Canadian working permit - how long does it take to apply? And how likely I could find an IT job?

Got a question about Canadian working permit :D

I am a Hong kong citizen and acquired my computer science degree in an US university. After graduation, I worked in a software development company in the states for almost a yr. Then I went back to Hong Kong and worked in the IT department of a bank for another yr.

Around Feb of this yr, the old US company I worked for gave me a job offer. Unfortunately, my US working permit application failed becuase of not being selected by the working permit visa lottery (this yr was the first yr it happened)

Anyway, now I am looking at job opportunities in Canada. How likely I could find an IT job given my situation? As far I know, I would require a working permit in order to work legally in Canada. How long would that take assuming that I was given a job offer as a software engineer?

As I might travel to Canada in June to look for jobs, any suggestions for me plz?

Thanks a lot for your advice in advance! :o)

Here's the info and lists of IT jobs that the Canadian Gov't./Immigration approved of through the HRDC

Facilitated Processing of Information Technology Workers

The Pilot Project for Information Technology Workers was established through a collaboration of the Software Human Resources Council of Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada as an effort to alleviate a shortage of software professionals in Canada. The requirement for HRSDC confirmation was removed for those professionals meeting the requirements of seven occupational definitions.

The eligible occupations are:

Senior Animation Effects Editor
Multimedia Software Developer
Embedded Systems Software Designer
MIS Software Designer
Software Products Developer
Telecommunications Software Designer
Software Developer - Services

The goal of the program continues to be to expedite the process of admitting foreign workers in the field of information technology. Eligible candidates are granted a "national confirmation" by HRSDC, and may proceed directly to applying for a Canadian work permit. As this program does not constitute a confirmation exemption, however, applicants with a destination in the province of Quebec are required to obtain a Certificate d'Acceptation du Quebec prior to a work permit.

Please do check for more info at the CIC website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index....

All the best.

Try talking to Immigration Canada.

Rule of thumb, you usually have to have a years salary saved up before you come.. and there's a 5 year probationary period before you can become a Canadian citizen.

As for areas, look into Alberta (hottest economy in Canada right now), Vancouver has a high IT center, and so does the Ottawa area in Ontario. Best of luck.

Moncton has a lot of call centers too

you can visit www.cic.gc.ca. it's the canadian immigration website.

i believe that it sould probably take 2 to 5 years, but i think it depends whether you have an employer already who would act as your petitioner... anyway, canada is a great place and in cities like toronto and vancouver, you'll not feel home sick, becuase there are a lot of asians there especially chinese and koreans! gooud luck!