Is Canada right for us?
 

We are looking to emigrate from the UK. Here is our current situation:

- Co-habiting Couple
- Male, 27, Senior ICT Technician (Qualified at Diploma Level, MCP, MCSA, ITIL)
- Female, 30, Nursery Nurse (Qualified at Diploma Level, also a qualified Holistic Therapist)
- Daughter, 19 months
- £17,000 savings
- Own a property which we are letting out
- Currently living in rented accommodation
- No family ties
- No debts, credit cards or CCJ's

We are both really keen on moving to Canada or Australia, having done some research, Australia seems a little bit expensive, but has a better climate.

We are looking for a fresh start & to provide our daughter with a better standard of life than the UK would offer.

I'd like to know what your thoughts would be on the following:

1. Would we be accepted into Canada?

2. Would we be able to find work in our fields?

3. Is the lifestyle lightyears ahead of the UK?

4. Would we be able to afford to have a decent standard of living?

We are very careful with money, we don't keep up with the Jones' & only live to our needs.

Thank you for reading

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

AX

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Hi
It is very difficult to answer your questions, as people differ, as do what they like and their aspirations. Canada is vast and you would need to research all the provinces and do some visits to get a feel for the places yourself.

There is no corner cutting here I am afraid. As for the job situation...many have said that they have found it difficult to break into the same field, especially in IT.

The other main thing to consider is whether your job is on the list of needed occupations as published by CHC. Or.... you will need to approach employers and if you are lucky enough to get a job offer, that company would need to jump through some hoops in order to employ you.

Many would not want to bother unless your job was in a niche market and they could not find the skills in Canada.

Presumably you would be looking for Permanent Residence? There are also student visa routes and you would probably still be of an age for BUNAC, which is only for a year. Then there is temp Work permits, have a look at the Wiki on the blue bar at the top of the page.

What I would say to anyone who is considering a move abroad is: "Would you want to be sat in an old folks home in your dotage and wish you had given it a go?" If you go and don't like it...you come back. Yes it would have been an expensive exercise, but it is only money at the end of the day.
Hope this helps and Good luck, whatever you decide
lol
Stef

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Not if you want to have your daughter growing up with the opportunity to do snow sports.

Canada can be right for you- but there will be hardwork in finding the right part of Canada to move too. Then there will be a difficult few months settling in whilst you pin down work. The standard of living question often come's down to income and that can be a big problem for immigrants in a job market that is very much driven by who you know.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

I wouldn't say there's anything in particular wrong with our standard of life, we are comfortable money wise, live in a nice 3 bed semi in a quite cul-de-sac & have average paid jobs.

We've just become frustrated with this country with regards to the laws & regulations, the UK tends to help people have nothing or people who have a lot, but anyone just scraping above nothing, gets no help.

Also, I believe the UK is far too over populated & being a member of the EU means our boarder controls will never be as good as Australia (for example). The prediction is for a population of 70 million by 2020, which would mean that 4-5 more cities would need to be built in the UK the size of Birmingham (relating my facts on a Panaroma program I saw recently). The UK just can't fit that many people in without the standard of living going down.

Just having a bigger house & not being so cramped is attractive enough to reason for us to move.

Looking at the comment from your post AX, I get the sense that our jobs wouldn't be that valued. I know too well that there are a lot of IT Technicians around, a lot it happens to be said have no qualifications & in a market like we are living in at the moment, they are the ones that would struggle to find work.

I check the list of jobs by the CHC about 6 months ago & the only wanted I.T. role was in Management, a path I will follow in the near future.

We've been looking at the South-East of Canada. I don't know if that would be the right part to move too?

A good standard of life for us would be, peaceful surroundings, close to beautiful scenary, good educational facilities & health care, nearby amenities & somewhere that has a relatively low crime rate & friendly people. Somewhere we could settle down as a family & help our children lead sucessfull healthy lifes.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

1. Would we be accepted into Canada?

If you pass this, then yes.

2. Would we be able to find work in our fields?

Yes.

