CubaQuestions
New Member
Hi,
We have made many trips to Cuba over the last few years and we have become good friends with a wonderful Cuban woman who is very interested in immigrating to Canada with her husband and 1-year-old son. They have visited Canada before and are keen to make a better life for themselves and their little boy. The woman is a well-educated music teacher and accomplished pianist and her husband is a musician as well. As internet access is difficult in Cuba, getting information and forms, etc. about immigrating is awkward. We told them we would look into what steps would be involved in immigrating. Here are some of the questions I have?
1) Is it true that applying using the Express Entry process would be very tough, as it pretty much requires a job offer? They could probably meet the language requirements, but the available funds (about $15,000 for a family of three?) would be prohibitive, too.
2) The three family members each have Canadian tourist visas that are valid until the end of this year. Would it be worthwhile for them to use these and visit Canada to try to secure work? Can a work visa or Express entry application be made while on a visitor visa to Canada? If not, would they then return to Cuba and try to use a job offer or their Canadian work experience and use the Express Entry route?
3) Would trying to get an open work visa be a good plan? Any idea how difficult that might be from Cuba? Does the Cuban government discourage such immigrations?
4) The woman has a mother who they would ultimately like to join them should they come to Canada. Would the likely scenario be that if the family gets residency in Canada, then they could try to sponsor her to move to Canada?
I would be happy with any information you might be able to provide. Thanks very much.
Dave
We have made many trips to Cuba over the last few years and we have become good friends with a wonderful Cuban woman who is very interested in immigrating to Canada with her husband and 1-year-old son. They have visited Canada before and are keen to make a better life for themselves and their little boy. The woman is a well-educated music teacher and accomplished pianist and her husband is a musician as well. As internet access is difficult in Cuba, getting information and forms, etc. about immigrating is awkward. We told them we would look into what steps would be involved in immigrating. Here are some of the questions I have?
1) Is it true that applying using the Express Entry process would be very tough, as it pretty much requires a job offer? They could probably meet the language requirements, but the available funds (about $15,000 for a family of three?) would be prohibitive, too.
2) The three family members each have Canadian tourist visas that are valid until the end of this year. Would it be worthwhile for them to use these and visit Canada to try to secure work? Can a work visa or Express entry application be made while on a visitor visa to Canada? If not, would they then return to Cuba and try to use a job offer or their Canadian work experience and use the Express Entry route?
3) Would trying to get an open work visa be a good plan? Any idea how difficult that might be from Cuba? Does the Cuban government discourage such immigrations?
4) The woman has a mother who they would ultimately like to join them should they come to Canada. Would the likely scenario be that if the family gets residency in Canada, then they could try to sponsor her to move to Canada?
I would be happy with any information you might be able to provide. Thanks very much.
Dave