re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

That's a different issue, we are talking transferring to a QROPS scheme

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I have been in contact with a pension lady at Scotia bank. She seems to think that the transfer is possible before the deadline...Snoopdawg am I being naive?
Tirytory- I hear you... I arrived on 17th March 2014 -with 2 kids I feel like we have been navigating our way through various obstacles and trying not to get overwhelmed by doing too much at once. I am starting the incorporation process now and thinking about entering for the exams. This first year has been quite stressful. The kids have embraced the change and continue to remind us that we did the right thing to move.
Feels like the NHS is punishing us now...

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Have you got the transfer value forms from the NHS?
If not I can't see how you will make it. Scotia Macleod did their bit very quickly and couriered over but getting the transfer values took a few weeks, but that was almost a year ago, maybe quicker now,although if everyone's panicking.....

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Ah we arrived in January 14... Whereabouts are you? How has your first year been?

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Hi Guys
Very informative forum. liked the details from snoopdawg, hasan & Dr matt. what i have learnt in few hours have given me an idea about what i need to do in an year time to move to calgary/edmonton. I already have an agent from Global medics who is on the ball about things for a while.
I am a recent qualified GPVTS graduate from Glasgow, Scotland( for people who dont know about Scotland its the small country across the border to England). Plan to sit the MCCEE late this year. My question to the above threads are to people who are already there as to guide us apart from the incentive of moving to canada. what is the life style like, the initial problem everyone faced when they landed, housing, mortgages, buying vehicles, bring family over and other small nigs & nags that Gp needs to know before they consider moving over the pond. :ohmy:

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Hi, can i enquire to submit your Pr did u need a employment letter from an employer & were to told to be screen for LIMA( occupation shortage list). I would like to apply for Pr ship when i go there rather than be employed on somebody work permit or an equivalent. thanks

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

We are over on a temp work permit....we have literally just applied for PR via EE. My husband obtained a job and the employer obtained the LMO back in early 2013. You would currently need this to get an Invitation to Apply for PR...

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

ok...thanks. i think i got the 2 mixed up...:-)
when is the deadline for pension transfer?
can someone outline how you did the transfer too plz?
thanks in advance.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

..................................................

I just moved to Toronto so can comment much about mortgage etc...
but so far...the banking is the most irritating and restrictive as newcomer and TWP. buying car was easy as well as exchanging my uk license....
for your car insurance, if you don't have claim in uk, make sure you get letter to say so..
oh! depending on what kind of surgery you find, you may be doing vaccination/depo injection/travel vaccination/ear syringing and few stuff which are mostly done by nurses in uk.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

.................................................. .................
Quickest way of getting to Canada is TWP. but soon after your arrival you can apply for PR or at least I have done - awaiting to get ITA by April hopefully.

for PR, yes u you need reference letter from all your previous employer for the past 10 years...the letter to have specific details....so yes! i advise to get them just prior to leaving UK 2-3months so you have all your letters. it is easier to chase them while in uk rather from Canada.
You will need english test too which is valid for 2yrs so do it prior to leaving uk.
Unfortunately with new EE system you can't apply without a job as 600 points given to job and without it i doubt you will get enough points to qualify...whereas under old system you would have...:)
oh! good luck...

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Hi Hasan
Thanks for the info. but according to my knowledge the system has changed from Jan 2015 where u can apply for Pr ship online rather than TWP going to embassy as u guys have done & then if they approve ur application u will be invited to apply for Pr ship & u land in canada with Pr ship rather than TWP & as long as ur job is in the NOC (shortage occupation list) which i presume Gp are.

below is the link,
Fill out your profile – Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)

having a job offer & provicial nomination will get u top of the list i see here & u will land with Pr ship. I presume u can change ur employer/proviven if u dont like as u are not on work permit or dependant on their visa.
Note: would like to know where u are from, I am from pakistan!.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

What's 'PR ship'?

