Permanent Residence as a Cook!

When my working holiday (WH) had less than 7 months left, I started thinking about a work permit (WP) and permanent residence, and did things like attending a free visa seminar hosted by Jinzai Canada. Until then, I had felt a little that it would be a waste to spend time with Japanese people when I had come all the way to Canada, but from that point on I made a conscious effort to connect with Japanese companies and Japanese people who had lived here for a long time.

It took 2 years and 2 months from arriving in Vancouver on a WH to getting permanent residence. My wife (girlfriend at the time) was a permanent resident, so at first I planned to apply through the Family Class, but the PNP looked like a faster way to get permanent residence, so I went with that. In the end, I was able to immigrate without relying on her status, which gave me confidence for building my life in Canada.

During processing, IRCC suddenly told me, “We need your pre-revision family register (改製原戸籍謄本).” I asked my parents in Japan to arrange it, and once they had, I was told, “Actually, it’s not needed. Instead, submit employment certificates for the past 10 years.” As soon as I had asked former colleagues and bosses to arrange the employment certificates, I got another notice: “Actually, it’s not needed.” I was fuming, wondering what on earth was going on with this country’s bureaucracy! But the staff at Jinzai Canada must have had an even harder time. I really take my hat off to them.

Without my current job, I would have neither my life in Canada nor my permanent residence. To earn the company’s support, I worked hard to become someone they couldn’t do without. When I first came to Canada, the job I finally found was washing dishes at a restaurant. It was physically demanding, I made mistakes because I couldn’t speak English, and there were times I felt really frustrated. My current workplace is also very busy, but compared with the anxiety about life back then and the frustration of my own shortcomings, it’s nothing.

I think the fact that someone like me, who isn’t fluent in English, can work and live in Canada is a real blessing. I always try not to forget that as I work. To repay the company that supported me all the way to immigration, my first goal is to get our new Toronto location on track as quickly as possible. I’m aiming to be the number one ramen shop in North America.