3. Is the lifestyle lightyears ahead of the UK?

That depends on you, where you move, and what your interests are. There are probably more possiblities for a unique lifestyle here than in the UK.

4. Would we be able to afford to have a decent standard of living?

That depends on you, where you move, and what your interests are. :)

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Hi there.

It's for pretty much for the same reasons you have quoted that we decided we wanted to leave the UK too. We have two children and wanted a better standard of living/future for them and I believe we have that here.

I can't comment on your job prospects etc - I really have no idea with regard to either of your fields.

Like someone else said, Canada is a vast country and, as such, varies so much from province to province with regard to standard of living, scenery, amenities etc etc. I can only really comment on the area that we live, which is just outside Calgary in Alberta. We have a good standard of living, better than what we had in the UK. Yes, we have a big house (far bigger than what we really need to be honest) for pretty much the same money that we sold our small three bed semi for in the UK. We find education and healthcare all good here. Everyone seems to be friendly and welcoming and we have met a lot of new friends, both Brits and Canadians. We find the pace of life generally a bit slower and more chilled which we like. We have easy access to both the city and the mountains.

I know you also mentioned climate. In this part of the country we get very hot summers. Yes, the winters can be cold but, personally, we don't find that a problem - you just dress accordingly. This past winter was rarely really cold and we didn't even have that much snow. I think I only had to shovel our driveway a handful of times throughout the whole winter. We rarely get rain and it's nearly always a sunny blue sky here. Because of the proximity to the mountains, we sometimes get chinook winds which can give you warm, almost summer like temperatures even in the winter time. Certainly this past winter, I think we had a fairer winter that the UK!

Like someone else said, in Canada, your daughter would have the opportunity to participate in winter sports too. My daughter has done skiing and skating with her school and loves it. OK, here in Alberta, we may not have the vast beaches of Austrailia but, in the summer, there's plenty of lovely lakes to swim in, some of which do in fact have beaches!

I agree, you will need to do lots of research (and recee trips!) to find an area (or country) that suits you. I guess a lot may depend on where you think you will have better prospects with regard to work too.

Anyway, good luck and all the best with whichever and wherever! :fingerscrossed:

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

If you have ask this question in a public forum, then you may want to question whether immigration is a good choice.

Australia has a different climate, whether it is better or not is subjective. Personally, a few days at a time in Australia was always enough for me.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

I agree with ax's first post. However....

i) You do seem to be making a big deal about immigration in your reasoning; I'm not going to question your motives because I don't really care - you definitely should though. We see 'for the kids' loads on here and, I for one, am quite cynical about that as a motivation for emigrating.

ii) Unless you have a lot of equity you are going to find the cost of housing expensive if only one of you has a job. In fact, in your position I wouldn't move without at least one decent income secured first. 17,000 doesn't buy that many dollars right now.

iii) Healthcare isn't 100% free. If it's not provided by your employer it's a significant cost.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

I thought it differed by Province - hasn't Alberta abolished the premiums?
I'm thinking of BC so not really looked into it for Alberta, but thought so from a Dr I spoke to.

Anyway to the OP - worth googling the healthcare by province to understand what is covered / not & how the premiums work.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Thank you. :rofl:

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

You may want to read this - http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...74#post8505674

Other than question 1, nobody will be able to answer your other questions i'm afraid, other than yourself. That can take lots of research, time, and expense.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

I couldn't agree more. Everybody has such questions and the only way you can answer the questions other than number 1, is to get out here... So here are 3 suggestions for you:

Suggestion 1 - do as much research as you can, sell up and move out. This is the highest risk but most convenient if you end up loving it out here.

Suggestion 2 - do basic research and get out here without diminishing your options in UK

Suggestion 3 - if you don't feel comfortable taking risks then stay put.

The only way you can answer your questions is by coming out here. There's a limit to how much your research will help you predict whether you'll like it.

Your first question is a really important one. Just a word of caution. Many expats came out as skilled workers. However it's a lengthy and expensive process. And after all of this some find they don't like it and don't stay long.

