H.S.: Work Permit and PR with a Working Holiday Hotel Job

◆Meeting a supportive employer

I was working in Japan, but the stress became unbearable, and at 30 I came to Canada as if running away.

I had researched permanent residence before coming to Canada, but I could not get work in Manitoba or Yukon, where I might have been able to get permanent residence the fastest, and was hired in Alberta instead, so I had given up on permanent residence.

However, when the manager at my workplace asked about my plans after the working holiday and I said, “I want to work in Canada as long as possible, and if I can, I want to stay permanently,” they immediately agreed to help me.

◆First, a work permit

Visa JP Canada was the first company that came up when I searched online for words like “visa” and “permanent residence,” and because of how quickly they replied to my inquiry and how many cases they had handled, I first asked them to handle my work permit application.

Immigration consultant Ms. Yamashita handled all communication with my employer, which was a huge help since I wasn’t confident in my English, and she kept me updated on progress, so I never felt worried.

Apart from the first LMIA taking a long time and having to wait in Japan, all three of my work permit applications went smoothly.

◆Discussing permanent residence at the same time as the work permit

From the time of my work permit application, I had also been consulting about permanent residence, and even though my IELTS score was low and I had only ever worked as a regular staff member in Japan, Ms. Yamashita proposed a way I might be able to get permanent residence.

Of course, I asked her to handle my permanent residence application too. Once we went ahead with the AINP Express Entry stream, my CoPR arrived sooner than I expected, and yesterday I completed landing at a Canadian airport and officially became a permanent resident.

I had half given up on permanent residence, but Visa JP Canada supported me until I finally got it. Their consulting skills and their careful, clear and fast responses were very reliable. If you’re wondering, “Could I get permanent residence too…?”, I think you should start by talking to Visa JP Canada.

From now on, I plan to go to school and build skills that will help me get a good job.

I can’t thank Ms. Yamashita enough for supporting me throughout the roughly three and a half years it took to get permanent residence. Thank you so much.