A parent with an MS in Computer Science asked how to move to Canada with a spouse and three children. The thread converged on a clear ranking of routes:
1. The funded-PhD route (the thread's top recommendation).- PhD positions in Canada are mostly funded, so tuition/living costs are largely covered.
- Members highlighted that studying at a public university in BC can make you eligible to apply for PR during the PhD (BC's provincial pathway for doctoral students).
- The family plan: the student applies for a study permit, the spouse applies for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), and the children come on TRVs (and can attend school). You can also land first and bring the family after, or apply together.
- To get admitted: approach professors directly about supervision — this is how PhD offers (and funding) are secured.
2. Express Entry directly.- Calculate your CRS score first, then prepare seriously for IELTS — a high language score is the biggest realistic point gain. With an MS in CS, a strong IELTS materially changes the picture.
3. The visit-visa-then-find-work route — discouraged.- One member described visiting to hunt for a work permit as "easiest" in theory but reported that visitor-visa approval rates for this profile are very low (their own was refused). Treat it as a long shot, not a plan.
Suggested order of operations: compute CRS → book IELTS and aim high → in parallel, email potential PhD supervisors at public universities (especially BC) → pick the route where your numbers actually work.