Hello All, hope you are fine and in the best of your health. My name is Ahsan Iqbal and live in Pakistan. I have done my MBA and have 8 years of experience in Marketing/Sales with reputable companies in Pakistan.
So hows the experience of living in Canada. Hope you all are doing well. Please tell me about yourself. Also please guide me that if i want to apply for Canadian Immigration what is the most reliable in quick way to get it.

Looking forward to your reply

....a site visitor

Good to hear that you are planning to come to Canada.  It may seem a daunting task at first but with some good homework and positive attitude you can make it a succesful venture.

There are different catogories to apply for immigration but in your case, I think, the
"professional" independant catogory would be best suited. You can either go through a lawyer or apply yourself and save the fees you pay to your lawyers.

You can contact the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate and get as much information. The lawyers merely do a "liaison" work and charge a hefty fee for that. You can do it yourself. You can get much of the information available at Government site at www.cic.gc.ca.

While I subscribe to most of the comments made by other people, I urge you not to get discouraged as you are the one who has to decide by weighing the pros and cons of settling down in Canada. Moving to a new place and getting settled down may be a life long challenge but, with a focused mind, a little courage and persistence you are bound to overcome the initial problems. There are ways and means to be successful as new immigrant provided you have:-

a)fully researched the new environment you are going to face
b) equipped yourself with tools that are required to be instrumental in becoming self reliant and independent.

1)Fully research the culture, market and educational requirements. Visit the many valuable sites available on the net. You can visit the "comingtocanada" site.
It is always better to come prepared rather than start serching after you have come here.

2)Get your qualification(s) assessed by Canadian testing service. This will give an insight as to what more is required to come to parrallel.

3)Canada is a highly specialised economy and you should be looking yourself as having acquired specialised knowledge in one area.MBA denotes a general term and you have to be specific in your area of expertise. This expertise/trait will be used when
you make your C.V.

4)Get hands-on experience on computer softwares you would normally need in carrying out your work. Canada is highly automated and usage of computer is a normal requirement.

5)Prepare your resume in a style and format as is acceptable here in Canada. The resume style in North America is different from what we used to know back
home.

6)People fail because they come here without having done a proper home work and research. They do not know what to do after they land here and rely mainly on
freinds and relatives.

7)Come with a positive attitude. You may not get the position what you are at present working but accept a position lower than that for the time being. Think this as stepping stone in your career and build yourself from there.This is the time when you get the experience and make the most out of it.

8) Make a budget for yourself in terms of financial committment. It normally takes four to six months to get settled down. This period may be shortened if you have come fully prepared and focused on your objectives.

9) Meet different people and start networking as soon
as you get here.

Good Luck.

Najam Us Saqib najam-oman@rocketmail.com
Muscat

Your response is encourging and reflects your positive attitude and mind set.

Abbas
Abbas Syed <sabbas@canada.com>

Hi Ahmar,

Thanks for sending me this email. I think the entire world should know what Canada is doing to educated people. And I want Ahsan and other people who want to come to Canada, who think that in this part of the world, making money is very easy, I really want them to know the fact about Canadian
Immigration. People who are not here yet think of Canada is the ultimate.The reason is they get a rosy picture of the west when they are not here, but when they come to this part of the world and their education, experience is not recognized then they realise what mistake they've committed.

I am also in Toronto since 2 years. I also did my MBA in Marketing from London UK. I also have 7 years experience in the field of advertising at the mid management position. But here, in Canada now I dont send my actual resume that shows that I am an MBA or I was in the mid management position
because if u are lucky enough to get a reply from the employers than the reply would be that either I am over qualified or I dont have any canadian experience. If people say that "u have a Pakistani degee" thats why your credentials are not recognized, then what about me and other type of people
who have qualification from USA or UK?

