Canadian determined to join...

[Calais]

Hi all, I'm Canadian, turning 17 soon and am very keen on joining the Royal Marines.
I read on the RM website that citizens from commonwealth countries are eligible to be a Royal Marine Commando, but must reside in Britain for 5 years prior to making their application.
However, to my understanding the 5 year residency requirement is waived for certain applicants, so I am here to ask a few questions about those applying from commonwealtn countries, especially Canada.

I am not a British citizen, that is, I do not hold either British citizenship or passport, but at all times since birth have been a citizen of Canada.

My questions are, what necessary steps must be taken to start the process?

Do you e-mail the overseas recruiting post and ask for a application with full name, address and all? or is it done by phone? If so, what is the number?

Once I send my application, and if they ask me to come to England to complete the application (medical, physical, and general aptitude), will I be given a letter or something that grants me the right to remain in the UK until the process is finished? Or how does it work?

Also, if anyone who is a Canadian and doesn't hold British citizenship has done this, or similar circumstances, can you tell me if a Canadian high-school diploma is a good enough education level? What do they generally accept?

How long from when you send in your application with photocopied (or original) necessary documents until you receive some answer? And how does the entry and residency problem work out?


If someone has any info whatsoever relevant to what I'm trying to accomplish, it is very much appreciated, be it tips to make a good interview to overseas applications, I'm eager for all information.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Calais.

[df2inaus]

Calais,

Welcome aboard. I was a Canadian national who joined the Army in 2002. I have written at length on this subject. Open up my profile and hit search.php?search_author=df2inaus. They're in there somewhere.

The gist of it all is: move to the UK on a 2 year work visa, step into an AFCO, have a job or travel during the weeks or months it takes to apply, make sure you have a UK mailing address.

PM me anytime. Where in Canada are you?

df2inaus

[Calais]

Thanks for replying df2inaus, I was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley.

BtW, is the method you reccomended the method you used?
I ask because I believe for the Royal Marines you can (just found this out) ask online for a overseas application package, once they have your application and necessary documents you are provided with a phone number from which everything else is started from.

If I was to join the UK Army I would probably get a work visa and start the process that way.

Cheers.

[BritCanuck]

I'm in the same boat.
Though I am a dual citizen, of UK origin, now living in Canada. Not certain that makes much of a difference however, still in the process of finding everything out myself.

Good luck, Keep posting and letting me know where you are in your application and I shall do likewise.

Cheers.

[Kane]

As far as I know, you sound like you'd be eligible. Just contact the Overseas London Office (0044 207 305 3328) and talk to a WO Brown, he was the one who helped me. Be prepared to spend the best part of a year between the date you apply, and when you get a date to begin Recruit Training.

All I can say is be supper fit before you apply for the RM's. They will ask you to come to the UK for 3 weeks where you do the RT, Interview, medical, PJFT, and PRMC all in that time. Then they conduct a Security check which can take up to eight months. Then you get your final date to begin Foundation.

I'm leaving for the UK on the 5th of July to do what what I have just mentioned; I've been training since the 1st of March, and I first inquired in November 02. Just thought I'd let you know.

Cheers, Brent

[BritCanuck]

Interesting thing is, the amount of time it may take to join the RM's is about the same, if not shorter, than the amount of time it would take someone of the same origin as I to join the Canadian forces.

Thanks for the headsup.

[Calais]

As far as I know, you sound like you'd be eligible. Just contact the Overseas London Office (0044 207 305 3328) and talk to a WO Brown, he was the one who helped me. Be prepared to spend the best part of a year between the date you apply, and when you get a date to begin Recruit Training.

All I can say is be supper fit before you apply for the RM's. They will ask you to come to the UK for 3 weeks where you do the RT, Interview, medical, PJFT, and PRMC all in that time. Then they conduct a Security check which can take up to eight months. Then you get your final date to begin Foundation.

I'm leaving for the UK on the 5th of July to do what what I have just mentioned; I've been training since the 1st of March, and I first inquired in November 02. Just thought I'd let you know.

Cheers, Brent

Thanks for replying mate.
As far as I can see, perhaps it would be wiser to apply for a 2 year work visa and then start the overseas application. Once I pass PRMC (Not allowing the word "quit" enter my head) do they start the security check? or is it before? Because eight months is quite a while for someone supporting themselves and not being able to work in the UK.

Did you contact Warrant Officer Blackwood before or after you applied? There seems to be a few conflicting methods to joining, one is having a work permit and going to the UK, then starting the process.

The other seems to get an overseas application, once they have it you receive a phone number and proceed from there...

Confused which course to take.

[df2inaus]

Calais,

Once I pass PRMC (Not allowing the word "quit" enter my head) do they start the security check? or is it before? Because eight months is quite a while for someone supporting themselves and not being able to work in the UK.

Based on experience, I doubt the vetting (security check) will take that long.

As for work, if you have the 2 year work visa that any Canadian is entitled to, you will be able to work in-between all your test dates, etc. It costs about $85 CDN and eliminates one more worry, so apply for it.

df2

[Kane]

They tell me the security check can take anywhere from 3 to 8 months. As for working, I'm a British citizen, so I can live there as long as I want to. I'm returning to Canada to await my security clearence though, which they begin AFTER you pass PRMC.

Brent

[joshualoftus]

Kane, I'm in the same boat as you mate. I'm a duel citizen (Aussie/Brit) doing my PRMC in late July, then I'll head back home to Australia to wait for my security clearance (I've also been told 3-8 months), as I can live for free with my parents and have friends I can work for to support myself. I did my RT, interview and medical back in February, but I had an injury (shinsplints) that I wanted to sort out so I came home where I have medical insurance. So now I'm just trying to get myself fit in time for PRMC in late July. Kane, maybe I'll see you on PRMC.
Best of luck guys,
Josh.

[Kane]

Good luck there Josh, I hope to see you down there as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get any injuries while I'm over there.

Cheers, Brent

[Adam]

hey all,
i'm canadian as well. heading over in July for my PRMC....my application process so far has taken 3 months, i applied online, got a contact phone number, and went from there. may see some of you at PRMC
good luck all,
Adam