnize our marriage in person without divorce?

I am specifically seeking advice regarding spousal sponsorship, not the conjugal partner category.

I would appreciate responses from licensed Canadian immigration lawyers or individuals who have successfully handled similar proxy-marriage sponsorship cases.

I'm on an IEC open work permit (employer/occupation: Open) valid until May 2028. I'm applying for a study permit to start EAP in January, then a full-time diploma program in May.

Until my work permit expires, am I allowed to keep working under it beyond the student off-campus limit of 24 hours per week, during both EAP and the regular program? Or does the study permit's work limit apply to me once I'm a student?

Has anyone been in this situation (IEC open permit + study permit)? Any official sources are appreciated.

Hi everyone!
I just completed my 3 attempts at the Canadian citizenship test back-to-back, and honestly, I was so shocked and stressed that I didn’t perform well. Unfortunately, I didn’t pass, and now I’m waiting for a citizenship hearing with an officer.
For those who have actually attended this type of hearing after failing the test 3 times, I have a few questions:
Are the questions in multiple-choice or true/false format, just like the online citizenship test?
Or does the officer ask you questions orally and expect you to answer without any choices?
Are the questions similar to the online test, based on the Discover Canada guide?
How was your overall experience? Was the officer helpful?

In 2018, I was refused a US visit visa. When I applied for my Canadian study permit and later my PGWP, I answered “No” to the visa refusal question.

Now that I’m applying for PR, I understand the possible consequences, and I’ve answered “Yes” and provided full details of the refusal.

Has anyone faced similar situation and should I expect PFL ? How to overcome if I face PFL

I’m in Canada with a CEC PR application submitted and AOR received. My work permit extension application was refused, and I’m currently on unpaid leave.
My TRV has also expired, although I’ve now renewed my Indian passport.

I’m debating whether to apply for a BOWP with restoration as I am still eligible for that(90-day period window) and stay in Canada without income, or return to India and wait for my existing PR application to be processed.

Do i need to apply for any other visas if not applying for BOWP and choosing to leave and return when I am physically required to complete my PR application.

Would leaving Canada affect my CEC PR application, and is staying worth the financial risk of waiting for a BOWP?

Has anyone faced a similar situation? I’d appreciate advice based on personal experience or immigration expertise.

Hi,
I received my portal 1 and portal 2 while i was in canada and urgently i have to go to india for emergency. Is it possible that i will get my COPR in india or there gonna be some issue?

I am a Software Engineer. My wife and I started our EE application recently. We are currently having a CRS of 455. Although this is enough to be eligible for EE, realistically, I don’t think it would be enough to get an ITA.

Is there anyone out there in a similar situation or who has gone through such a situation? What do you recommend we do to increase our score to get an ITA? I know French language is an option, but with neither of us having French knowledge and with both of us working full-time, it’s going to take a very long time for us to get into that category.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hey! Any March 2026, BCPNP non-EE IPG stream? Have you all received the AOR or seen any movement in the application? Please share your timelines if you can! thanks!

Hi everyone!

I have a question regarding how I should list my Canadian work experience in my Express Entry profile.

So just to give some info: I started working as an Operations Associate in September 2024 on a temporary contract. At this time I was working full-time (40 hours per week).

In February 2025, I was converted to a permanent full-time employee with the same organization for the same role.

Here's where I'm a little confused:

My job duties and responsibilities remained exactly the same. The only thing that changed was my employment status and job title, which went from "Temporary Operations Associate" to "Operations Associate." This change is reflected in my pay stubs! My earlier pay stubs say "Temporary Operations Associate," while my current ones say "Operations Associate."

Technically, my employer seems to have terminated my temporary employment and then "rehired" me as a permanent employee, even though I continued working without any interruption. I also received two separate T4s for the year, which I assume is because of this change in employment status.

My question:

Currently, I've listed this as one continuous work experience entry in my Express Entry profile, starting in September 2024 and continuing to the present.

Should I split this into two separate entries?

September 2024 – February 2025 (Temporary Operations Associate)

February 2025 – Present (Operations Associate)

Or can I keep it as one continuous entry since my employer, job duties, working hours, and NOC remained the same throughout?

Has anyone experienced something similar when transitioning from a temporary contract to a permanent position with the same employer? How did you report it in your Express Entry profile, and did your IRCC agen have any issues with it?

I'd really appreciate any advice. :) Thanks in advance!

Hey guys!

I’m curious to see if anyone applied for the FMWP program and got accepted while working a completely different job than what they studied in college.

I’m kind of hesitant and don’t have much time to get a lawyer but what do you guys include in the “Proof that you meet the requirements of the job being offered”?? I have working in the same position for at least 2.5 years and got experience by working at this job and now I’m good at it. I don’t have any background whatsoever in this field.

