Hi everyone,
This is the first time Ive ever posted a Blogg anywhere,

After working for over 20years as a Class one driver today I have decided enough is enough and Im leaving the UK.

Canada seems to be the favorite place at the moment,
Any advise or help you can give would help

I'll be back often to update, lets hope its not too long.

Welcome to BE - although you've posted a thread in the forum, not a blog entry! There is a blog section if you wanted to do that, up on the blue bar at the top of the page.

There is a trucking sub-section of the forum which would be worth a visit, and there is loads of info in the Wiki (just follow the link in my signature) about visas and life in Canada.

Good luck.

ThankYou

No probs. Just thought, this Wiki article may be useful reading too if you haven't found it already...........http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Truck_Driving_in_Canada

Thanks again

Day One of many more, and congratulations and welcome! What are you hoping to do, and where are you hoping to go? You need to explain a little bit more about what you want, and where , so that people can help. You have come to a fantastic place where lots of people with valuable first hand experience are willing to share, I would have been lost without it. Very best wishes.

Hi Millie, Thanks for the advice Im sure we will need lots and Im very willing to listern to all advice given but like most I dont always take the advice given, I'll try not to moan if (when) I make mistakes.
In the UK im a lorry driver and Im hoping to carry on doing this in Canada, These are early days for us and were fixed to our laptops reading loads of websites, bloggs and forums.
Hopefully soon I will find an employer who is willing to give me a job.
Where is quite open, we havnt got any one place stuck in our heads but we been thinking about the east coast.
One of the main reasons for leaving the UK is the weather, we like snow but also adore the sun so advice on the best locations weather wise would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi there, and welcome.

One of our reasons for choosing the Hamilton/Burlington area was the weather. We are in Glasgow at the moment, hoping to be over there by the end of next year (hopefully sooner).

After much research, we have found the Hamilton fits the bill for us. Plenty of sun throughout the year, plenty of snow in January February.

We don't hate rain, we just can't bare it all year round any more.

I have recently sent facebook requests to expats in Canada so we can get a good selection of feedback from accross the continent. We also have a few friends in the area sending us weekly updates.

You can't research too much

Hi Dave & Ailsa, Thanks for your message, we'll check out Hamilton as well as the others,
I didnt ever think Id been reading so much, Ive never been one for reading - Gosh how things can change.
Thanks again

Do think about the visa implications re: the province you choose as well. You mention 'us', so I'm assuming you have a family and/or spouse?

If so, there are only certain provinces that would allow your spouse and children to get an open work permit (Ontario isn't one of them), so that's something to consider.

Another thing to think about is possible routes to PR, in case you want to stay permanently rather than just on a Temp Work Permit - for instance, Ontario would have no route for you to stay unless your wife could find an employer prepared to sponsor her for a 'skilled' job (level A, O or B on the NOC Matrix). Unfortunately, as trucking is not a skilled job, your routes to PR will be limited so you'll need to choose wisely.

Good luck.

O boy christmasoompa thank you again for your info,
Yes we are a family, Me the wife and a 4yr old boy.
I have today found infomation on a company willing to take on drivers on Prince Edward Island, I dont suppose you happen to know if PEI would give my wife an open work permit or if they allow truck driver PR ?
Thank you once again

there was a guy a couple of weeks ago - Darrenandbeck, who said he was a trucker going out to PEI, think he posted end of December, good luck with your journey

Thanx merylbaz

Your wife wouldn't be eligible for an open work permit I'm afraid, so if you went to PEI you'd need to figure out if you could live on one wage, unless she can find her own job and LMO from an employer.

Just to give you a bit of background - spouses of 'skilled' workers i.e. those in NOC Level A, O or B jobs are entitled to an open work permit (so they can work in any job without restriction). However, truck drivers are Skill Level C on the NOC Matrix, meaning that their spouses don't qualify for an open work permit unless the province they are in is part of a pilot program - this is the list of pilot programs relating to TWP's, and as you can see, PEI isn't among the provinces that would allow her to get an open work permit. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/occupations.asp

As for PR, you wouldn't be able to apply under any of the Federal programs (i.e. Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class) as again, they are only for those in 'skilled' jobs. However, the PEI Provincial Nominee Program may have an option for you, if you would qualify under it - have a read of this for more info and to see if you'd be eligible. http://www.gov.pe.ca/immigration/ind...1037607&lang=E

HTH.