Jay Bird

Totally agree with everything Judy has said.
Canada can be brutal if things don't work out; it is not the "cheap to live in" country it used to be, and it's so vast you can easily feel lost and alone.
This is the second time Mr Oldbag and I have lived in Canada, and each has been very different. He is Canadian, but still cannot get work in his own field! I've been lucky enough to get work in a bank, but this had to be through Manpower, and even then it isn't local.
We're going Home for good at then end of June, mainly because I'm just too homesick to stay any longer.
Please do read the Moving Back To The UK forum; you will have a much rounder view of the whole thing.
Be at peace with whatever decision you make.

NovaGirl

I agree with Judy, Oldbag & many others who have contributed to this thread.

Before we left the UK for Nova Scotia i was ill for about 2 - 3 years, OH & i with the doctors thought i was recovering. We planned for the absolute worst case scenario even though we thought it would never happen. We planned for having at least 1 years income in the bank, having the money to purchase 1 vehicle out right, money aside basically for medical costs that we may not be aware of, childcare, plus various other bits.

I was on such a high when we landed, i couldn't believe i had got through the day, we were all so excited! As the weeks passed i started to feel a bit worse & soon after seeing a specialist i was told " you really are very sick" I can remember thinking, no i am not, i have just immigrated, i can't let everyone down!

Thank god we had planned i have no idea what would of happened to us, i can't even go there.
We were also very lucky as we didn't go too rural & have a hospital only minutes away. Over here i was able to see the specialist in town every week but in the UK i went every month when i was not so good.

Life here can be good, but it can also be very hard, think carefully as you rarely hear about the people who have run into real trouble. Look at me i have only recently joined BE although we landed in 2006, i am not fully fit but god willing i will have my health back by the end 2009.

Good luck with your decision.

NovaGirl

Twink001

Hi to all,

After reading this thread I was shocked to learn the amount of people that are returning to the UK

Hubby,small kids and I are looking forward to the move when it finally comes -but I too..... sometimes think are we making the right decision.....A,s some of you have said the cost involved could possibly put you back into debt!!!

We are like many of us here, I imagine clear or at least almost clear of debt... but I do worry that we too will not have a big enough "pot" of money to fund our move..

At the end of the day the decision has to be right for you and your family... as said if not this year, then maybe this time next year?

Good luck and best wishes in what ever you decide.

Sue

HopefullyWanted

Thank you to all your thoughts.

I would just like to say that, yes moving to Canada is a "dream". Yes it does sound cheesy, but no I am not naive enought to think that it is all sweetness and light over there. I have moved about 15 times myself all over the UK. I know that this is not the same is emigrating, but it is enough to know that this country is not the place I want to bring up my children and that attitudes and antisocial behaviour is not isolated to a few areas here, but pretty much affecting all areas of the country. I hope that living in urban Canada will not be so much different that I feel serious culture shock, that is why I have picked it.

I also want to say that I am not looking to move to a place where everything is cheap and we can buy property easily. We have always rented and renting again is what we assume to be doing again, certainly in the short term. Also living cheaply and forfeiting material luxuries are not issues I am concerned about. As long as we can afford a generaly good standard of living on our wage, this is fine.

Anyway, that said. I have been thinking and now might not be the time for us. But it will come and I thank everyone for their comments as most have been quite thought provoiking. Although if he gets offered the job ..... we'll think again!

Biiba

Hi hopefullywanted,

I agree wholeheartedly with what you have to say - only you can know what is right or wrong for you and your family

Also, the UK has become a very different place over the last 2-3 years and I can't blame you for wanting a different environment to bring up your children.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

PK1000

Hi, Although I do truely believe in following your dream, I hate to say it but i'm pretty sure you do have to have a certain amount of cash in the bank per person wishing to immigrate, It's something like £3000 per person I think. But could be a lower amount for children.

I may have got this figure wrong as i'm saying this from memory but I seam to remember myself and husband needing $12,000 in the bank with a statement to prove it.
Sorry.

Jay Bird

You do have to have Proof of Funds unless you have employment to go to....see following link

http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/immigra...lled/funds.asp

HopefullyWanted

Thanks for those last two comments, thats the information I need (ie - the painful truth!).

Jay Bird

It can be painful, I agree, but far better to have all the info to hand than to build your dreams and have them shattered.

Best of luck with everything