Its not just me who is facing this problem but there are a lot of people who face such problems. There are qualified doctors, engineers, Ph Ds etc.who are working at McDonalds for $7.50/hr or as a security guard, cab drivers, gas station attendant, loader or a store helper. They are living below the poverty line. In The Toronto Star newspaper there was an article published on April 21, 2004 by a Pakistani Registrar of Peshawar University who said he was working in Toronto as a loader at No Frills (grocery
store), his wife who was a PhD in Chemistry in Pakistan is unable to find any respectable job. So they finally decided to go back to Pakistan in May 2004.

Basically  Canada is good for refugees who come here and put themselves on social assistance. But educated people has no future here. The main purpose of inviting peoiple to Canada is the canadian economy will boom because each individual has to bring in minimum of Cdn $ 10,000. Every year 200,000 - 300,000 people are immigrating to Canada. Now if you multiply the number of people immigrating to Canada to the $ amount that means Canada is making billions of dollars. Another thing is Canada is getting cheap eduated labor from the entire world. IT IS A BRAIN DRAIN THAT IS GOING ON HERE.

After 2 years I have realised this and now I am also planning to go back to Pakistan after taking Canadian nationality. (Lets see if this works in future)

But if Mr. Ahsan still thinks that all the emails including mine is all bull shit, crap than I would advise him to come to Canada and experince it by himself.

 MUM

Take care,
Mohsin 

Subject :  Re: [Coming2Canada] Hello

Forget it just stay in Pakistan, Pakistani are not welcome here.
Rashid 

Hi,
The most reliable source is you yourself. Don't waste your money on the immigration lawyers.
Just apply directly to Canadian Embassy, get the forms and follow simple directions.
I did it in my own case and for my family, just paying only the Canadian government  fees.

You may like to visit this govt site and see for yourself.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.html

Good luck
SM

It's the 1st mail that I have recieved a mail form a Pakistani who wants to flee Pakistan for nothing sake.Though I do not have a plenty experience in this psrticuler field but one thing that if u are settled at Pak& earning about 15000-20000  then plz do not try ur luck outside Pak

ZS

..... In addition, I request the readers to reply the queries of those who intent to migrate very
carefully as negative impression may destroy the life of someone who is quite competent and eligible to find a suitable job.

After interview, and medical test of my whole family I have been asked to deposit Landing Fees. I have not decided what to do after getting visa as I am trying to collect information in this regard.

Best regards.

Ateeq Ur Rahman Sheikh

Subject :  RE: [Coming2Canada] Hello

I landed in Canada in Nov 02 and back in Pak in Jan 03 after completing all my papers and making PR card. I'm having a great job in Pakistan so don't want to go back to Canada to work on a gas station at least for this year.

But why Pakistanis are sufferings in Canada? My understanding is that either they don't want to get Canadian education or live with Pakistani community so English remains poor. When they cannot communicate in English and they cannot understand what Gora says, they get upset. I maybe wrong but most of the time it happens. I have to buy the idea of discrimination about Muslims which is on the rise, no doubt.

Why not people start thinking about having own business, those who have money and can read the lines on the wall and should start their own work rather than begging for job. I'm planning to do the same when I get back next year. So my advise is save as much as you can.

Also given what has been happening in Pakistan, people get frustrated. Here in Pakistan, Muslims are killings Muslims in the name of Jihad, corrupt system is in place, corrupt government is there, and will continue to rule the country. I see no change in the plight of people here so life is getting terrible in Pakistan. In near future I see no hope for this country unless people learn more about their rights. They want to move out for their kids.

Its not decent job but life ahead and other difficulties that are being faced by a common man here. Health, education, old age benefits,unemployment benefits, etc. are mere concepts in Pakistan and exist only
for Upper class.

AH

Hi ,

As Salam O Alaikum

I am living in toronto since 3 years. Canada is only good for young people if you are between 25-28 years then its good place for you. They will not recognize your pakistani degree and experience for getting good job (they recognize pakistani degree and experience for immigration purpose only).

Most of the qualified professional pakistanis are working as labour in canadian factories, as cab
driver, as pizza delivery driver, as security guard to survive there families. Do you know why, just because they dont have canadian education and they dont have canadian experience.

Canada is spoiling our career, if you are out of touch your field job for 2-3 years. You can't get your field
job in any country of the world.

