Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 23
Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Hello, so loving this forum. Iam 35 years and my Husband is 42 we have 3 kids 13, 10 and 5. We are British and live in London. As a family we want to move to Albreta, Edmonton, Calgary, also open to other Towns depending on where there is a job. I work as a family Assement office with Social service with over 7years exp I also trained as a Nutritional Therapist just last year. My Husband has exp in Project mangt (prince 2) he is a Train operator/ Train Driver over 10years.
What are our options as par work please. What is the best place to apply for jobs, to get work permit?
How much is renting a three or four bed house? What is a good wage? Just thought going through my mind/ head?
For Families that have made the move how is life in Canada compare to London?
Any information or exp will help.
Thanks in advance.
What are our options as par work please. What is the best place to apply for jobs, to get work permit?
How much is renting a three or four bed house? What is a good wage? Just thought going through my mind/ head?
For Families that have made the move how is life in Canada compare to London?
Any information or exp will help.
Thanks in advance.
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,850
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
The first question I would ask is why do you want to move?
The wiki at the top of the page is a must read about all aspects of Canada.
Also read the London or Toronto thread thats developing. This thread could end up like that London or Edmonton
Be prepared for some light hearted banter or not and questions about your sanity in wanting to move to Edmonton though you do mention Calgary as well.
Seriously why do you feel the need to move?
The wiki at the top of the page is a must read about all aspects of Canada.
Also read the London or Toronto thread thats developing. This thread could end up like that London or Edmonton
Be prepared for some light hearted banter or not and questions about your sanity in wanting to move to Edmonton though you do mention Calgary as well.
Seriously why do you feel the need to move?
#3
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 23
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
We just want a change of life. A different country. I was told Education in Canada is better. Read a lot looks like we will have to start at the entry level. I guess the Toronto tread miss home. Thanks
#4
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Have you visited Canada before? It's a great country but spending tens of thousands of pounds on a move there could be an expensive mistake if you haven't. A reccie trip to job hunt will be pretty essential anyway (from what you've said, one of you would need a job offer & LMO to get a visa), so maybe plan that and then you can explore the cost of living (about the same as in the UK) and housing areas whilst there.
Best of luck.
#5
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 23
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Never been to Canada just my Husband. In London we pay fees for the Kids just to get better education. Iam hoping that Canada or USA will give a better family and work balance. The houses in Canada is bigger I was told. How have you found Canada to be prons and cons. Thanks
#6
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Again, just playing devils advocate, but if you want a bigger house and to not have to pay for education, then would a move to another area of the UK achieve the same thing without the hassle of visas etc and at a much lower cost?
But plan a reccie & job hunting trip to Canada and see what you think maybe?
But plan a reccie & job hunting trip to Canada and see what you think maybe?
#7
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 23
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Is summer a good time to try and visit and work? Looking at July. I have not thought of outside London. How easy is it to set up a cafe? Thanks, you have got me thinking.
#8
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Best thing would be to come out here and have a look around. You should also factor in that moving here will likely cost you £20k+++++++. That pays for a lot of relocation in the UK.
#9
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
I would suggest you decide which country you most favour (US or Canada) once you have ascertained if you can qualify for any kind of visa to allow you to live and work there, then go and have a look at the areas you are most attracted to.
There is some good information in the wiki that may help.
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...an_Immigration
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:USA_Immigration
There is some good information in the wiki that may help.
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...an_Immigration
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:USA_Immigration
#12
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Joined: Mar 2014
Location: Mission and loving it
Posts: 464
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
I'm really confused here.
You're a family assessment officer with social services and a nutritional therapist and your husband is a project manager and a train driver. Those are a lot of very wide and varied skills / jobs. In another post, you throw in about opening a cafe too!
What jobs would you actually be looking to do in Canada?
You're a family assessment officer with social services and a nutritional therapist and your husband is a project manager and a train driver. Those are a lot of very wide and varied skills / jobs. In another post, you throw in about opening a cafe too!
What jobs would you actually be looking to do in Canada?
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Location: U.K. to Quebec
Posts: 38
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
Hello, so loving this forum. Iam 35 years and my Husband is 42 we have 3 kids 13, 10 and 5. We are British and live in London. As a family we want to move to Albreta, Edmonton, Calgary, also open to other Towns depending on where there is a job. I work as a family Assement office with Social service with over 7years exp I also trained as a Nutritional Therapist just last year. My Husband has exp in Project mangt (prince 2) he is a Train operator/ Train Driver over 10years.
What are our options as par work please. What is the best place to apply for jobs, to get work permit?
How much is renting a three or four bed house? What is a good wage? Just thought going through my mind/ head?
For Families that have made the move how is life in Canada compare to London?
Any information or exp will help.
Thanks in advance.
What are our options as par work please. What is the best place to apply for jobs, to get work permit?
How much is renting a three or four bed house? What is a good wage? Just thought going through my mind/ head?
For Families that have made the move how is life in Canada compare to London?
Any information or exp will help.
Thanks in advance.
Good luck with everything & please feel free to message me if you have any more questions.
#14
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 11
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
hey bekes
me and my family live in Vancouver BC,,,life here is very very different to the UK.
We have been in Canada now for over 4 years and still trying to make the adjustment.
what I will say is you need to know the truth, it is realy realy hard to leave everything behind and start again.
The whole adventure sounds great but in reality its not so good.
why do I say this well none of your credentials mean anything here,you have to start again and go back to school and then sit the apporopiate tests.
