Hey guys, I am looking for a job switch (US/Canada based) and wondering if anyone here has had experience with Virtual US Numbers. I believe having this will up my chances atleast from the initial screening and then I can be honest about it that I am based out of India during the interview Note- I do intend to move to Canada & in the process of immigration & improving my CRS score. Getting a job in these countries should increase my chances to move. Any 2 cents?

If you're planning to move to Canada on the basis of job offer (assuming that you're trying for Express Entry here), employer would need to offer you a job under LMIA or sponsor your work permit, so you can't just keep a virtual phone number (eg; via TextNow app) and project yourself being present in Canada during screening and then tell the interviewer during the interview that you're not physically there (basically lying). 🙂 Only LMIA offers can be included in your express entry profile to claim points for CRS, if work permit is sponsored, it is better approach as once you move and work from Canada for over a year, you'll qualify for permanent residence under CEC (Canadian Experience Class).

@flat-morning-91037 I recently saw this & was curious how he pulled it off. He doesn’t really talk about the virtual number here though.

it is a better approach as once you move and work from Canada for over a year, you’ll qualify for permanent residence under CEC (Canadian Experience Class).

I have been trying to get clients for SEO consultancy from Canada. Would it be possible to get an experience letter from them to help me apply for CEC or is it mandatory for me to move in-person and work from Canada for a year to qualify for permanent residency? Would love to chat in detail & share the current state of things & get some advice if you have 30 mins 🙂

The LMIA job offer itself is quite popular among scamsters, and is even sold for money to the point where Canada is revising their their NOC system for different job types to close these loopholes.

Would it be possible to get an experience letter from them to help me apply for CEC or is it mandatory for me to move in-person and work from Canada for a year to qualify for permanent residency?

You can’t just have an experience letter from a Canadian entity and apply for CEC, in order to quality for CEC, you’d need to prove (with records) that you were in Canada on TRV (Temporary Resident Visa AKA work permit), completed 40 hours/week job for a full calendar year, and received payment for the same. You’d even get asked to submit detailed experience letter along with some details like which province you lived during the tenure and whether you can apply for PR from that province by giving English language test (eg; Quebec requires you to give French language test to apply for PR). So to be brutally honest here, there’s no short cut to this. There are some comparatively better options like; • Pursuing higher studies (costs time and money) • Find an employer who hires remotely without any location preference but is okay to sponsor work permit in case you wish to relocate • Go through regular Express Entry program and try to concentrate on provinces which have nomination draws for your job profile & education background.

@flat-morning-91037 Thanks for adding clarity to this. Question: One of my Dad’s friend who is located in Canada has a business entity registered with himself. He proposed to make me his partner & can sponsor my work permit (I’d indirectly be bearing all the expenses) & I’d be working under his entity & continue to provide consulting to international clients. While I haven’t discussed the terms of this yet. Do you think this is possible under point 2? Would I need to be employed under him/his entity or being a partner works? I dread spending time studying again as I just don’t see the value in it. I am working towards improving my scores for Express Entry. Even with all the efforts I’d just be maxing out on 471 which isn’t enough in the current times🤞

I’d be working under his entity & continue to provide consulting to international clients. While I haven’t discussed the terms of this yet. Do you think this is possible under point 2?

Possible as long as you’re employee of his company on record (and can be proved the same legally, i.e. your salary paid with tax deducted)

Would I need to be employed under him/his entity or being a partner works?

I’m not sure if being partner allows him to sponsor your work permit, better consult with immigration expert there.

Even with all the efforts I’d just be maxing out on 471

If you’re in tech, 471 is decent score to get nomination from provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and even British Columbia (under Tech Pilot). Did you explore PNP route in any way?

So my profile is in SEO which falls in between Marketing & Tech. Earlier while creating a express profile, I used a NOC which is more related to marketing. Do you think changing it to something that is inclined to Tech would improve my chances of PNP? Had a surprise where one of my degree certificate wasn’t recognised by WES, IQAS. Ended up losing points making it to 441ish. Just finished exams for PGD program from IGNOU to increase my scores. Any recommendations on talking to an immigration expert? The ones I spoke to earlier gave me shady vibes & looked scamy. Want to talk to only someone that has had successful engagement in the past with them

Do you think changing it to something that is inclined to Tech would improve my chances of PNP?

You can alter your EE profile as much as you want before getting ITA, but once you get it, there’s no going back unless you withdraw and get back into the pool, so whatever you mention in profile, be sure you have all the relevant proofs to back that up (along with employer provided experience letters), remember, lying will get you banned for 5 years (or even permanently).

Had a surprise where one of my degree certificate wasn’t recognised by WES

Yes WES is funky at times, and not all Indian masters degrees are treated on same parlance, but can’t do much about it, their country, their rules. 🤷

Any recommendations on talking to an immigration expert?

India has enough people willing to immigrate in whatever way possible that there’s an industry of people running all kinds of scams, basically enough supply of people who are willing to throw money just to move to North America regardless of their qualification that so-called Immigration Experts here get enough business to keep the scam running. Of course there are licensed IRCC consultants but they too run a full business here keeping staff under them doing all the dirty work. IMO for a person who knows english well and can read and understand the immigration process, there’s no need to go to any such consultant, and do the process themselves.