Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

We went over to NS had a look round, really liked it and decided to migrate , got job offers ( that have'nt materialised ) not on "the list" so we came to the conclusion , its not the end of the world and will wait to move to Spain in maybe 3 years, its amazing with our qualifications, construction and Oil and Gas, enough money to have bought a nice house in Canada mortgage free, we still can't get in... we refuse to " buy our way in " what a con that is.... but looking at the Spanish forum, seems they are'nt that bothered about having canadians over there, so it works both ways, just a shame really, but if your hell bent on Canada, keep at it, its certainly a lovely place , but for us just does'nt seem possible to get there...

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

I think that if you are waiting for a life changing decision it is only natural to have doubts at times and natural to want to put things on hold 'just in case'.

We applied for pr in 2003 and finally went for our medicals in January 2007! In that period we moved to another part of England, had another baby, new jobs, new electricals...every decision that we made was hard with all of the 'what if we are able to go to Canada in x time etc....' but we also knew that we couldn't put life on hold, especially not for the kids on the off chance that it didn't work out.

Two weeks before we were finally moving, and I was again 5 months pregnant with our third, my OH was really disillusioned and ready to call the whole thing off but he agreed to try it and never wants to return to the UK.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! I have just started a 4 year Social Work degree, have to pay for everything etc....I didn't even bother to apply back home as I had assumed we would have been in Canada long before we came...I could have completed the degree, with bursaries, funding etc... but put it off!!

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

I agree.. get on with life and don't hold everything back, just because you may be moving, we have lived all over the uk and abroad.. theres nothing you can do about it.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

Not so long ago I posted similar on here. I think it's only natural to have highs and lows during the immigration process. When we started out (nearly four years ago now!) we were somewhere we didn't want to be with jobs we didn't enjoy and had been thinking of moving to Canada for a very long time. Now we've landed our visas and are living in rented until we buy our one way tickets (hopefully in June 2011 once our son has completed his GCSE's). We've never really put anything on hold. Of course, our white goods are supplied by the landlord but if our telly suddenly went up in smoke, we'd buy another one and just Ebay it before we go. Ditto everything else. Our little tremble simply came about because life is better now than it was then and my OH was feeling daunted at the thought of getting a job in Canada from the UK.....with countless applications totally unsuccessful. However, there are people on here that would pay good money to buy our visas if they could and with the Yuletide season nearly over and the New Year fast approaching, we're now just looking forward to getting over there. We're still in the horrible position of trying to find employment over there and that's frustrating but we hope (REALLY HOPE) that it will all be worth it. Live your lives.....you only get one.....just buy what you need and sell it before you go. Take a weekend break in the UK if you really need a holiday. After four years, we're not giving up on the idea now and I think you'd kick yourself if you just gave up.....there'd always be that nagging in the back of your mind that you should have stuck with it.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

Where abouts in Canada are you looking to relocate because we live in BC and we do not have the standard of living we had in the uk. It is really expensive here all depending on the kind of work you do. We thought we would be able to travel across Canada but we have been on one holiday in 5 years of living here!!!I urge people to seriously do your homework. I have met many Brits in the last 5 years who just cant make a living here in BC. Alberta is a bit different as they dont have HST (harmonised sales tax) which is12% on nearly everything you buy.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

Don't want to hijack the thread, but did you not look at the Nova Scotia Community Identified Stream? That's certainly a way for you to get PR without a job offer if you want to move to NS, so don't know why you think it's not possible.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

Hi.. sent you a pm

Thanks

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

I'm not exactly sure why 12% sales tax is terrible, do remember in the UK it is 17.5% for the next ~30 hours, then it'll be a massive 20% from 2011... Of course it is hidden here into the price of the product, but I hardly think complaining about sales tax in Canada is fair game.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

I am stating a fact. Do you live in Canada. All i am saying is personally we have found it hard going because we didnt research properly the cost of things eg car insurance, house insurance, MSP, groceries, hydro, gas, sports for kids. Mobile phone rates are the highest in the world in Canada. People wont know that unless they do their homework on such things.And i will say again I have met numerous people in the same boat. But if you can earn a good living in Canada, which of course some people do, then you will be set for life. I just want to express that I think people should research as much as possible so they will not struggle when they get here. Canada is a beautifull country but it has its faults like everywhere else in the world. i hope you can understand what i am trying to get across here without thinking of me as a moaning minnie......My husband is a carpenter and a very good one at that, and the wages for constuction workers in BC is terrible. I have been here over 5 years so i am in a position to state facts. Although i understand this is not the case for everyone...

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

The 'very good' carpenters I know (some ex-pats) charge themselves out at $45-$60 p/hr. That's a perfectly livable wage for BC, IMO.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

We have 13% hst in New brunswick and it is something you have to get used to adding onto the price as most do not include tax. Yes UK VAT will be 20% ouch.

BC is a VERY Expensive place to live, we chose NB for many reasons, one of which is affordable housing. My eldest dropped out of uni here, got a job on the deli counter in sobeys (think small sainsburys 10 years ago) and she managed to buy a 2 bedroom mini home (trailer) paying a mortgage, and lot fee (rent) and finance a car plus half shares in a horse..... where in the UK can a 23 year old do that?

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

If you are in Kamloops then you must be aware of the state of construction in Kelowna.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

Thank you for agreeing with me that Bc is an expensive place to live. I am glad your daughter is doing great and agree that she would not be able to do that in UK. That is fantastic:)

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

I'd say the day to day cost of living BC is similar to my experience of living in the UK, overall. Live outside of Vancouver and the lower mainland, and housing is comparatively less expensive ($ per sq/ft).

Yes I am - it's not a great deal different than here. From what I've witnessed, those that are willing to travel, have a good reputation and work ethic have been able to keep busy. An ex-pat carpenter friend of mine decided to become self-employed 2 years ago and he's not had more than a couple of weeks without work throughout that time. The trades are slow, but if you can adapt and turn your hand to general renos there's plenty to do.

Re: Disillusionment creeping in.
 

We have been here 5 years and in that time he has been self employed, worked up north (tumbler ridge) and is currently working for a company in town. Yes he is thinking about going self employed again and eveyone has different experiences. You know people who earn a good wage and i know people who dont (in trades) and yes we have to try harder but when you get near your 50s you hope to be sorted. maybe our own fault but we still had a better standard of living in UK. I dont think it hurts to suggest to people to research before they get to Canada so they can live here happily.