FAQ

We were registered in Cape Town, South-Africa but today are a truly global community. All our employees and freelancers now work remotely.

 You can email us on info@bridgebuilders.co.za    (Please do not send CVs to this email; it is only for general correspondence)

No sorry. . For more secure payments we switched to PayFast or BitCoin: this means you can pay us from any country in the world without hindrance. All you need is a local bank account.

You don’t need a job offer upfront to get Permanent Residency on the Express Entry program. You can get PR and fly to Canada. Once there you can find a job- which is relatively easy unlike third-world countries where jobs are scarce. However, if you do get a job before you go it will increase your points and thus your chances to be invited on the program.

Remember you only have one chance. If you do it wrong you fail. You need all the expertise you can get. We have paralegals and consultants who have many years of emigration consulting experience. Some of them have lived in these countries themselves, or still do. They know what to do and not to do; what to say and no to say; they know the loopholes to take and hurdles to avoid.

Yes your immediate family can accompany you. They get issued with “Dependants” visas. Your children may attend Candian schools.  In Panama your spouse/partner and dependants can join you, provided the dependants are either 18 or younger or up to 25 but in fulltime study.

 Yes many applicants do that to ensure they are “settled in” first before their family arrive. It’s entirely up to you.

A passport is the first document you will need. You will have to apply for a passport at once. Every member in your family emigrating with you also needs one. Make sure it is valid for at least another 3-4 years.

Then this process is not for you.  We suggest you try www.workawayinternational.co.za  We specialise in the fast-track EXPRESS ENTRY visa for CANADA, and the FRIENDLY NATIONS visa for PANAMA.

Once we have assisted you to get all your documents together, you will apply for the visa.

 Companies need qualified and experienced workers; if they cannot find it locally they will look elsewhere. Also, some companies actually prefer to employ foreign workers: some believe they work harder, others believe they are more loyal because their stay in Canada depends on them keeping their job etc.

In Canada jobs that are skilled are still readily available. The economic crisis of 2008 affected the US more than Canada. 

Note that in Panama, jobs where you don’t need to be able to speak Spanish, are scarce. We could suggest that you work online, or teach English as a Foreign Language. Or you could start up a business of your own as entrepreneur. Certain jobs (mainly professions such as lawyers or psychologists, are reserved for Panamanian citizens only) 

In the Federal skilled worker or tradesmen visa program you are linked to your job in Canada.  For the Express Entry route you don’t need a job, but if you don’t have enough points then you will have to get a job- and you must stay in that job.  If you later want to change your job you will have to find an alternative employer who is willing to sponsor you first. 

Because the names of the countries rhyme 🙂 OK, seriously, these two programs (the EXPRESS ENTRY program for Canada, and the FRIENDLY NATIONS program for Panama) are some of the fastest ways we know of to migrate to a safe, modern country without having to spend an arm and a leg.  Through investment programs you can effectively *buy* your stay in many countries, but we do not focus on such migration pathways. We want to assist the average professional. 

In Canada, if you found a job there beforehand, you will often find that your employer is willing to sponsor your initial stay. But this entirely up to the employer, we have no control over that.

In Panama- you have to pay for it yourself. But with many Air BnBs and hostels around, it does not need to be expensive.

It obviously depends on where you find employment (where relevant). We can advise you in which city  to find affordable, suitable accommodation. We will consult with you regarding which dangerous areas to avoid (where relevant).

Yes, in both Canada and Panama one usually pay an amount equal to one month’s rent, unless your employer sponsors this.

In Canada or Panama – For the first year you can manage on your local license switched to an international license (We’ll help you with this – no need for another driving test). However, your employer usually insists you get your local driver’s license.

All employers must pay you the same or more as what they would have paid locals- no discrimination is allowed.

It depends on your income and city where you live. One of our consultants can send you a detailed Cost of Living comparison to compare the cost of living in your current city with the city you have in mind (for example to compare Cape Town with Vancouver). Generally one person’s salary is however more than enough to cover the cost of living of a family of say 3-4 people, provided they do not live extravagantly. Cars, Gas (petrol), Utilities (like electricity) and Food are usually cheaper than what you might be used to, but housing could be more expensive (depending on the area of course). 

Yes if you make payment but then for some reason fail the Points Test (for Canada),  or your Interest Notice does not get accepted by the system we will refund you in full. Once you register with us however we  apply our expertise and time to help you. Like with all professional offers, ervice fees for services renderd are not refundable.  But we will work hard to help you reach your dreams!

Absolutely! We have a strict privacy policy and only give your information to organizations/ state departments where you authorize us to do so. For example- if we need to give your credentials to a Canadian governing body we will ask your permission first. All communication with you remains strictly confidential.

First thing for WORKING IN CANADA is to get your paperwork ready. You also need to secure suitable work. One of our freelance contractors usually look for work for you.  If your don’t need a job then of course the process is faster. The whole process in either Canada or Panama will take some months.

The Express Entry Canada plan takes no more than 6 months since invitation. Most of it is done online. If you get accepted you get formally invited to submit your application. Similarly to the US H1B process in the US, your paperwork needs now be ready to file. Again a process “behind the scenes” now start with the Canadian authorities, and if everything is in order you get your visa to go. As soon as you land in Canada (usually within two weeks) your PERMANENT RESIDENCY gets issued and your receive your PR card (similar to the US “Green Card”). You do NOT even need a job upfront on the Express Entry route. Once you have PR (within two weeks of landing there) employers are keen to employ you since you carry the same rights as citizens (other than voting).

We accept any of the following:

DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS (MAESTRO)

CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS (VISA and MASTERCARD)

INSTANT EFT

BITCOIN

UKASH

All of these payments can be made through our payment gateway PAYFAST, or directly with BITCOIN.

Employment depends on the employer wanting you and your skills. It depends on the interview that employers will in all likelyhood have with you (often by telephone or Skype/ Zoom/ Teams etc.) . It depends on the quality and format of your CV. It depends on your qualification/s and experience. Ultimately it depends entirely on you.

Thousands of applicants obtained Canadian visas through the years, many who ultimately became Canadian citizens. Many also move to Panama, and find it a wonderful, safe, laid-back country. So you know it is possible.

We have the expertise and experience. We have legal specialists with years of emigration consulting experience that can help you too to do this!