Canadian Teacher wants to work in California

QUESTION: I am a Canadian citizen and an elementary school teacher. I want to move to California in the next year or so. Can you advise me on the best way to
proceed such a move. 
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david ingram replies:

In fact, it is likley better to start in LA and branch out later. But if you do not want to do LA, you
 can start off by looking at the California requirements for 5 year certificates, etc., at:

http://www.teachcalifornia.org/require/index.html

Just three years ago, California was running regular job search drives in Toronto and Vancouver and other Canadian cities and were doing the paperwork to import Canadian teachers into anywhere in California.  I do not know of any of those happening outside of California now so I imagine that if you did find a California Teaching job, there will not be a lot of enthusiasm to get you a visa unless you luck into the Los Angeles system which is explained further on..

However, there are 27 job fair recruiting  events in  California here:  http://www.edjoin.org/recruitmentEvents.aspx

If you wish to teach K-12, you will need an H visa.  Those are taking a longer period of time to obtain and you won't be starting in September. If you do manage to get one, it will more likely be September 2008.

On the other hand, if you were teaching post secondary, you would qualify for a TN visa and those can be obtained in one day.

The good part is that California has a record of taking Canadian teachers.  If you were wanting to teach in Hawaii, you would be ouit of luck becasue the public school system will NOT take a foreign teacher under any circumstances unless they already have a green card at least and the private schools who will take a foreign teacher and get a visa are usually well staffed and it si only the odd job that shows up.

A new bill was passed effective Jan 1 2007 governing out of state teachers - read these new rules at

http://www.teachincal.org/CurrentLaws.pdf

----------------------------There is also a visiting teacher exchange program which you could use to get your foot in the door.  Their deadline was March 15, 2007 but theoretically you could get in line for next year - see more at

 http://www.vifprogram.ca/canada/index.html?gclid=CJ6GsJecq40CFQzDYgodjAks1A

This organization holds interviews in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver.

On your own, you can have your credentials evaluated for the Los Angeles Foreign teacher's program at:

http://www.teachinla.com/teachinla/foreign.html

to quote part of their website, (notice the reference to work sponsorship - that means a visa)


Out of country teacher applicants must also meet additional Los Angeles Unified School District employment requirements to be considered for employment and work sponsorship. These include, but are not limited to, recent work in their field, strong letters of recommendation covering the past three years of employment, fingerprint clearances, tuberculosis testing and a complete physical examination, as well as a personal qualities interview. Candidates who demonstrate superior professional competence and exemplary personal qualifications may be given the opportunity to teach / provide service to Los Angeles Unified School District students.

Los Angeles Unified School District is currently interviewing credentialed, out of country Math, Science and Special Education applicants. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services will be issuing H1-B Visas, with an effective date of October 1, 2007. The District will begin to request work authorization for successful candidates beginning April 1, 2007 until the quota of visas is exhausted.

This information is provided for the convenience of potential foreign teacher / support service provider applicants who may be seeking employment. Please note that the Los Angeles Unified School District is not responsible for any fees associated with any organizations listed below. Additionally, out of country candidates are advised that under no circumstances is the District able to consider any candidates involved with a local or foreign employment agency. District policy prohibits such candidates from being considered for hiring and work sponsorship.



Hope this all helps -- Good luck --- Remember, when you get that job you have to send the first year's dual country return here.  You will go crazy trying to find someone in California who can do your Caandian and US and California return at the same time.


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