The NHS here is not free,,for a family of 5 we pay $138 a month and then you really need private medical cover to ccover dental and prescriptions.
Car insurance is super high around $1500 a year but if you offset it against UK fuel pieces etc then kinda breaks even.
if you need to call an ambulance there is a cost of $150
And if you fail in looking after yourself there is no safety net your on the street.
You may get people telling you how wonderfull it all is but its very different coming to Canada now than 30 years ago when house prices where cheaper and those people manages to actually make a decent living..
But on the upside your kids will have a better life and the opportunity to do whatever they like.
BC is one of the most expensive provinces so it may be better in one of the others.
But as ime constantly told BC is the best place to live...
But all expats here say that BC stands for BRING CASH and lots of it..
happy to answer anymore questions you may have if you want the real truth.
me and my family live in Vancouver BC,,,life here is very very different to the UK.
We have been in Canada now for over 4 years and still trying to make the adjustment.
what I will say is you need to know the truth, it is realy realy hard to leave everything behind and start again.
The whole adventure sounds great but in reality its not so good.
why do I say this well none of your credentials mean anything here,you have to start again and go back to school and then sit the apporopiate tests.
The NHS here is not free,,for a family of 5 we pay $138 a month and then you really need private medical cover to ccover dental and prescriptions.
Car insurance is super high around $1500 a year but if you offset it against UK fuel pieces etc then kinda breaks even.
if you need to call an ambulance there is a cost of $150
And if you fail in looking after yourself there is no safety net your on the street.
You may get people telling you how wonderfull it all is but its very different coming to Canada now than 30 years ago when house prices where cheaper and those people manages to actually make a decent living..
But on the upside your kids will have a better life and the opportunity to do whatever they like.
BC is one of the most expensive provinces so it may be better in one of the others.
But as ime constantly told BC is the best place to live...
But all expats here say that BC stands for BRING CASH and lots of it..
happy to answer anymore questions you may have if you want the real truth.
#15
Re: Help/ Guide family wanting to move to Canada
hey bekes
me and my family live in Vancouver BC,,,life here is very very different to the UK.
We have been in Canada now for over 4 years and still trying to make the adjustment.
what I will say is you need to know the truth, it is realy realy hard to leave everything behind and start again.
The whole adventure sounds great but in reality its not so good.
why do I say this well none of your credentials mean anything here,you have to start again and go back to school and then sit the apporopiate tests.
The NHS here is not free,,for a family of 5 we pay $138 a month and then you really need private medical cover to ccover dental and prescriptions.
Car insurance is super high around $1500 a year but if you offset it against UK fuel pieces etc then kinda breaks even.
if you need to call an ambulance there is a cost of $150
And if you fail in looking after yourself there is no safety net your on the street.
You may get people telling you how wonderfull it all is but its very different coming to Canada now than 30 years ago when house prices where cheaper and those people manages to actually make a decent living..
But on the upside your kids will have a better life and the opportunity to do whatever they like.
BC is one of the most expensive provinces so it may be better in one of the others.
But as ime constantly told BC is the best place to live...
But all expats here say that BC stands for BRING CASH and lots of it..
happy to answer anymore questions you may have if you want the real truth.
me and my family live in Vancouver BC,,,life here is very very different to the UK.
We have been in Canada now for over 4 years and still trying to make the adjustment.
what I will say is you need to know the truth, it is realy realy hard to leave everything behind and start again.
The whole adventure sounds great but in reality its not so good.
why do I say this well none of your credentials mean anything here,you have to start again and go back to school and then sit the apporopiate tests.
The NHS here is not free,,for a family of 5 we pay $138 a month and then you really need private medical cover to ccover dental and prescriptions.
Car insurance is super high around $1500 a year but if you offset it against UK fuel pieces etc then kinda breaks even.
if you need to call an ambulance there is a cost of $150
And if you fail in looking after yourself there is no safety net your on the street.
You may get people telling you how wonderfull it all is but its very different coming to Canada now than 30 years ago when house prices where cheaper and those people manages to actually make a decent living..
But on the upside your kids will have a better life and the opportunity to do whatever they like.
BC is one of the most expensive provinces so it may be better in one of the others.
But as ime constantly told BC is the best place to live...
But all expats here say that BC stands for BRING CASH and lots of it..
happy to answer anymore questions you may have if you want the real truth.
I always thought that the NHS was paid for by taxpayers, and so wasn't actually free. You just pay for it in a different way here. As I have said in a previous threat, a lot of employers offer extended benefits which can cover the majority of costs associated with opticians/dental/prescriptions. As for the ambulance cost, that isn't usually something that one would be needing to budget for too often now is it?
I am not sure what you mean by no safety net? .. It is usually an individuals responsibility to set aside an emergency fund or whatnot, just as it would be in the UK. Welfare really should be a last resort. There is EI (Employment Insurance) in Canada which would provide a small income depending on how many insurable hours you have worked etc. http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/index.shtml
Yes BC can be known to be expensive, especially real estate in GVRD, but there are other more affordable places to live in BC. Just as there are expensive cities in the UK and not so expensive cities in the UK.
Oh, and there is no "real truth" when emigrating. It is very much dependent on the individuals involved, how they cope with the move and how they react to their new environments. There will always be people who have better experiences than others, but that by no way means that one 'truth' is any more real than the other.