The NOC isn't a shortage occupation list, it's all occupations. It simply gives CIC a code to tell what your job comes under.

Having a job offer isn't enough, you must have a LMIA or PNP nomination, hence why Hasan suggested a TWP first as then you can use that to apply for PR and it would get you over there soon if your employer isn't prepared to wait 6 months for you to start work.

HTH a bit. For future posts, could you please try not to use too much 'text speak'? It makes your posts very hard to read as English isn't your first language. Thanks, and good luck.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Ah we arrived in January 14... Whereabouts are you? How has your first year been?
__________________

Wow , this forum has livened up again in my absence� ����
Big thank you to everyone who comes on here-it is always super helpful- especially the contributions from the 'old timers'.
Tirytory,
I live in East Van with husband and 2 kids; I commute to Coquitlam to work. Very easy after living and working in various parts of London.
Our year has been bittersweet, my Dad died within 6 weeks of our arrival which disrupted the settling in period. We had a glorious summer and met some lovely families that have become friends.

Work-wise, I'm getting there. It is tough getting your head around being your own boss-the NHS though a nightmare at present protects Drs in someways. For example budgeting is hard when you don't know how much you'll be paid from one fortnight to the next; start-up costs and professional expenses were a shock. Day to day things like different drugs; not having a practice nurse and MSP billing were obstacles!

But as I said before- my children remind me every day that we made the right decision to move here. They are thriving;they are embracing everything and through them we have a very warm welcoming community.

I feel reassured by Snoopdawg saying that after 2 years it all settled down. How about you? Where are you based? You've had a baby-congratulations

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Dr Orakzai!
I never went to any Embassy to get TWP. I actually got it at POE in Pearson Int. Thanks to the contributors and founder of this website which i found out about it:-)...

As a GP the employer want you to start asap. but hey it is possible if you can find a willing employer to wait. with new System - EE you can get your PR by 6 month. I just got my invitation to apply while in Canada only 2 months:)...

Shellygb! sorry to hear about your dad...RIP his soul.

Tirytory! Congs on your newborn.:-)

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Thanks Hassan78.

I am meeting a financial adviser at Scotia bank on Monday and she will outline what is needed for the transfer. The closing date is 1st April I think.
They need any pension details you have, passport and TWP; SIN;2 pieces of ID

My husband spoke to NHS pensions-they said that we had to fill in an application to transfer overseas.post it back>NHS pension post another form by snail mail> then they do a calculation which takes 12 weeks. I think it is unlikely I will complete the process but I can't just do nothing;)

I can post some more info after my meeting on Monday.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Dr Orakzai,

Where do you want to work? Have you contacted any of the provincial recruitment agencies. I did everything through Healthmatch BC and although the process was frustrating at times they were very helpful.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Hi Everyone,
I've just joined the forum and have found your posts very helpful. After a few years of thinking about it, Ive decided to make the move and will start the process shortly. I am looking to move to Ontario, in or around Toronto, so Hassan78 I may be in touch for a few additional tips if that's ok.
Please see below for some information I've been sent by HFO (Health Force Ontario) which I've found helpful to get started and I hope this helps those of you who are interested in an Ontario move. I've added their contacts at the bottom.
Tip: copy and paste info below into a word doc for an easier read.

License Requirements

In order to practice medicine in Ontario, you will need a certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The requirements for Independent registration in Ontario includes:

· A medical degree from an accredited Canadian or U.S. medical school, or from an acceptable medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

Completion of the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) Qualifying Exam Parts 1 & 2
Certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for family physicians or from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) for specialists
Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or a work permit

Completion in Canada of one year of postgraduate training or active medical practice (this requirement may be waived if the candidate has met all of the other requirements.)

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC):

The College of Family Physicians of Canada will permit Family Medicine physicians who’ve completed training in a recognized jurisdiction (Ireland, UK, USA or Australia) obtained the proper certification, apply for reciprocal CFPC certification “without examination”, which saves you from having to write the CFPC certification exam.

