Hi There,

We are new to this forum? and I would greatly appreciate advice please. We have a PR visa for Canada and I am really keen on getting there ASAP. We are from the UK and we are currently in Adelaide where my wife has a short term job and we then plan to get to Canada towards the end of the year. I know the job situation is bad worldwide, but has this deterred anyone going to Canada and have you found work? What benefits would you be entitled to in Canada when you have a PR visa - as in Australia you get house benefits and child care benefits? We are planning Victoria (ideally) or Vancouver - any advice? I am in Sales & Marketing and my wife currently works for Customs & Excise in Australia and would like to do the same in Canada?? What is short term accomodation ike?

Sorry for al the questions, but keen to get an understanding of things before arriving.

Many thanks,

Hi and welcome to the forum.

If you do a search of the forum (top right) and also have a look at the Wiki (on blue bar at top of page), then you'll find that most of your questions can be answered. There is a section in the Wiki about benefits, and there have certainly been many threads about the recession in Canada and how it's affected the job market there.

One thing to check out is whether or not your wife could work for Customs & Excise in Canada - I know the majority of government jobs require applicants to be citizens rather than just PR's. So she may need to rethink her career out there, but do look into that.

When did you land i.e. how long do you have before you actually have to be in Canada? I guess that may influence your decision and peoples advice to you.

Best of luck.

Many thanks for your response. I will spend some time going through the search menu and Wiki menu and browse the threads.
We have been in Australia for 5 months - and we are able to stay and gain PR status if we meet certain criteria, but I have a yearning for Canada as i have spent alot of time there. I will check out with the emigration company we used about state /federal govt jobs - it is a good point.
I am guessing we'll be there back end of this year maybe early next - but if a job opportunity arises sooner.....................who knows!

Hi and welcome to the site

I know a British Customs Officers with PR who has applied to the Canada Border Services Agency and was turned down. When he applied you only needed to have PR however he was turned down as the CBSA said preference would be given to Canadian Citizens. This was 12 months a go !!!!!

Good luck and I hope you wife has more success

Sam

So when did you actually land to activate your PR visa for Canada? Just trying to figure out how much time you've got before you have to be there.

Essentially, none.

Victoria is a government town. There are way more job opportunities in Vancouver.

There are always opportunities for good sales people. It is not impossible to get work with the Canada Revenue Agency but don't rely on it. They don't have so many vacancies at the moment because people hold on to Government jobs in a recession. Your OH should also look at other opportunities if she needs to work sooner rather than later.

It depends what you mean by short-term. The vast majority of available rental accommodation is unfurnished and rented for a minimum one year period. Week to week furnished is also available but it is expensive.

Check craiglist in the vancouver section for short term rentals.

Hi there,

Thans for all your responses - really helpful. We activated our visa in May 08 and were told in order to keep PR status we have to be in canada for 730 days (2yrs) out the first 5yrs of entry.

Your advice is greatly appreciated. We will investigate in more detail regarding revenue/border control work. Thanks for the clarity on the benefits, as we were told by immigration when we landed that we were entitled to benefits (child) as a PR immediately??!! Similar here in Oz - various answers given by various departments.

There are no child benefits, only child tax benefit, which is based on the preceding years tax return, you have not earned (or filed) you cannot claim, no housing benefit, medical benefit based on preceding years tax return for low income (can claim for exceptional circumstances), otherwise premiums have to be paid. Canada is not the welfare state that the UK is. There is a welfare system, but you have to pretty much be homeless and penniless to get it. Unemployment benefit based on the contributions made, for a first claim have to have worked something like 930 hours in the past 12 months to qualify, then it is limited to contributions made.

Don't depend on govt handouts on arrival, if you cannot support your family for at least 6 months consider your move carefully.

As far as government jobs are concerned, many have to be advertised to the general population, but often are already filled internally. It can take many years and determination to get into some govt positions.

I hope never to claim anything, as we have never done so in the UK neither in Australia. But we have met many PR status people here in Oz who get all the benefits of an Australian citizen (with the exceptioon of unemployment benefit).
We are liking life in Australia, but I love Canada and as we have PR status I don't want to lose that opportunity - as to stay in Oz we have to meet certain criteria etc, etc.....
What about medical/Doctors. Here in Australia we get medicare under the recipricol agreement with the UK - meaning all hospital/Doctors visits we pay for but get about 80% of the fee back. They do advise private medical health for ambulance cover/dentistry/physio etc - what does PR status in Canada entitle you too?

Also, generally speaking, do any of you have any regrets about moving to Canada - the beauty of the country and politeness of the people is second to none - but recession aside, are you happy?

Hi ,when you say no benefits what do you mean? What of the 100 dollars the govt gives for each child under the age of 6?

We have never claimed benefits in the UK nor here in Australia - I was just enquiring as we have met many poms here in Adelaide who have PR status and they get child benefits and housing benefits from the minute they arrived - and I was keen to understand the state of play in Canada - as we have PR status for there.

Also, can anyone shed light on the medical system in Canada? Here in OZ, as a UK migrant on a provisional visa, we get medicare under the reciprocal agreement with the UK - so any hospital/doctor visits we have,we pay for, but get back about 80% of the costs. They advise us to get private med ins. to cover dentistry and physio etc.

Our dilemma is we can stay here in Adelaide (which is tempting............it is very nice)and get PR status in 2yrs time by meeting certain criteria etc, etc....but we have been to canada many more times, love the country and people...........................................t o any newbies in canada (as they call it in Oz!)...................do you have any regrets (recession aside) about making the move to Canada?

Ah yes the "beer and popcorn money" just remember you get taxed on that.

There is some explanation of child benefits in the wiki here.

The medical system is run by each province. There are minor differences between the provinces. Essentially all Canadian residents are required to join the provincial health care scheme. This entitles you to free consultations and treatment by a GP, other doctor or specialist and free hospital treatment if medically necessary. Some provincial health care schemes are free (e.g. Alberta), others charge a premium (e.g. $108.00 a month per family in BC).

There are private hospitals and clinics for non medically necessary treatments. Dentistry and orthodontics are private, as are many other secondary services and prescription drugs are at market cost. Many employers offer benefit packages that include insurance that covers the majority of these private services.

Once again, there is a lot more information in the wiki. Here ...

Regrets about moving to Canada? Not a single one.