A Canuck Teaching in California

[chrischien 0]

I know this subject has been done to death in some other threads. I wanted to contact the user who had a very successful experience who actually is in my shoes (a Canadian looking for work in California) but he had hidden his email address.

I just finished my teacher training in Toronto, Canada but I want to move to California to be with my partner and work there.

I was considering a spousal visa, but, to complicate matters, my partner happens to be also a male. Of course, same-sex unions aren't recognised for visa applications. Sigh.

I've been feeling intense stress and a lot of emotional disturbance over this simply because most of the recruiting firms (VIF, Teach for America) don't seem to be very willing to hire Canadians at the moment. Not to mention their websites are absolutely chock full of jargon that I can't seem to sift through.

Can any kind soul help me out? What concrete steps should I take to achieve this goal?

I'm at my wits end! Thank you so much everyone in advance

[aaron2020 11,651]

I know this subject has been done to death in some other threads. I wanted to contact the user who had a very successful experience who actually is in my shoes (a Canadian looking for work in California) but he had hidden his email address.

I just finished my teacher training in Toronto, Canada but I want to move to California to be with my partner and work there.

I was considering a spousal visa, but, to complicate matters, my partner happens to be also a male. Of course, same-sex unions aren't recognised for visa applications. Sigh.

I've been feeling intense stress and a lot of emotional disturbance over this simply because most of the recruiting firms (VIF, Teach for America) don't seem to be very willing to hire Canadians at the moment. Not to mention their websites are absolutely chock full of jargon that I can't seem to sift through.

Can any kind soul help me out? What concrete steps should I take to achieve this goal?

I'm at my wits end! Thank you so much everyone in advance

California is in a big economic mess. The public school system is laying off thousands of teachers. With all these unemployed US teachers, you are not going to get a visa to teach in a public school in California. The US has to take care of its own unemployed citizens. Letting a foreign teacher take a job that could go to a US teacher is not going to happen for you in the public sector.

The only possibility for you to come on a work visa is to find a private school that is willing to hire you and pay for your visa. With all the available unemployed and recently laid off US teachers, you are going to have a very challenging time.

Your first step is to find a US employer willing to hire you and pay for your visa. You cannot get a work visa before getting a job offer. You need the job first, then the employer apply for a work visa on your behalf.

Best of luck to you.

[chrischien 0]

California is in a big economic mess. The public school system is laying off thousands of teachers. With all these unemployed US teachers, you are not going to get a visa to teach in a public school in California. The US has to take care of its own unemployed citizens. Letting a foreign teacher take a job that could go to a US teacher is not going to happen for you in the public sector.

The only possibility for you to come on a work visa is to find a private school that is willing to hire you and pay for your visa. With all the available unemployed and recently laid off US teachers, you are going to have a very challenging time.

Your first step is to find a US employer willing to hire you and pay for your visa. You cannot get a work visa before getting a job offer. You need the job first, then the employer apply for a work visa on your behalf.

Best of luck to you.

Thank you so much for your reply! I noticed that the CTC has suspended sponsoring international teachers so I figured they were in some mess. It's a shame... Toronto is in the exact same mess with the education system (firing more than hiring).

The person I was referring to said his goal was to do some substituting in CA. (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/324804-substitute-teaching-in-california/)

Do you think that would still be feasible or do you think with the current firing situation, the substituting would still be going to CA teachers as well?

PS. I noticed you are sponsoring people from Vietnam. My partner and his family are from Vietnam as well! Best of luck to you too!

Does anyone here know of any really good private school resources for that in the LA or SF area?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thank you so much for your reply! I noticed that the CTC has suspended sponsoring international teachers so I figured they were in some mess. It's a shame... Toronto is in the exact same mess with the education system (firing more than hiring).

The person I was referring to said his goal was to do some substituting in CA. (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/324804-substitute-teaching-in-california/)

Do you think that would still be feasible or do you think with the current firing situation, the substituting would still be going to CA teachers as well?

