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[LordBaal]

Hi, as some of you might now already I have been looking for ways to safe heaven from my country with my own wits, and so far it all efforts have come to naught. Recently (a few months ago) a neighbor somehow applied to the Canada refugee program from here, and got sponsored, dunno if it was the government through the GAR or was a sponsorship. He did not said and only sent me this pdf explaining about GAR.

In the Canadian web page it says you can either find a sponsorship or apply to GAR but not directly, but through UNHCR. I'm looking at the UNHCR web page but it says there's only two ways to apply for refugee status, either being already in Canada or at an entry point. And for that, lots of money are needed which obviously I don't have and on top of that imagine the horror of going into that adventure plunging further to debt and/or selling what little is left only to be told "lol no, go back". Also we don't have USA visas, any of us, so I guess that is a big filter already, on top of my 3yrs son not having a passport.

However in the GAR pdf the neighbor sent me it states the government of Canada can lend you the money for the tickets, which you must start to pay a year afterwards (or the moment you get a job, which I guess is way less than a year) and have up to 3 years to pay up. Also they state they will issue one use papers for you or family members without passports.

It does states everywhere that to be a refugee you must not be in your own country, which is weird because my neighbor was here and never left the country, however he is currently stuck in Orlando Florida due covid and all that, dunno if he is doing all the GAR thing from there or what. Maybe he was just trolling me? Don't think so, he always seemed like a solid guy and was in fact the best neighbor overall.

Oh for the express entry I qualify as long as I put I have a IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF, which I don't have due lack of funding but could easily pass (I don't only read and write but also speak very fluidly). While the GAR states that they would cover language lessons for me or spouse if needed.

In the end I'm very confused by all this and wonder if anyone could clarify or shed some light over this. Or should I just simply give up and resign myself and my family to stay here forever?

Sorry for the hurried up writing, I must take advantage of both electricity and internet working at the same time.

I'm not some hobo or lazy jerk. Both my wife and I are college graduated IT technicians, I just want a better future for my son. In fact I have +10 years of experience on sys and networking admin, and I'm starting a CISCO certification this month. Also have experience on inventory and logistics, tractor spare parts, pharmacy, with practical knowledge of electrical installations, plumbing and construction (nothing professional per se, but see, you gotta do a lot here to survive) but I would settle with washing dishes or bathrooms if that ensures my son grow up in a place were the law actually means something and being a good citizen does not make you the center of mockery or look like a sore thumb.

Thanks for any input and sorry if this kind of post is not allowed or something.

[Vector]

Would it help to fundraise for the language tests? I would gladly chip in.

[LordBaal]

Hi! Vector! Thanks for the offer but in general the forum as already gave me A LOT, and I don't really like to burden you guys anymore. Kinda ironic when you think that GAR is actually burdening a whole country, but I think on making it up with interests by being worthy of it.

And while the IELTS would allow me to enter in theory, it stills requires me proving a way to sustain all of us for 6 months in Canada.

While you can say I'm desperate, there is really no hurry because covid has everything in a pause right now.

[martinuzz]

And while the IELTS would allow me to enter in theory, it stills requires me proving a way to sustain all of us for 6 months in Canada.

Can you shoot a moose?

But all silliness aside. Try and see if you can put your IT skills to use with the Canadian authorities that are part of the Covid chain.
Contact tracing... Vaccination registration... things like that.

We just had a HUGE scandal over here in the Netherlands on the topic of IT and corona.  Our contact tracing, testing and vaccination systems were grossly hacked, and the private data of all people who were tested for covid, part of a contact tracing investigation, or had been vaccinated were sold to a company that sells the info to criminal organisations.
Private data included, but was not limited to: Name + social security number + date of birth, home adress, full medical history, bank account information. In other words, data that you can use to ... rent a car ... buy a house ... file for tax returns .... change your bank account known to government services... just to name a few.
The company that bought the data specializes in 'finding people'.  Criminals that are looking for someone they want dead or extorted or whatever but can't find them can pay them to search their database for them.

