Editor’s note: This article was first published in August 2012. Every figure reflects that moment, including the Spaniards turned away in Brazil “so far this year”, the US permit numbers and sponsorship costs, and Canada’s 7% unemployment. Immigration rules in all three countries have changed since.
Brazil, the United States and Canada might look like possible destinations for highly experienced, well-trained workers willing to cross “the pond” in search of new opportunities, but these countries have decided to protect their labour markets and wrap their opportunities in endless red tape.
They are examples of wealth that turns in on itself, and the conclusion is clear: let’s not leave the European Community in search of new opportunities.
Brazil
Brazil is growing fast, but with no interest in sharing that growth with others. The clearest proof is that so far this year, 70% of the Spaniards who decided to move to the South American country have found the doors closed.
The most common reason given is “failure to comply with the full set of rules”, which is curious, since Spain turned away 3,134 Brazilians on the same grounds in 2007.
The Brazilian embassy itself warns that you cannot travel to the country to look for work, and it restricts tourist entry to visitors with a passport valid for six months, a return ticket and a hotel reservation. If you are staying with family or friends, you must hand in a letter of invitation from your host. The financial requirements have also been tightened and are limited to 66 euros per person per day of stay.
United States
Without a job offer, it is almost impossible to get a visa for the land of opportunity. The country processes 140,000 residence permits a year, which amounts to 7% of all applicants.
It only opens the door to the best. If an employer decides to hire a foreigner, they must prove to the US government that this person is the best option and that no similar candidate exists within the country’s borders. The process can cost as much as five thousand dollars and take three months to complete.
Canada
With 7% unemployment and plenty of job openings in fields such as healthcare, information technology and education, Canada could be a dream destination, if it weren’t for the tangle of paperwork needed to land an opportunity.
Each Canadian province has its own immigration policy, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada requires applicants to have a high level of English or French, to be between 21 and 49 years old and to have proven work experience. They must also have the financial means to support their dependants, all of it documented with bank statements, credit cards and other financial references.
Featured image: Jon Evans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