From the CFPC website – for UK-trained physicians:

Graduates of general practice vocational training programmes that have been accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC) and who meet the standards of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and who also hold membership in the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP)

So, once you have been deemed officially eligible by the CFPC for certification without examination and have a formal plan in place for taking the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying exams the CPSO does have a policy called the Restricted Certificate of Registration for Exam Eligible Candidates which would allow you to apply for a restricted license and begin practice in Ontario under supervision (for a maximum of 3 years) while you work towards completing the outstanding exams required to obtain an independent license.

Here are some links to the various policies I’ve covered in this email if you would like to read further:

Certification without examination: Recognized Training | Alternative Pathways to Certification in Family Medicine | Education | The College of Family Physicians Canada

Independent Registration Requirements: Independent Practice Certificate of Registration | Registration Requirements | Registering to Practise Medicine in Ontario | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Restricted Certificate of Registration for Exam Eligible Candidates: Restricted Certificate of Registration for Exam Eligible Candidates | Policy | Policies & Publications | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Medical Council of Canada: http://www.mcc.ca/en/exams/

Physiciansapply.ca

The first step in this whole process will be to have your credentials verified by the national registry called Physiciansapply.ca

(physiciansapply.ca) You’ll need to have your credentials verified before you can proceed with applying to the CFPC.

Below are the specific documents that need to be verified by the Physiciansapply.ca (Specifics of what you need are on the CFPC application form, page 5: CFPC application):


Medical degree
Confirmation of postgraduate family medicine training
Certification in family medicine



Here’s a step-by-step list of what you need to do:

(1) Register the required credentials with Physiciansapply.ca – the process can take 2-3 months to verify your credentials

(2) Apply to become an active member of the CFPC (http://www.cfpc.ca/becomeamember2/)

(3) Submit a letter of intent, CV and completed application form to the CFPC (Recognized Training | Alternative Pathways to Certification in Family Medicine | Education | The College of Family Physicians Canada). Indicate that you are in the process of applying to the CPSO

(4) Request a customized application package from the CPSO, which you can do by calling 416-967-2600 ext 221. Tell them that you are applying for certification without exam from the CFPC based on your training and certification from the UK. Complete and submit the application. If you don’t yet have a position and supervisor lined up, include a cover letter explaining that you are actively looking for a job and will submit a supervision arrangement as soon as you have one.


You can do all these things pretty much simultaneously, though really the Physiciansapply.ca is the first thing you should do as verification - the CFPC won’t do too much with your application until you’ve completed Physiciansapply.ca verification.

COntacts:
163 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 1S1
Tel: 416-945-3687 | Fax: 416-862-4818

[email protected]

HealthForceOntario | Home

Because there was some interest in Alberta I tought I'd add the website below. I found this on doctors.net.uk but I'm not sure if you can view it without a doctors.net acct but try. http://careers.doctors.net.uk/employ...lth-Services/0

Good luck to all of you, no matter where you are in your journey!
I'm sure I'll be in touch again.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

hi Tweet6!

sure! You can contact any time you have Qs and will be more than happy to help!

where are you in the process?

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Hi
This is a message for christmasoompa (moderator) the msg was for informative purpose & not copyright infringement. This was to enquire what mentioned there on the website is true or not & what are the comments from people who who are working & living there & if they have experienced any problem?
I hope u will not take off the link if i cannot put the whole msg. The whole aim is to generate a debate. thanks
Top 8 Reasons NOT to Immigrate to Canada - www. Not Canada . : Immigration Canada Forum Expatriates

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I realise it was for 'information', but it's still copyright infringement. Site Rule 7 is very clear if you'd like to take the time to re-read it please.

But in any event, that whole website is a load of b*&%!$*s! :lol: A quick forum search will find lots of similar debates on the same subject, and about the same website.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Why do you need to generate a debate? There is plenty of information out there if you do the research which will give you a clearer idea about living in Canada. This forum is a good start... There are wiki articles and threads on immigration, cost of living, cultural differences and becoming a Family Physician over here. I think the way that article is written it's clear that it is a pile of rubbish with a clear bias.