Some people are now demanding that all social security numbers are deleted and everyone gets new ones.  That's not gonna happen though.

Most healthcare services have waaay too little IT expertise in the house to prevent data leaks like that (most don't even have a regular system operator, they just hire someone from the outside when windows bluescreens somewhere).  Canada most likely has similar problems.  You have a valuable trade to offer in these times of cybercrime, -warfare, and -terrorism

[dragdeler]

While this is good advice in absolute terms, maybe don't make your first meetings about something that is of utmost importance to national security... hehe... unless you got some biiig credentials. Who knows what kind of nut might work on your case.

[Yellow Pixel]

I live in Canada!

[LordBaal]

Thanks for your words martinuzz, but I think drag is right. I think trying to "use that leverage" would simply look bad, also is not like I am an expert on cyber security or something. Not beyond what any average IT worker anyway. Just a hard working regular joe here.

[Ulfarr]

Some years ago I was translating for some people that were trying to apply for Canada's refuge programm and they were stuck with this same problem. The only way to get an invitation was to get a sponsor, and you can't just apply they have to reach out to you... it's a fucking catch 22.. In their case there was some sort of NGO that was supposed to act as the mediator in the whole thing and give them the sponsorship but in the end it didn't pan out (they had a chance to leave for some other country and took it).


Since both you and your wife are certified specialists it might be somewhat easier for you. If I remember correctly, an employer willing to hire you, could act as your "sponsor" (basically you will be asking for a "work" visa instead of refuge).

[Yellow Pixel]

I don't know much about how to immigrate in my country (I'm Canadian) but I know that for anybody able to speak in English or French it's absolutely feasible. It doesn't mean it's always easy though and Covid disrupts everything. I also think we are pretty bad at recognizing the professional experience of strangers.

[LordBaal]

Oh that would be preferable Yellow. I mean, going with a sure job certainly help out a lot in everything I'm sure. Where could I put my resume? Is there a certain place were I could do it, I mean linkedin seems to broad and generic. Haven't placed my curriculum on "local" Canadian job sites because I think, why they would hire someone from abroad that is not remarkable when surely there are lots of locals at hand?

Ulfar, are you a certified translator? I'm sure at some point I will need one.

[Ulfarr]

Unfortunately I'm not. I was just helping them with some of their day to day interactions with the locals because they didn't speak Greek and their English were terrible (at best).

About the jobs, I found these sites that might be of some help.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/prepare-life-canada/prepare-work/look-jobs.html

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

[Yellow Pixel]

If you don't apply for refugee status or qualify for the express entry, the best way to immigrate in Canada seems to use the Provincial Nominee Program.

Edit: To put another way, each Canadian province has its own immigration program.

[martinuzz]

Also, the 'entry points' mentioned in the GAR your neighbor sent you could very well include the Canadian embassy / consulate in your own country.  Perhaps that's how your neighbor applied?

[LordBaal]

Just talked to him. At some point he was a business man here and had USA visa for him and his whole nuclear family (had the money to ask for it). Told me that despite being expired he could still use the visa to travel thought USA and due to covid they can stay a little longer there, and they will simply travel north to Canada and ask for refugee once in there, but have to wait because of covid before doing so.

Since we don't have USA visas this is a no go for us, which is why GAR would be so attractive, as it states they will give you some papers for the travel. But then is just running circles because they say you need to apply to UNHCR, then you go to the UNHCR website and they state very clearly that you can only ask if you are either in Canada or in an airport, port or land entry point in Canada. It's like this GAR thing do no really exists...

[LordBaal]

I'm bumping this, because we might have found the money to get our passports, the Canadian visas (which are FAR cheaper than the USA ones) and the flight tickets. Now, I have someone we can crash with a few days on Vancouver but that's about it. I would need local guidance to prepare for everything from here.