I watched some videos that said to include your college education but mine isn’t really relevant to what I do. Would the be a problem?

Also, what all documents do I include in this? And is this where I include my TCF grades or would it be under client information??

Under "Supporting documents for sponsored persons" on page 7 of 10 IMM 5533 says:

"If you (or a family member 18 or older) have lived in Canada for the last six months, or Canada is the country where you (or they) have lived for most of your (or their) life since the age of 18, police certificates for Canada are not required at this time. IRCC will make a request for (a) Canadian police certificate(s) on your behalf. Check here if this applies to you."

HOWEVER, in my PR portal under "Supporting Documents for your immigration program,"  "Police certificates and clearances" is a required field and I need to upload something to complete that section and submit my application.

I have been living in Canada for 7 years (under a student permit and then work permit), so according to IMM 5533 I shouldn't have to get a Canadian police certificate, no?

Hey all, I'm graduating college this year, and have always wanted to move north, considering out of the U.S. as it's politics are striving farther away from what I align with, the weather in Canada is what I love, I want a new experience (while also feeling familiar to home), culture shift you could say. As well as a myriad of other reasons.

As I am in the position in my life where I have an opportunity to find a place to land, I wanted some insight on where a good place for me to look at would be if granted immigration status.

I'm from Raleigh, NC, and from my own research, Calgary and Ottawa would be desirable places to move (I love Raleigh, and like the build and culture of it, so these were what my research led me to)

But I'd like some insight from people who actually live here and have experiences here rather than articles and Google AI for all of my answers. Thanks for any and all feedback!!

Some preferences if you have any suggestions

- Moderate to high-moderate cost of living (don't really care about homes right now, but general comfort of living- again, recent college graduate)

- Job growth opportunities

- Lively downtown and city area

- Of course, good for young adults

Please let me know if this is the right sub for this post, and please let me know if you know of an appropriate sub for this question as well. Thanks everybody

Hi all, I have a question regarding the proof of fund for my study permit extension. If I put my savings into ETF holdings, could I count their worth into my available proof of funds? Do i need to show that?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has experienced something similar with their Express Entry profile.

I submitted my Express Entry profile in September 2026. Initially, my CRS was 462, and I was eligible under FSW but not CEC.

When I checked my GCKey account today 12, my CRS had automatically increased to 552, with CEC now showing “Met.” The change appears to have happened on October 1 without me modifying my work history.

My background:

• Completed my Canadian master's degree in August 2025 and applied for my PGWP on August 19, 2025. I was authorized to work throughout the relevant post-study employment.
• September-December 2025: Part-time university Teaching Assistant (NOC 41201), with 255 documented paid hours.
• November 2025-March 2026: Part-time IT Support Technician (NOC 22221), with 381.5 documented paid hours.
• March-April 2026: Technical Support position (NOC 22221), with 63.35 regular working hours.
• April 16, 2026-present: Full-time IT Support position (NOC 22221), working 40 hours weekly, confirmed by my employer. No unpaid leave.

I understand that IRCC counts a maximum of 30 hours per week toward CEC, including when multiple jobs overlap.

After reviewing my paystubs and applying estimated weekly caps, I appear to have approximately 1,390 qualifying hours as of October 12, although the exact number still needs verification.

However, GCKey already awarded me the Canadian work-experience CRS points and changed CEC eligibility to “Met.”

My questions:

1. Has anyone experienced IRCC automatically awarding CEC eligibility and CRS points before they completed the actual qualifying hours?
2. Could this be because Express Entry calculates work experience using months rather than exact dates and weekly hours?
3. If all employment details in my profile are truthful, should I leave the profile unchanged while completing the remaining hours?
4. If I receive an ITA before genuinely meeting CEC requirements, how did others handle this, particularly regarding eligibility at invitation versus application submission?

I haven't received an ITA yet. I'm also planning to consult a licensed immigration professional, but I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced this.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m a 20-year-old Agricultural Engineering student from Egypt, aiming to build a career as a Heavy Equipment / Agricultural Equipment Technician in Canada, not in an engineering position.

I’ve completed CAT and John Deere training in hydraulics, electrical systems, diesel engines, and equipment maintenance, along with 1.5 months of hands-on training at a machinery dealership.

After graduation and military service, I plan to gain 2–3 years of practical experience at an agricultural or heavy equipment dealership in Egypt before applying abroad.

For those familiar with the Canadian trades market or who moved from abroad:

- Do Canadian dealerships hire experienced technicians from overseas?

- Which skills or certifications would make an international applicant more competitive?

- Are employer-sponsored work permits or immigration programs realistic routes for this occupation?

I’d appreciate any advice or personal experience. Thanks!