Through this media I wana tell all paksitanis that if they have good job in pakistan. Please please dont
come to Canada. Its good place only for young generation who wana get higher education.

No doubt Canada is one of the best country, where you can get quality education. So if you are coming for education then its fine.

If any one want to need further information about Canada, please let me know, I will reply to the best
of my knowledge and experience.

Regards,

SAH

It is always good to read the personal experiences of people from all walks of life. Not only that we
benefit from these, we also widen our horizons vital for decision making. The views of M/s Mazeena Rafi are very pertinent as these have come from a person confronted with the burning issue of providing job
opportunities for the new comers. She correctly said that this should be a personal choice of an incumbent
to decide about coming to Canada. She conveyed the message that:-

- try it out first (in order to make)...
- an educated and informed decision !!! True

Perhaps it may not be out of place to mention the following in order to view things in there right
perspectives:-

1) In Canada all major professions are regulated. This means that one has to fulfill the minimum criterion of qualifications to practise one's profession in Canada.This is where most of us look at it as most demanding and time consuming. We have to face it although we may not like it. Isn't it a fact that we are moving from one part of the globe to another which is markedly different from our standards.

2)The education system, the syllabus and teaching standards are way apart from our standards. The
curriculum is ever changing to cope up with the ever changing needs of the market. we have to give due
credit to all who are part of this. New immigrants feel more vulnerable in this situation.

3) A report published recently(I do not know the date off-hand)which showed that on an average a Canadian changes his career two or three times during his working life. It is the culture in North America and they do not show any inhibition in doing so as long as they make good living out of this change. We should also come out of this myth and be objective in our approach. Why not change the career for a good reason. After all it boils down to earning for a comfortable living.

4) Canadian job market is very sensitive and reacts quickly to any change.. be it on account of
Governments policies or market or cultural demands.People also change according to them. One can get
invaluable wealth of knowledge available from govt.sites. These resourceful sites provide guidance on
future trends and jobs that will be in demand. The new comers have to keep a tab on these and be able to
adapt to these changing scenarios.

5) Job hunting is a full time job and should be taken very seriously (it should be pursued as if doing a
job). One has to set a goal and be sincere with it.Having faith and confidence in one's skills and
strengths makes him a good candidate for the job market. He should market himself in an assertive
manner so that an employer is persuaded in seeing a value in him.

6) Local experience... a dreadful and stark reality.But if we see from the perspective of Canadian
employer it seems but natural to ask for it. An employer is interested, as he is there to make profit,
in a person who has got knowledge of the local market, knowledge of local rules and regulations rather than knowing what one had done in the past in his country.Here come the organizations like A.C.C.E.S. which can provide assistance when it comes to gaining local experience by placing us on co-op placements in local companies. 

Having said all these, life should move on. We should see the brighter side which is promising. We can
either sit back and remain where we are or take strides to increase our chances of success.

Canada offers the best of opportunities for business.We have seen people who have never been in business but have  excelled by virtue of taking advantage of business friendly environment which Canada offers.

We are used to working in shelled environments where we tend to pass the whole life working in the same profession for life. This is because we are confined to our walled boundaries with little chance to see
beyond that resulting in the failure to make a meaningful  change in our careers. We should be able
to adapt to the changing environment by switching  to allied or related fields of work in order to take the
benefit of the opportunities thus provided. 

There are many success stories but we normally hear more of failure stories which works negatively on the new comers. If we start our careers with a pre-hand notion of getting failed... then we are bound to face what we anticipate. Most of us loose heart in the first few days of job hunting when we hear "NO" as is rightly put by Mr.Tanveer Shiekh. This is the time when we have to be patient and hold our confidence in high spirits. Employment consultants like Mr. Sheikh, Ms. Mazeena and Mr. Mintz can throw more light on this and guide us all as to how to keep composure and self esteem high under these situations. 

People will be coming to Canada and they will be needed here as Canada is growing . Baby boomers are
retiring and new blood is needed to keep the wheels moving. 

=====
Regards

najam us saqib