Hello, I am in the early process of looking into moving to Canada. I am thinking of the Vancouver district. We will be going over there for a general holiday and look around next year. What I am after is any useful info on where to start, stay, look at etc. Applications have not been made. On that subject I am a British citizen, my wife is Irish and of my 3 children 1 has a UK passport the other 2 Irish passports. All my own children. We now live in the Republic of Ireland. On the job front, I work on an oil rig at various locations around then world. Where I live would not matter so I would be keeping my Job. My children are 10, 8 and 6. My wife fancies Oz but I think Canada is the best bet. Looking at houses on the net the Maple ridge area looks pretty good? Obviously no commute for me as I do 4weeks on / off. On that subject would my wife we Ok while I am at work. I hope someone can help. Thanks.

Before you start worrying about where to live etc, you need to figure out if you'll be eligible for a visa or not. From what you've said, you or your wife will have to get a job offer first so may have to live wherever you can find work rather than being able to choose.

Have a read of this which should help you understand the visa/immigration side of things and see how you need to go about getting a visa - http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Canada

Thanks for the reply. Reading the link you attached it does not look to good then as I will not be giving up my job. I grossed 180,000 Canadian last year and I can't see me getting that in Canada in a new career. I will make a few phone calls and see what the general feedback will be. Maybe they will happy with the tax off me.

To apply, CIC don't care where you are living, if you qualify you qualify. However, how do you intend to maintain your 730 days in Canada every 5 years if you do not work for a Canadian company.

I currently act for a client who is a roughneck in northern Alberta. He is 21 and he grosses more than the figure you referred to above.

I thought you said you were keeping your current job? Do you mean the tax is an issue?

No the tax is not an issue and I would get Over 800 days in Canada over 5 years. What I am saying about the job is reading the application details you have to have a canadian job lined up before moving over there. My company has an office in Canada so maybe I can use that address and qualify. Money is not the issue I just like my job and will not want to leave.

You don't have to have a job lined up if your occupational experience is listed under the list of 38 restricted occupations list.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLish/immigra...structions.asp

These not fit the bill?

8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
9212: Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities

I dont understand why not giving up your job is such a big issue, why dont you apply to work on the rigs in alberta or Saskatchewan, you'd probably be on a fairly similar wage.

Does not matter who you work for from a tax perspective. If you are a Canadian tax resident you'll have to pay tax to CRA regardless.

That is true about the Alberta oil industry, I will look into it. Although I am very happy in the job I have now. Work I hope would not be too much of an issue the main thing would be getting the family settled and with me being away a lot, that they are all happy. Looks like a long road ahead.! Thanks for the replys.

I see your point about it not mattering where you live as you travel to your work 4 on 4 off, but not sure how you would persuade Canadian Immigration to let your family settle here.

Friends of ours, the guy works for BP and got over here on temporary work permit, then they applied for permanent residence. Later he had a job way overseas and was away for a month at a time (Uzbechistan or somewhere?)and the family stay here of course. Now he's actually working back in Alberta, and they have their citizenship now anyway.

It's how you go about getting your foot in the door is the question ..... I'm sure if you could get registered with a Canadian branch you'd be part-way there .....

If your wife thinks Oz is more attractive then that's your first hurdle anway!

Oz is more attractive thats why alot more Brits move there over Canada.

Not an objective response.

However don't bother to elaborate we've been through this discussion so many times already it's now tiresome.

I disagree - lets get rae along to discuss sharks.

Objective? NO
Objectionable? Many are feeling that way about this poster