CeliaIpon, Malaysia
I'd like to move to North America and since I speak English, language won't be a problem for me. What's my best option for landing a job there?
I'd like to move to North America and since I speak English, language won't be a problem for me. What's my best option for landing a job there?
In a perfect world, we could pick up and move anywhere without red tape or restrictions. In reality, moving to a different country means having to deal with requirements and limitations.
We'll assume that you're interested in moving to Canada or the U.S. and not Mexico since you speak English. Of the two, Canada will probably be the easier country to get a permit for living and working in. The Canadian government places less stringent limits than the U.S. on how foreigners can enter and work there. It's also easier for them to obtain the papers needed to stay. If you decide to move to Canada, we recommend contacting Access, a program sponsored by the Human Resource Development of Canada (416-921-1800), to help you understand the requirements.
If you opt to move to the U.S., you'll almost certainly need to get a job first and have your employer sponsor you. The exception to this rule is the U.S. lottery program. Each year, 50,000 immigrant visas are made available through the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service's Diversity Visa Lottery Program (green-card lottery) to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Malaysia is eligible, so if you feel that you might be one of those lucky folks, contact the INS to register.