u/RecommendationOdd275

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice and a reality check regarding Canadian immigration for myself and my partner, as we have slightly different career paths and timelines.

My Profile: I am a 20-year-old (turning 21 soon) and currently in my 3rd semester of Computer Engineering in Iran. However, my main goal is not to come to Canada as a student. I want to get a job offer with visa sponsorship (LMIA), and I am completely fine with dropping out of my university here if I secure a job. I have been working as a software developer since I was 15. I know it sounds unusual to start that early, but I began by learning React Native as an intern at a small company owned by a family friend for about 6 to 7 months, and then transitioned into freelance work. I am now a Full-Stack Developer, mostly working with React, Flutter, and Django. I have a very solid resume, portfolio, and roughly $5$ years of practical experience. I took the IELTS a while ago (it's expired, but I am ready to retake it).

My Girlfriend's Profile: She is 20F, currently in her 4th semester of Psychology. Unlike me, she must finish her Bachelor's degree here in Iran before moving. Her ultimate goal is to move to Canada, continue her studies (Master's/PhD), and work either as a child therapist or a neuroscientist.

Our Dilemma & Goals: We definitely plan to get married, but we are unsure about the timeline and which pathway makes the most sense for Canadian immigration rules.

We are trying to figure out the best strategy: Plan A:I try to find an LMIA job sponsorship from outside Canada right now (without a completed degree). If I get one, I move first, and she joins me later once she finishes her degree in Iran. Plan B: I stay in Iran, finish my Bachelor's degree at the same time she finishes hers. Then, she applies for a Canadian Study Permit for her Master's, and I apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) as her husband.

My Questions for the Community: $1$. How realistic is it for a Full-Stack Dev from outside Canada to get a closed work permit / LMIA with $5$ years of experience but no completed Bachelor's degree, especially in the current tech market? $2$. For my girlfriend, how competitive/difficult is it for an international student to get accepted into a Master's program for Clinical Psychology or Neuroscience in Canada? $3$. Logistically, does Plan B (waiting to finish our degrees, getting married, and doing the Study Permit + SOWP route) make more sense than me trying to hunt for an LMIA right now?

I've done a lot of research on IRCC pathways, but I feel like I'm hitting a wall regarding the reality of the current job market and university admissions. Any advice or a harsh reality check would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice and a reality check regarding immigration for myself and my partner, as we have slightly different career paths and timelines.

My Profile: I am a 20-year-old (turning 21 soon) and currently in my 3rd semester of Computer Engineering in Iran. However, my main goal is not to study abroad. I want to get a job offer with visa sponsorship, and I am completely fine with dropping out of my university here if I secure a job. I have been working as a software developer since I was 15. I know it sounds unusual to start that early, but I began by learning React Native as an intern at a small company owned by a family friend for about 6 to 7 months, and then transitioned into freelance work. I am now a Full-Stack Developer, mostly working with React, Flutter, and Django. I have a very solid resume and portfolio. I took the IELTS a while ago (it's expired, but I am ready to retake it).

My Girlfriend's Profile: She is 20F, currently in her 4th semester of Psychology. Unlike me, she must finish her Bachelor's degree here in Iran before moving. Her ultimate goal is to move abroad, continue her studies (Master's/PhD), and work either as a child therapist or a neuroscientist.

Our Dilemma & Goals: We definitely plan to get married, but we are unsure about the timeline because our current situations are so different. We initially considered the Netherlands, but realized it's very difficult for psychology/therapy due to language barriers and strict licensing. Right now, Canada seems like the best option, but we are open to anywhere that fits our goals.

We are trying to figure out the best strategy: Plan A: I try to find a job sponsorship now (without a completed degree). If I get one, I move first, and she joins me later once she finishes her degree in Iran (and we get married so she can come on a spousal visa to do her Master's). Plan B: I stay in Iran, finish my Bachelor's degree at the same time she finishes hers, and then we apply together (me for jobs, her for Master's programs).

My Questions for the Community:

1. How realistic is it for a Full-Stack Dev (React/Flutter/Django) from a third-world country to get a work visa sponsorship with roughly 5 years of experience but no completed Bachelor's degree?
2. For my girlfriend, what is the best pathway for an international student wanting to become a child therapist or neuroscientist in Canada or Europe? Are there specific countries that are better for this?
3. Logistically, regarding visas, does it make more sense for us to wait, finish our degrees, get married, and apply together? Or should I start applying for jobs right now?

I've done a lot of research, but I feel like I'm hitting a wall. Any advice on the best pathways or a harsh reality check would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Hey everyone, my partner and I are both in our second year of university in Iran. I have around 6 years of experience as a software engineer, so I’m planning to apply as a skilled worker once I get my IELTS done. My path seems pretty clear, but we’re trying to figure out the best route for my partner.

We’re looking for a country that:

• Doesn’t have complicated visa processes for Iranians or Middle Easterners
• Has realistic pathways to permanent residency and eventually citizenship
• Offers decent work life balance (we’re not looking to work ourselves to death)
• Is welcoming to immigrants and has good integration support
• Has opportunities for both of us to build careers
• Ideally allows us to stay together through the process

I know I can probably get in through skilled worker programs, but what about my partner? Should she finish her degree first? Can she come as a dependent and then transition to her own work permit? Are there countries where student visas lead to better post graduation work opportunities?

We’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through this, especially:

• Which country did you choose and why?
• How was the actual immigration process compared to what you expected?
• Any surprises (good or bad) after you arrived?
• If you came as a couple, how did you manage both applications?
• Knowing what you know now, would you pick the same country again?

We’re in the research phase and trying to make smart decisions. Any real experiences, tips, or warnings would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

My partner (19) and I (21) are from Iran, and we are planning to get married and immigrate to the Netherlands in the near future. I work in tech and will be looking for a sponsored job as a highly skilled migrant.

My main question is about my partner’s studies. She is currently in the second year of her bachelor’s degree in psychology here in Iran. We are both taking our IELTS exams soon so our English will be certified.

Since she is in the middle of her degree, does anyone know if it is generally possible to transfer current university credits from a non-EU country to a Dutch university? We really want to avoid her losing two years of academic progress.

Also, what is the job market like in the Netherlands for someone studying psychology? Is it tough to find a job in that field if you only speak English at first, or are there good opportunities for expats?

Any advice on the Dutch university system or psychology career paths would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!