You first need to establish whether your medical training will meet the requirements set by an individual province so you can work here and then visa requirements...

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

wow it's been years since the NOT Canada muppets raised their heads .

Welcome back <waves>

...not

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

:lol:

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

*Awesome*:thumbsup:

I now salute the way this thread has turned....love The Muppets!

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I am not sure what your motive is here, it smacks of trolling to me. We give advice when asked to GPs,hacked off with the NHS looking to move abroad. We are honest, giving warts and all comments about working in the Canadian Health system having been working here for a considerable time. We explain what we perceive as the pros and cons as do others on the forum about life in general in Canada rather than just the medical work related stuff. I can assure you should you chose to spend some time reading posts that we all don't think that Canada is some wonderful Nirvana. Neither is the UK!
Are you in fact Simon Stevens,CEO of NHS England trying to stop the exodus of GPs or are you just sh#t stirring?

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Blimey, that's a bit strong! The 'Not Canada' website is well known on BE, and asked about occasionally - I don't think that Dr Orakzai was doing anything other than asking if it was true or not, as others have done in the past.

Clearly it's a load of rubbish, but he didn't write it! It's been around for many years.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Maybe I misinterpreted him in which case, sorry Mr Stevens(lol) - he might well get more info by spending some time reading about good and bad stuff from us real life muppets on the forum! I will be Beaker btw

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I'm totally animal :)

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I have to agree:goodpost:

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Thanks! I have literally just started.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I have just been looking into the hoops that need to be jumped through in order to get permanent residency in Canada. Am I mistaken or do people with english as their 1st language( ie they are british) seriously need to sit an english exam? Please help

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Yes
I think you still need to sit an English exam.
Its just a formality...

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Yes they do...tbh that's the least of the hoops. The ones obtaining a license to practice are the ones you need to concentrate on.

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

Any ideas where you might be thinking about heading?

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

I have my letter of eligibility for Alberta and am just waiting for physicians apply to certify previous SHO posts etc. I can't wait- hopefully I'll be over by September. I think that's pretty crazy about having to sit an english exam - obviously it's a money maker for them

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

As TT says, that little hurdle is a given- others are slightly higher! Canadian bureaucracy will astound you. Persevere though, it is well worth it!

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

actually being British born of generations of British born doesn't mean that one is necessarily fluent in English


Personally, as a long-time Canadian, I am comforted by the fact that Brits are treated more or less on an equal footing with other applicants.


You will have to learn another language when you get over here ........

....... it's called Canadian English, and in some areas it might be more like American English

names and terms for all manner of things, professionally and in real life, can be quite different


Our medical practice is at a clinic at the university where Family Practitioners do their 2 year residencies ............... the residents I've seen over the last 15 years have come from all over the world, and I've had to educate some of them in Canadianisms, including at least one of the English trained ones

mind you, this clinic believes that patients are part of the educating process :lol:

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

You cheeky monkey!!:lol:
It's not that bad.. You do need to modify your words sometimes, diapers, etc- nothing tricky, you will get mistaken for Ozzies, Kiwis, South Africans- accents clearly are in the ears of the beholder! I think that the OP would agree that a large part of the key to being a good GP is good communication. Whether the buggers are actually listening to exactly what you are saying is another matter!;)

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

A money maker for whom? CIC earn nothing from applicants sitting language exams, it's done by a completely separate entity.

Seems fair enough to me, you'd be amazed at the number of British citizens that barely speak a word of English, so they have the same rule for all applicants to make it equal. As the others have said, that's a very minor hoop to jump in the whole hoop jumping scheme of things! Canadians love their pieces of paper. :lol:

re: Chat for and with Canadian Family Practitioners/ex UK General Practitioners
 

You said that in a much more pleasant way than I would have... I decided not to comment!