There's more than one way to achieve a visa that permits self-employment - a 3yr TWP can be issued for the same aim, with no restrictions on qualifying occupation.

Is that under the Investor or Entrepreneur class though?

I realise Quebec has a reasonably 'friendly' minimum net worth class (100,000) but thought the routes were much higher elsewhere.

If a route exists that doesn't require a high net worth and without restrictions on qualifying occupations, I stand corrected.

No, nothing to do with investor or entrepreneur class, just a regular TWP application that assesses the value to Canada of your business proposal. No minimum investment required.

Hi

I echo what people have said about the "vacation on your doorstep" type comments.

We moved over here just over 2 months ago on a TWP. The lack of holiday days were a negative point for us but not one that was a deal breaker.

What we have found is that my husband works *far* less hours than he did in the UK. He looks better and healthier than he has in years and isn't absolutely shattered every weekend. We are spending weekends doing cool stuff - far more than we did in the UK. He has made it home for 5.15pm every night bar two since he started... he was never in before 7.15pm in the UK so our family life is far better out here.

Just something for you to think about.

His new job helped, not Canada as such

Just something to think about

My wife gets the same vacation time as she did in the UK at 5 weeks a year + BH's. I'm the same in that i get around 6 weeks +BH's.

The main difference we have in Vancouver than when we lived in London is that we have easier access to "Vacation Type" stuff such as the beach in the summer, snowboarding in the winter, and we live in what we see as a quiet environment downtown.

Personally, i'd not consider moving if 2 weeks was on the table. I'm sure it'd wear thin once the rose tints and newness of the country starts to fade.

I agree with the 'don't expect it to be like the UK' comments. Life in Canada is not the same and if you are always focussing on the differences then you will find it hard to settle. I went from 7 weeks vacation in the UK to 3 weeks here and yes it was tough at first but I did get used to it. After a few years it went up to 4 weeks and now I am self employed so get no paid leave at all.

Many people from Southern Ontario go to Florida in the winter rather than the summer because it is warm there and cold here. In the summer the weather is beautiful here and so it is easier to have a mini break on the weekends - or even get out in the evenings after work. It has been my experience that people here tend to make more of their weekends, with many owning cottages north of the city and heading off every friday for a weekend on the dock.

When you live in a country as big as Canada driving long distances (as per your comment on the Ontario plates in Orlando) doesn't seem like such a big deal. I drove down to Florida last year with my 12 year old son, we were gone for 9 days and drove for 6 of them, one of the best trips ever - apart from a tiny run in with the county sheriff

That is interesting to know for sure. Is this based on your own way in? I recall reading about yourself coming over as a visitor and then going for a TWP whilst waiting for PR if I remember correctly.

I was looking for ages on the CIC website and couldn't find anything that hinted at a three year TWP though

The only thing I could find was in the manual:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resourc...w/fw01-eng.pdf

Where it mentions various LMO exempt categories - e.g. signifcant benefit and other quite specific routes such as TFW-PS (provincially selected).

You wouldn't happen to have a link to somewhere on CIC that more broadly describes the 3 year TWP you mentioned would you?

It would be a great help to increasing my understanding of the ins and outs of immigration as well as other people who could potentially benefit under that route.