Can I just add to my story that when we landed at Halifax we were given a 3 year WP which was fantastic - OH job offer was permenant position. However, if you are given a WP for less time and PR hasn't come through by the end of it then you simply apply to have your WP extended.

We were also flexible as to where to move to in Canada. We had only visited Ontario and had only ruled out a few places (eg Vancouver too expensive for housing). Each time a job was advertised we researched the area for location, affordability, amenities, etc, then applied.

We also paid to fly out ouselves for the job interview. Although the company was keen they were not forthcoming in asking OH to come over for an interview. They are a relatively small company and had never hired a foreign national before. So in the end we bit the bullet and told then we were flying out for a short holiday. It did the trick! He got offered the job at his interview.

It may have also helped that we had an Immigration Consultant who guided the company through the steps.

Hi, We did the same, sold our house two years ago and live in rented so we could have the funds ready for moving and house purchase over there. It was the best decision. The equity, though not as much as many emigrate with, makes more in interest than we pay rent per year and we don't have the worries of having to invest in a home we are going to move from. Hopefully it will make it easier to move too as we aren't attached to this place and know that we have to move at some point anyway. So, wise decision.

We have both been constantly applying for jobs for about a year and things don't seem to have altered even though we have PR status. It really does seem that in many cases you have to be there to be considered. Remember that many employers won't want to pay a relocation package so I've put in all of my recent application letters that I'm not looking to place any incumbents on potential employers, such as relocation packages etc. Hopefully this will make them look more favourably upon me as a suitable candidate.

We have two children and it would be foolish of us to move across without at least one of us having a job of some kind. So, whilst theoretically we can move today if we want to, we are holding fire as long as we can (we have to be there by May 08) to ensure that we have enough income to make the settlement as easy as possible.

Keep trying. I'm trying to remain positive but once you're in the rented home you will feel as though a weight has been lifted. We did.

Likewise, we sold up and rented from November 2006. We used part of the proceeds to buy a property in Canada.

The net result is that we can go at 1 month's notice - just as soon as the PPRs arrive.

Simon & Laura

Thank you everybody for the advice and information. It's always nice to hear other people's experiences.

I can't speak for anybody else, but sometimes it can feel a little lonely waiting for the treasured visa. While our family and friends get on with their lives, it's hard to stop focusing solely on Canada, and occasionally you can't see the wood for the trees.

BE has been an invaluable source of help, and I'll keep reading other people's stories and hoping that we end up as successful as many on here...

Wow, 800 emails! There's no doubt that, just like direct mail, if you send enough out you will get some response. Although I used the exact oposite tactic and approached only one employer in order to secure an offer (after all you only need one offer!). In case it helps, this was my approach:

- from a long list of possible employers, I identified the one who I felt was most likely to offer me a job (NOT the job I most wanted but the employer that I thought would give me the best chance of success)

- that meant the company had to a) be in almost exactly the same business/industry that I was working in previously; b) have a vacancy at a suitable level that that had been advertising for quite some time and obviously hadn't managed to fill; c) be likely to be interested in skills/experience that I could offer and other Canadian applicants couldn't (which in this case was a desire to expand internatiaonally and have someone who had knowledge of non-Canadian markets)

- after identifying the "perfect target" I approached carefully first with a long email to the CEO and then follow-up phonecall. When I spoke to them I made sure that through my research I knew a fair bit about their company and was able to talk intelligently about some of their current issues (you can find out almost anything if you spend enough time on the web searching). Then I offered to fly out (at my own expense) for an interview. There was a lot of careful courting during the whole process but I did get offered the job.

So, as an alternative to the scatter-gun approach, try doing REALLY thorough research to identify your #1 employer to target and your chance of success will be much much higher than just sending of CVs to anywhere.

Yeah NSPaul - 800 emails - he sure was determined (or should I say desperate)! Treated it like a second job. However, being a computer person it didn't take long to do once the posh-mail-merge-thingie was set up. It was across 2 provinces also.

I guess your approach depends on what skills you have to sell - whether you are in demand, have specific regional or product experience etc etc - plus how good you are at marketing yourself. Once Hubby had his year's experience he approached a few other employers in much the way you have suggested - ie a very targeted approach after much research. He got interviews and offers from all three that time so I agree that works too.

One thing, from my own personal experience that didn't work for me, answering job vacancy adverts - not one reply from upwards of 50 applications. Just been a waste of my time - though again, it may work for some people. Working for myself now.