We're currently at the early stages of looking into a move to Canada. My hubbie is a lorry driver and has done the online assessment.

We've had e-mails back from a law firm who say that they will help us for $4000. Is this a good deal or should we go it alone? The firm say they have an ongoing contract with an employer in LLoydsville, Atlanta and that as well as setting up job interviews etc, they can get us someone to help with schools for the kids and landlords etc.

All advice greatly appreciated. It's a big step! :scared:

Atlanta isn't in Canada. Do you mean Alberta?

I do mean Alberta!!!! I was watching something on TV and they mentioned Atlanta....oops!

Do you think it's a legit deal or are they making money out of naive dream-chasers?

PROBABLY the second one.

sorry

So, does anyone know of any major trucking employers in Alberta that this firm may be referring to? I could then try a direct approach.

Your best bet woudl be to fly out there and check out the companies and areas yourself. It would enable you to find out if the areas are what you expect them to be, will enable you to begin your networking and should enable you to come away with a job offer - all for less than the fees being charged by this lawyer

Seems to me to be a win - win situation

I've timed this really badly haven't I?!! As I work in a school, I've almost had 6 weeks off and could have planned the family holiday around this instead of being stuck at home dodging the thunderstorms! . At this rate, the next time we will be able to go is next easter.... I have no patience... i want to go now!

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This may not be ideal but....couldn't hubby go out for a quick recce trip (it is very easy to make contacts and then maintaining them or expanding them from this side of the pond would not be too difficult) or couldn't you both go out in the half term break

The bit about getting schools sorted, SIN cards, Health cards, accommodation, finding a car, getting insurance and that kind of stuff ..... there are realtors over here who will help you with all that for free!

I'd be very wary of any immigration firm offering employment assistance, and $4k seems a lot anyway. Paying wont save you having to do all the leg work gathering documents, letters and other "evidence" etc anyway, and might be a waste of money unless you have a complicated background, or a serious aversion to form filling.

As Morwenna says, a good realtor will help you with schools, landlords etc for free.

Alberta is booming. It cant be too hard to get a trucking job once you get here.

I would do it yourself. We had a look at going through a firm and think its a rip off. Once you get your head round it all its easy enough to get your head round everything, and any doubts you can always ask people on here. I would save your money and use it for something useful when you do get to Canada.
Like people have said try get out there and visit companies for a job or send CV off to as many companies as you can find on the job sites.
Good luck

Hi,

Save your money and have a recce trip, get a Resume done for your hubby, quite a bit different to a CV. Get on the net and search the job listings, with a bit of luck you may get a job and get HRSD apporved. Have you checked to see if your hubby can get Provincial nominee? I don't know anything about that route, but may be worth a look.

We are paying so called immigration specialists and so far we have done everything ourselves, including finding out the real truth compared to what they tell us!! You still have to fill in the paperwork/get the job/get your SIN number/driving licence etc and it's all pretty straight forward!

Seems absolutely extortionate to me - Alberta and I think also the rest of Canada are desperate for truck drivers ( I read somewhere that the equivalent of 70,000 trucks are not being driven) so you ight find you're beating them off with a stick!!

I would def suggest hubby going out on reccy if you can't both go - you'd be amazed at what you can cook up in a week or two!!

Good luck and do as much as you can yourself - lots of advice here that will help you along the way

iaink is right - they're crying out for truckers here. My son used to work at a gas station that services the Trans-Canada, so he met and chatted with lots of truckers. They were all saying how desperately the firms needed drivers.

Try this link - it shows companies hiring by province:

http://www.canadiantruckers.com/abhiring.html

If you google "Alberta trucking" you'll find loads of useful sites.