Depends on how you're going there but my understanding is that you need to have french language skills to work in Montreal.
This is my understanding too from family that lives there. The working language is French. You will be lucky to find a job in English.
not true if u work for any big international software company.
Just need a job offer as an American, can apply for TN visa iirc
TN visas are reserved for very specific jobs but if the company is willing to take you then shouldn't be a problem. Cost of living is much cheaper than Toronto however your pay scale could nose dive.
You trying to work at PornHub?
With the new CAQ govt which is hell bent on reducing immigration numbers and Québec following an old paper based system, work visa will take 6+ months. Don't even think of applying permanent residency from Québec if you do not know French.
Toronto it is then
Shouldn’t the work permit under global talent stream program take less than 2 weeks?
I came as skilled worker in Montreal without knowing any French. It was the greatest mistake of my life. My permanent residency is delayed because Québec follows a different system and CAQ govt are against immigration for non French speakers. Work permit can take 6 months or longer, renewals even longer. Overall Québec is a very bureaucratic province when it comes to work permits and immigration. The pay is also lower than other provinces. Changing jobs on a work permit is not possible. If you managed to get a CSQ, you are still in closed work permit till you get permanent residency. (PR) PR in Québec is delayed by 4 years. Rest of Canada PR by Express Entry takes only 6 months. To get a CSQ you need to know French. CSQ process in Québec is now delayed and broken by CAQ govt. Even if you managed to get CSQ by learning French, the Federal process for PR delayed by 2 years by CAQ govt now. Without French, you won't progress in your career. You will get differential treatment if you speak English. (depends). Overall for me, moving to work in Québec was a great mistake. The only good thing about Montréal is the public transportation. I will soon be moving out of Québec because personally I don't see a future for myself or career advancement in Québec.
Thanks for sharing! I will be applying for Toronto instead.
You will be glad you did. You can come back to Québec once your get your PR.
Specific to your question, work visa process is different in Québec. You need to get a CAQ approval letter ( not to be confused with the CAQ govt) from Québec immigration dept, followed by LMIA approval, then work permit. This entire process can take 6-8 months. Québec immigration dept is infamous for screwups and delays. There is another category called Global Talent Stream which is faster but your employer have to jump thru hoops to get that done.
Thanks. I decided to try to get a job in Toronto instead.
How hard is it to get a job in Toronto for 10+ US yoe developer ..?
It's not at all hard. But, 1. Will you be able to get work permit. Being a US citizen do not automatically qualify you to work in Canada. You should qualify for a TN visa. 2. Are you willing to take a pay hit ? 3. Are you willing to compete with a lot of talented developers immigrating to Canada ? Canada is hell bent on skilled immigration via Express Entry and the talent pool is growing because of that.
Why do you want to work in Montreal? Salaries are low...
I'm getting older and like the healthcare and work life balance there.
If you don't speak French at all, you will have a hard time in Québec socially and professionally. If you are a person of color, even more so. To put it bluntly, if you aren't "pure laine", you are at a disadvantage in Québec. Kids of immigrants cannot go to a public English school in Québec, even if you are an American. The exception is one of the parents must be educated in an English school in Canada. Healthcare in Québec and Nova Scotia isn't that great as in other provinces. Healthcare coverages also varies by province, choose wisely if you have a particular health condition covered by a certain province. The current political situation in Québec is giving out bad vibes of a possible referendum in the near future. As long as CAQ and Bloc Quebec parties are the helm, I would be skeptical of Québec. I understand why Québec is doing all these to protect their French culture. So it's like if you understand all these issues, you can settle down in Québec. The only good thing I have found so far is, the great public transportation system in Montreal. The condition of roads and driver behavior are abysmal.