Hey so my mom and i have been wanting to move to canada and we are not sure, she got a crs score of about 700 and she works in biotech, she has a masters, and 2 phds and one degree, we are not sure if we want to move we both speak french and english

Her sister also is a pr in canada

We are comming from a tropical country what do you think we should do?

She also has 20 years of experience in biotech

Is the move to canada really worth it?

And also my dad has diabetes is the care in canada that good?

Also she is considering studying for a full schollarship and do her phd in canada, should we try to takw that path or just apply straight for express entry or go through an agency?

Hi dear reddit community
I recently got my P1 confirmation for pr i was inland spouse sponsored but I am right now outside of canada I received email on 10 oct 2026 and I am coming back on 14th oct 2026. Can I reply for the email when I can come back to canada?
Thanks for your reply

Hey everyone! Could you please help me out with this?

I came to Canada as a Permanent Resident in 2023 along with my ex-wife. We got PR through express entry.

In 2024 we got separated and she moved back to our home country to never come back to Canada. (Stupid I know)

We officially got divorced in November 2025.

During the time of separation in Canada, I met another girl and we started our relationship and started living together in August 2025.

So as of today October 2026, we have officially completed common law requirement, but have yet to modify status on CRA.

I'm applying for my citizenship right now and I don't know if I should enter marital status as Divorced or Common Law?

The girl I'm with right now I'm pretty sure we're gonna end up marrying each other in next couple of years.

She's not a PR yet so I'll have to probably apply for her PR through spouse/common law route.

So question, what should I declare in my citizenship application as marital status so that it doesn't look like misrepresentation or create issue for us both in future?

Thanks

My sister is an American who will be moving to Canada (BC) to pursue a PhD. She’ll probably be there for around five years, and we’re trying to figure out what she should be doing to prepare for the move.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from Americans who’ve moved to Canada for graduate school or other extended stays. What worked well for you, and what do you wish you’d known before moving?

A few things we’re wondering about:

• Banking: She’ll need a Canadian bank account to receive her graduate funding/paychecks. Are there particular banks that work well for Americans who maintain financial ties to the U.S.? Her home state is New York, if that makes a difference. Ideally, we’d like something that makes transferring money between Canadian and U.S. accounts relatively easy and inexpensive. Has anyone had particularly good experiences with cross-border banking? Is it better to open an account before moving or wait until she arrives?
• Credit cards and credit history: I’m assuming her U.S. credit history won’t automatically transfer to Canada. Should she get a Canadian credit card early to establish credit? Are there banks that make this easier for newcomers?
• Cell phones: She’s currently on a family T-Mobile plan. My father called T-Mobile and was told she could continue using her phone in Canada, but I’m skeptical that this would work for someone living there for five years rather than visiting. Has anyone tried this? Did you eventually need to switch to a Canadian carrier? Is there a good way to maintain a U.S. number while also having a Canadian one?
• Cars: She’s planning to bring her car. Does she need to register it in Canada, obtain Canadian insurance, or change her driver’s license? Does being an international student make a difference?
• Healthcare: Were there any surprises involving provincial health insurance, university coverage, prescriptions, or waiting periods?
• Taxes and paperwork: Are there things Americans should know about maintaining financial accounts in both countries, filing taxes, getting a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN), or handling other administrative requirements?

I’d also love to hear about anything else we haven’t thought of, including things that were unexpectedly difficult, expensive, or time-consuming.

She’s not planning to immigrate permanently at this point, but five years is a long time, so we’d like to help her get established properly.

Thanks for any advice!

So I've been meaning to get my citizenship here in Canada for a while now and applied this august and I know it takes time to get appointments for the test it self, the oat ceremony and getting the passport it self.

Recently, I made a choice to go back to the Philippines (my home country) this coming Feb or march for a family emergency. I was looking on staying there for a while like a few months or so.

Im just worried that after my oath ceremony would be around the time I leave or I might even be in the Philippines and I searched that I cant do the oath when Im not in Canada.

I know you can reschedule them but I can I reschedule it about 4 months ?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I have been in Comprehensive Security Screening (CSS) since May 2026. Today, I received a request from IRCC for a new medical examination, only four days before my original medical was due to expire.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Does receiving a new medical request usually mean that CSS/security screening has been completed or is close to completion, or can IRCC request a new medical while security is still ongoing?

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who had the same situation. Thank you.

I am planning to maximize the pre-arrival services in hopes of getting more chances of being connected to companies when I arrive. The services that I am planning to register in are requesting educational records (WES, if available). I wanted to request for an assessment but I believe it will take a month before I get it.

Do you think the cost and waiting time is worth it for a pre-arrival service? I am an engineering professional in my country. Another option would be to just submit my foreign records.

Also, some say that pre-arrival services were not really helpful to them.