Overqualified Ukrainian War Refugees

[Traditional_Ale]

I have two new friends I've met in the last year that escaped the war in Ukraine. One is a television broadcast engineer that worked for a major news network, and the other is a master electrician. Both of them are working crappy jobs in Calgary, and while they are very very grateful to have escaped the war, their everyday life now is so far removed from their expertise and they don't really know what to do.

In the case of one of them, their Ukraine passport expired and their status in Canada is under jeopardy unless they sign a work contract with the terrible job they're trying to move on from. So even if they didn't sign and Canada deported him, he doesn't even know where they'd deport him to.

I don't have all the information as I don't even know what to ask in this regard, so I thought I'd ask the CP brain trust.

If any of you are lawyers that have a specialization in immigration for war refugees from Ukraine, I'd be happy to pay the $100 for a cup of coffee somewhere for 30mins just to get some actual solid advice. Can you even get a decent lawyer for 30mins for $100 anymore?

[TheIronMaiden]

Can they play 1st line Centre?

[Jason14h]

Are they real fans who cheer for Flames win or are they on team tank ?

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Can they play 1st line Centre?

No, but one is a video genius that I watched post-produce a three hour concert movie shot with four cameras into 80% its final form in two hours.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Are they real fans who cheer for Flames win or are they on team tank ?

Help me help them and they'll cheer for whomever whatever way you want.

[Kipper_3434]

Do they have real refugee status? Probably start there. Seek asylum, then apply for jobs. If they don't qualify for asylum, they may have to decide if it's better to be uncomfortable in peaceful Canada, or return to Ukraine.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Do they have real refugee status? Probably start there. Seek asylum, then apply for jobs. If they don't qualify for asylum, they may have to decide if it's better to be uncomfortable in peaceful Canada, or return to Ukraine.

They have refugee status and have been working legally for over a year in Calgary. No lack of gratitude to be escaped from the war, but I think like most people if they actually have higher end qualifications that they worked hard to attain that they'd like to use them.

[Wolven]

I think what these others are suggesting is that this topic should have been posted in the Off Topic forum and not the Flames-focused area of the message board.

[Locke]

This is unfortunately a common issue with Canadian immigration that many people have been asking for a resolution to.

I mean, I've got tons of stories just like this. When I was working at Greyhound our security guard was an elite Optical Surgeon in Pakistan and now that he's in Canada he's swinging a flashlight.

One of my clients was a top-tier diagnostic imaging technician in England and she was asked to come work in Canada and then they wouldnt acknowledge her credentials and she couldn't work so she went back home.

[CF84]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I think what these others are suggesting is that this topic should have been posted in the Off Topic forum and not the Flames-focused area of the message board.

The off-topic forum won't reach nearly as many posters. I imagine that there are lots like me who only read the hockey portions of Calgary Puck.

Sometimes an issue is worth posting about in the main forum and posting here may be the reason one of these men doesn't have to go back to a war torn country. I sure don't feel inconvenienced or bothered by it. Also, none of this is directed at you, but at that opinion in general.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is unfortunately a common issue with Canadian immigration that many people have been asking for a resolution to.

I mean, I've got tons of stories just like this. When I was working at Greyhound our security guard was an elite Optical Surgeon in Pakistan and now that he's in Canada he's swinging a flashlight.

One of my clients was a top-tier diagnostic imaging technician in England and she was asked to come work in Canada and then they wouldnt acknowledge her credentials and she couldn't work so she went back home.

To be fair, being undervalued in the workplace, and underemployed it an essential part of the Canadian experience. The OP is on the right track to be asking wherever he can. Social networking trumps everything except nepotism.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Are they real fans who cheer for Flames win or are they on team tank ?

Coming from Ukraine, I’m pretty sure they never want to think about a tank again.

Really hope it works out for them. I can’t imagine what they’ve gone through.

[The Cobra]

We have 3 refugees from Ukraine working in our accounting department at jobs that meet their qualifications, and they are doing just fine.

So, there are happy stories out there.