So my suggestion to you with all other things considered is to see if either of you would qualify for a work permit. Work permits are granted for a specific job with a specific employer, where there are no local people suitable. It is quite a bit of work for the employer, but it's relatively inexpensive, and will get you and your partner out here really quickly. WPs are immensely risky though, and very restrictive. But the good thing about them is that the person who is granted a work permit can request an open work permit for their partner. The partner is then free to work in many roles without pre-arranging employment. I believe childcare may require your partner to get a medical and quite possibly police checks.

One survival strategy would be to have the person who's earning potential is more limited to get the work permit. The other person's increased earning potential combined with the open work permit would minimize the risk and increase chance of financial survival.

I would suggest you combine the work permit route with suggestion 2 above. Sounds like you have a bit of a financial cushion, perfectly adequate for doing this kind of thing. Your challenge is finding a job whereby an employer is prepared to go through the work permit admin. That's tough without you being here, so perhaps consider having a holiday in Canada and seeing what interest there is in either of you.

You should also check out the BUNAC work visa. I'm not sure on the age requirements for this though.

Once you've made some decisions, use this and other resources as much as you can. But however much you do, you're always going to be taking a big risk. The question comes down to whether you're comfortable with this or not.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

It's not so much the premiums but what you have to pay for. Prescriptions, physiotherapy, counselling, psychologists, anything other than a plaster of Paris cast for a #, crutches, birth control, hearing aids, eye tests...

I'm still laughing at the 'life style' being light years ahead. :rofl:

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Just as an addendum, the costs you cannot predict or plan for in Canada do tend to be much higher than in UK. You will need to consider this and maintain a large financial shock absorber. Depending on where you live, and the cards that life throws at you here, Canada can be absurdly expensive to have even a modest lifestyle. Most Canadians don't seem to have lavish lifestyles and unless you're really lucky you'll find struggling to make ends meet on a continual basis, part of life here. But sounds like your common sense and frugality may put you in a good position to survive.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Whilst not disagreeing with the warnings of previous posters the above is certainly available n parts of Canada.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

And also in parts of the UK. ;)

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Have you actually ever been to Canada? if not then i strongly suggest a reccie when the flights are good and the exchange rate is abit better........

I have heard stories of people immigrating before even visiting the place and after selling up, giving up good jobs a comfortable lifestyle and the cost involved in immigrating, hating it in Canada and having to return a few months later....

Only you and your partner can decide if this move is right or not for you.....

MR79

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Are you ever going to move over ?!?!?!

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

It's interesting listening to each & every post, each one valid in it's own right.

I have a friend/ex-colleague who packed up & moved over with his wife to Calgary last year & he says things are going well for him, they have just bought a house & he's settling into his new job. I know every situation is different though.

I have another work colleague that has moved to Perth, Australia & they sound like they are making it work too.

I agree with what people are saying, that what I am looking for in life the UK already has that to offer. This is true & I could quite happily remain here & lead the life I want. But I know what the future has too offer in the UK & I have a feeling that the UK's economy & prospects will never reach those of countries like USA/Canada/Australia & China.

I have never been to Canada, the furthest I've ever strayed away from home is Greece :rofl: With money being tight, I couldn't afford too many trips to Canada to check the place out too much. But I agree, I think I need to at least venture there once to see what the country is like on the ground.

I think I also need to take my career down a speciality that is sort after too. My friend moved to Canada with a Business Degree in Management & has fitted into a Project Management role in the Health Sector.

I wish I had thought of doing this when I was 18, single & care free. It gets more risky the older & more committed you get.

Thank you for all your comments, I look forward to posting more on this site in future, it seems a great community.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Think of it as £400 for a flight over and doing a reccie 1st to see even if you like it or not OR £20000 plus on immigrating there without not having been before, not knowing where to live etc.................

Good luck and all the best......keep us posted on your progress......

