Hi Group

Recently joined Forum. Going to NS (Fingers crossed) on the Provincial Nominee Program - Business Class

Timeline:

App: September 2004
AOR: November 2004
Med req: December 2004

Thought I'd introduce myself and perhaps pick up some tips regarding landing, fresh from UK, bags and kids under arm, in Halifax.

Have visited a few times and am planning to settle in Lawrencetown.

Any help gratefully received.

Hi there, I moved over in January this year and am very happily settled in Lawrencetown. It really makes a refreshing change to hear of someone else wanting to settle here rather than the other side of Halifax. How old are the kids? My two are 8 and 6 years and have settled in fabulously at school and are coming on leaps and bounds. They have a social life that is enough to put my younger single life to shame!!! What part of Lawrencetown are you looking at?

Hi UKJo. Great to hear from you.

I last visited in August, I had to go for interviews with NS government officials, and found a great property in the Keltic Gardens Sub-division which I made an offer on.

I just wanted a bit of space yet not too far from Downtown and it seemed ideal. A lovely two acre plot.

I have two daughters, one 12 (going on 20!!!) and a noisy 8 year old. I think my realtor said Ross Road was the nearest school for both.

So how do you like the area?

Was it easy to adjusted to NS life?

Did the kids settle OK, school and all?

Was it a nightmare getting Social Security numbers, credit history, paperwork etc?

Hey we must really keep in contact. My daughter is 8 and my step daughter is 12 also going on 20 (do we have the same kids????lol) Ross Road is a good school but my son and daughter both go to Atlantic View just down the road. My step daughter lives in the passage so goes to one there. Have you checked the school board website to make sure it is ross road as the boundaries out our way are funny http://www.hrsb.ns.ca/ . We havent had any major problems with them settling in at school. As they start a year later you may find that your girls are ahead of their age group so I asked them to put the elder one up a grade and after them kicking up a bit they agreed that thanks to the Uk system she was actually more advanced so went into grade4 this year.

Credit history etc - I went into the bank (my husband is Canadian so I do have an unfair advantage in a lot of things) and they gave me a visa card with husband as 2nd cardholder so I could build up my credit.

SIN number - ask me that in a few weeks as I am in the Uk at the moment and my PR cards have only just arrived back in Canada so I will sort that out next week.

Paperwork - All I can say is you will end up with writers cramp but you will know the ins and outs of the paperwork and you will do it all in your sleep!!!

All 3 of us have settled in well and we totally adore Seaforth where we are. It is a fantastic place to bring kids up. When are you looking at coming over?

HI there

we are also going to NS, fall river area, just outside halifax. We hope to be there around june time next year. Going through skilled workers route, yours is alot quicker, good luck to you. I guess if your going to lawerencetown then Ukjo is the one to speak to, but keep in touch with all the guys going to NS, there are a few of us. Where in uk are you?

I'm back over at some point end of January (haven't arranged flights yet) for the completion of the house purchase, just for a few days.

I expect to move over with the family either Feb or March, dependent on visa issue.

Thanks for the web site link for the schools. Yes, its Ross Road then Cole Harbour when they're older.

I remember Seaforth, it was lovely. When I was over last I followed the 207 to Seaforth, there was a thirteen plot, two acre each, site for development that jutted out into the sea that had just gone on the market. The agent was just hammering in the sale boards. Really excellent location!

Interesting you mentioned that most people look to buy the other side of Halifax. I must admit, I didn't like that side as much. Bedford was quite nice, Purcells Cove was OK but I don't think, for me, you could beat Lawrencetown/ Seaforth/ Porters Lake area.

Let's just hope I feel the same once I'm there and settled!

Hi Wensamjam

Sorry, I didn't see your response till after I sent my last to UKjo.

Fall River, Just up the road!!!

Yes you're right, this PNP process is alot faster but WOW! You really pay for it!!

Its an expensive way of emigrating but hopefully pays off.

Have you been waiting long?

What made you pick Fall River?

Hi,
you just might get a bit swamped with messages so don't panic about replies!
Welcome to you and you should feel confident that NS is a good place to head. We can't wait (but just have too).
We are a couple of months behind Wensamjim and hope to be in the Annapolis Valley near Wolfville next Summer. Skilled worker route but may take a Student Visa to get us settled if we don't hear in time!
Somebody has just got to throw another Scotian BBQ!
Look forward to hearing more from you

Hi BH PNP,

we received AOR in Jan 04, so we think about Feb time will hear for medicals, put application in Sep 2003, long process. How is it expensive doing the pnp way?

We chose Fall river mainly as it had everything we wanted, rural, but close enough to town. Has lakes, forests and not far from sea, also has a good communtiy feel to it. Going over after done medicals to look at buying new house. I have a sister who lives in Dartmouth, so she will only be 10 mins away. I think it will be a great place to bring up our 4 year old son.

The NS Prov Nom Program for Business Immigrate is a scheme whereby you must have experience of management or have owned your own business for the last five years and you must "Invest" (give, without return) C$128,000 that is invested in a Company of your choice that employs you, the applicant, for a period of six months.

Once accepted onto the scheme by Nov Scotia, the immigration process takes about 6 months from submission of application at the Canadian High Commission to receiving visas (Assuming no problem with Med/ Sec check).

The quote on London web site timeline for Prov Nom is something like 30% in 5 months, 50% in 6 months.

So, fast but $$$$$.

Hi BH

Welcome to the forum, You have already met the usual suspects from NS I see.... Although with UKJO in the UK at present i guess i am the only true Nova Scotian posting.

We landed back in March and also came via the PNP route (long story and will PM you with it one day) We curently live in Halifax (10 mins from downtown) and have tatally fallen for this place.

Feel free to PM me so we can exchange email addresses it's a lot easier to fire questions off via email....

FTR we did our meds on Dec 21st 2003 and had the visa's in hand late Feb so it will not be long now!!!

Ian

Torticat

Thanks for the info. Have replied.

Hi Wendy

We are moving to Nova Scotia in Feb 2005. It was really interesting to read about your reasons for moving to Fall River as they are exactly the same as ours!! It is good to see someone else agrees. My bother lives in Dartmouth. We have a four year old daughter and a baby boy. Fall River seems an ideal place for bringing up the kids- and walking the dog! We will also be house hunting in Feb. Might see you around (hopefully not viewing and wanting the same house!).

Suzanne.

Hi Suzanne,

blimey can't believe how similar we are, when do you actually go to NS?
sent you pm.

This looks to me like an Fall River ex pats community developing here. With the Boonies as an annex!
You guys will be playing cricket on the school playing fields before next Summer is out!

Welcome to the forum Bolty!