PS. I noticed you are sponsoring people from Vietnam. My partner and his family are from Vietnam as well! Best of luck to you too!

Does anyone here know of any really good private school resources for that in the LA or SF area?

Unfortunately, you are not going to get a work visa to substitute.

The public schools are not going to pay for an immigration lawyer to file for a work visa on behalf of a foreign substitute teacher. With large budget cuts, there is simply no money to do this. In addition, the teachers' unions would have a field day with this when the public schools are laying off US teachers.

A private school is not likely to file for a work visa for a foreign substitute teacher. First, substitutes are only paid on the days they work. Second, it does not make economic sense to hire you when there are thousands of unemployed US teachers available to do the work. Third, it would be impossible to get the Department of Labor Certification that no US teachers are available and that is why the employer has to hire a foreign teacher. The certification is an absolute requirement to obtain a work visa on your behalf.

I hate to discourage you, but the economic reality for US teachers will make it impossible for you to get any work visa to teach in any capacity in the US. There are too many unemployed US teachers. It's not a smart move to allow a foreign worker into the US to take a job that could go to your own unemployed citizens. The sole exception would be at the college level; i.e. college professors who are recognized in their fields.

Edited June 23, 2012 by aaron2020

[aaron2020 11,651]

The person I was referring to said his goal was to do some substituting in CA. (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/324804-substitute-teaching-in-california/)

This person is situated very differently from you.

This person came to the US through a family-based immigration petition. This was not a work visa situation.

[chrischien 0]

^ Oh, I guess I didn't read very carefully. Thanks for the clarification!

What a bummer Thanks for the harsh reality, though. It's better than being led on!

It seems like the best option is still looking for full-time work at a private institution (that way it might be financially worth it for them?)

Edited June 23, 2012 by chrischien

[chrischien 0]

Also, I have an uncle living who is an American citizen living in New Jersey.

Is there any way he can sponsor me to help me get permanent residency/a visa?

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Also, I have an uncle living who is an American citizen living in New Jersey.

Is there any way he can sponsor me to help me get permanent residency/a visa?

No. The petition for an alien relative only covers spouses, married/unmarried children, siblings or a parent of someone who is a U.S. Citizen. If the petitioner is a legal permanent resident, they can only petition for their spouse or unmarried children. Thus, because he's your uncle, he wouldn't be able to petition for you.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Also, I have an uncle living who is an American citizen living in New Jersey.

Is there any way he can sponsor me to help me get permanent residency/a visa?

No. No one can file for a nephew.

He could file for his sibling (your parent). That will take 12 years for your parent to gain his/her US permanent residency. Your permanent resident parent could file for you, and that will take 7-8 years.

[chrischien 0]

No. The petition for an alien relative only covers spouses, married/unmarried children, siblings or a parent of someone who is a U.S. Citizen. If the petitioner is a legal permanent resident, they can only petition for their spouse or unmarried children. Thus, because he's your uncle, he wouldn't be able to petition for you.

No. No one can file for a nephew.

He could file for his sibling (your parent). That will take 12 years for your parent to gain his/her US permanent residency. Your permanent resident parent could file for you, and that will take 7-8 years.

Wow that's intense... thank you for the info!

[Krikit 1,165]

Hi there, and welcome to VJ.

I am going to move your thread from Finding Work in America to the Work Visas forum. The Finding Work forum is geared toward people who are already in the US.

You may want to take a look at the following links. One is for immigration equality, and the other is specific to Canadians obtaining TN status under NAFTA. Good luck.

http://www.immigrationequality.org/

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=bac00b89284a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextoid=bac00b89284a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[Boiler 46,277]

Moving to Canada sounds more logical.

[Krikit 1,165]

I agree with Boiler. Canada has immigration equality so you have a much easier road in that direction.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I agree with Boiler. Canada has immigration equality so you have a much easier road in that direction.

I was going to respond with the same idea. Can your partner join you in Canada?

As a teacher, you're chances of a work visa are pretty slim.