MR79

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

The OP would seem to want a numbingly ordinary lifestyle but I wonder what this means. What "unique lifestyle" is more sustainable in one country than the other? I suppose a polygamist ice sculpture carver would have a hard time in the UK, due to legal and climatic problems, but then a nudist fashion designer would be out of luck in Canada, due to climatic issues and the lack of fashions.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

i can't really help with your job situation, but maybe I can help you on the more general stuff

i'm australian, moved to canada (and want to stay), and i'm also a frequent visitor to the uk since im half english.

as for general day to day living, australia and canada feel pretty much the same. they are way closer to each other than either is to the uk. in canada, there is probably more of a difference from province to province than there is in australia from state to state.

as for climate, i prefer canada, since i get to ski here 6 months of the year. but its really a personal thing. just remember that it might sound awesome to have 4 or 5 months of 25 degree+ weather. but its not so awesome when you're going to work in a suit and its 35 degrees out there. but yeah... its a personal thing. either climate beats the uk - if i'm going for a cold climate i'd rather snow than rain

i feel like australian employers are probably more in tune with british qualifications and experience than canadian employers are. there are a ton of brits over there.

affordability is probably about the same. although i noticed when i went back to sydney last month that things are getting pretty expensive, although maybe i just never realized how expensive they were before. i think in either country if you're earning approx $100k between you that is enough for a "decent" standard of living. but i'd think an IT guy and a nurse could probably do a bit better than that

hope this helps

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

For what it's worth, my opinion is that people get too philosophical over these issues. Emigration need not be forever, it is a great experience to spend at least a part of your life in a different country. Everywhere has it's pros and cons. But don't fall into the trap of letting it become a Canada vs. UK issue. Countries are supposed to be different. Diversity makes the World interesting. Better to try than look back down the road and say "I wish I had gone to...." Some find it better, some do not. It is basically up to you.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Suck it and see. Reccie trips seem like a good idea but their value is limited. Save the money, avoid burning your ties to UK and get out here. Use this site to work out a place you think you might want to live, and find work.

It's a bit of a lottery though. Many here will go on and on about having the right attitude, fitting in with the Canadian way of doing things etc etc. But you'll need a good dose of luck to survive.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Wollongong, Port, Coffs, Orange and Armidale are pretty nice in summer, but yeah the rest of Australia can be pretty hot during the summer months.

My only gripe about the winter in Canada is the ice and snow which makes driving/walking very difficult.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

This is a very good way to look at it, and some very valid points John009has rasied there.....emmigration to most does means the intention of "forever" but no one is taking away your British citizenship when you leave Blighty's shores. Its free to return there anytime you please.

I feel its best to come to Canada with a complete open mind and expect change, just because its differnt does that make it wrong? there will be things you miss, but you should be more than prepared for that, for some strange reason some people think everything will be the same....and being different as John009 said is what makes different countries so interesting, there will be many new and great experiences to find out and explore, that will make up for what you miss, experiences that will never be discovered if you never live here, and hold that what if thought instead.

However I will say i have spoke to quite a few long term expats and altho they call Canada their permanent home now, some never feel truly part of it, but would not feel at home in the UK either, theyre sort of somewhere in the mid Altantic....in limbo.....I suppose thats what spawns the so many ping pongers, and I can see how that happens.

Paul

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

I definately agree, moving over would certainly have to be done with a very open mind & I think I am ready for that. I'm sure Canada will have plenty more good things that I like about it than bad.

Growing up watching movies from the US/Canada, I always looked at the streets, houses & cars & wished that I lived there, sounds daft I know.

I took the online test & scored a 72, pass mark being 67. I guess I should carry on to the next stage :-S

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Be careful with forming your opinions from movies. A Canadian brought up watching British movies might be disappointed when, on finally travelling to Europe, learning that he was not actually permitted to mow down Germans in a hail of machine-gun fire.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

Imagine how a Canadian brought up on a diet of 'Warlord' comics would feel?
"Eat hot lead Fritz, AAiiiieeeee, Achtung Spitfeur, Time vor you to die Tommi Atkins" etc etc.

Re: Is Canada right for us?
 

The Krauts went "Arrghh!" and "Urgghh!" - it was the Nips that went "Aiiiee!!"