Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

It's been quite a long road but we're finally almost at the end of our move to Vancouver, so I thought it might be helpful to outline my experience in case it helps anyone! Feel free to ask questions, I may still have some a lot...

The beginning
We started our journey by lucking into my husband working in the UK for a Canadian tech company, who agreed to support him to voluntarily office transfer from one of the UK offices to the Vancouver office. Helped by him switching jobs within the company, so the rest of his team are actually in Vancouver. After investigating we decided that going through the BC Provincial Nomination Programme would be the best route, as we met the criteria for Express Entry PR, but with too few points to get an ITA. We also lucked into timing as a tech pilot had just started, which fast tracks applications for certain NOCs.

Timeline
September 2017 - complete IELTS tests and request education credential assessments
10th November 2017 - create EE profile and register for PC PNP
17th November 2017 - get invitation to apply for BC PNP
21st November 2017 - receive confirmation of PNP and work permit support letter, update EE profile
December 2017 - receive ITA to apply for PR via Express entry (provincial nomination gave us 600 extra points) - 3 month deadline. Start gathering police check and other information.
January 2018 - complete medicals for PR application
February 2018 - submit PR application

At this point our intention was to move to Vancouver on temporary work permits as is allowed under the PNP route, while we waited for our PR application to be processed. We had actually booked flights for the end of April, unfortunately my husband's chest x rays at the medical flagged the need for further investigations as they suspected TB! Which he doesn't and never has had, but we had to go through three months of extra tests/examinations to confirm this. We rebooked our flights for the 21st June (which cost about £700!), crossing our fingers that we would be able to use them and not need to cancel or rebook again.

February 2018 - get request for further medical information, and informed that an eTA would not be approved until medicals passed.
12th-14th March 2018 - TB tests completed
30th April 2018 - we get a provisional all clear on the medicals (no TB stuff found) and I hand my notice in at work
2nd May 2018- Final X ray
11th May 2018 - Consultant review - all clear given
22nd May 2018 - results uploaded to the system
29th May 2018 - status on MyCIC changed to medical passed
4th June 2018 - Receive letter saying PR is nearly processed and requesting passport photos
6th June 2018 - Receive confirmation that we will receive COPR prior to 21st June and will not need to apply for temporary work permits

Phew! Quite the process. If the medical stuff hadn't got int he way the rest of PR seemed to be processed pretty quickly, I was expecting it to take the full 6 months if not more! We were also really unsure of how long it would take to get the medical results processed and what would happen after that, as there is basically no way to get a timeline from anyone official.

Logistics
Once we decided to try and use our 21st June flights, it's been all go getting everything sorted. Fortunately we had already made a lot of provisional plans when we thought we were going in April. Luckily I had decided to hand my notice in in preparation, which paid off! The main things we had to get sorted to make sure we could go were:

• Accommodation: we had provisionally booked and paid a deposit on a serviced apartment in Downtown Vancouver for the first month. NOT CHEAP but we got a discounted deal as it's a new building, and they agreed to honour the price for up to 12 months. We confirmed they still had availability on 21st June.
• Pet travel: Again, we had provisionally booked and paid a deposit on using PetAir to transport our two cats. We're not enamoured by the idea of our kitties being in the hold and travelling for hours without us, but actually we decided it will be easier for us and them to use this company, who will do all the vet checks and paperwork and get the cats to the airport for us. It'll definitely be less stressful for them in the hold (and less stressful for fellow passengers who won't have to listen to any yowling!).
• Shipping: We hadn't done anything about this in April, but had seen some good reviews and experiences for White & Co. Given the limited time we didn't bother getting lots of quotes, we're not shipping huge amounts of stuff as we're going from furnished rented accommodation. Received a quote and confirmation they could pack up before 21st and booked it in!

So that's where we're at now, in the midst of packing, organising etc with two weeks to go!

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

Well that was quick, just got our COPR via email! :thumbsup:

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

Congratulations :)

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

Thanks so much, milly_m. I have my own move to Vancouver coming up, so I'll certainly be interested to hear any further stories of establishing your life there.
Cheers
MelVan

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

I'm so glad we don't have to faff around with temporary work visas now!

With three weeks to get our whole lives organised we've had a lot to do over the past week, I'm so glad I'm not working that's for sure. As well as organising all the 'big stuff' we set up a shared spreadsheet of all the tasks we needed to organise. I did use the departure-to do list from here that was helpful for ideas, and we went through our bank direct debits to identify who we needed to contact and cancel services with. So far we have:

- Closed down extra bank accounts
- Arranged an appointment with HSBC in Vancouver to open an account (I've been with HSBC for years so they can use my UK history which may be helpful in the short term, not sure we'll stay with them though)
- Informed all utilities
- Put in notice with our landlords, and obtained a landlord's reference
- Scrapped our cronky old cars (husbands to be scrapped the day before we leave)
- Got phones unlocked
- Cancelled subscriptions and gym memberships
- Requested proof of no claims from recent car insurers
- De-registered from HMRC self assessment/informed HMRC
- Arranged for cleaners to scrub up our house for us after we leave
- Got extra prescriptions (my husband is T1 diabetic, so put in a big order for his usual stuff)
- Set up mail redirection to a family address

We've still got to shut our joint account and inform our GPs. We are currently in the midst of making shipping and insurance lists of all of the stuff we are taking, which obviously means deciding what we are taking, and then a lot of trips to charity shops/the tip etc. for the items we aren't. That will be our next week of fun... Every time I move house I tell myself I'm going to become more minimalist and have less stuff and it never works :lol:

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

There is so much stuff to get rid of. but shpok , facebook & car boots helping to get rid. I don't think you have that kind of time however.

Wishing all best.

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

What we have isn't worth a huge amount, we might get a couple of hundred quid from selling bits and bobs, but at the moment I just want rid of it!

Anyone want a mini doughnut maker by any chance? :cool:

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

An advanced welcome to Canada, BC and Vancouver. You may want to take a look at a post I put up a few years ago now, I cant find it for some reason, on tips for renting in Vancouver. It was bad two years ago and it has only gotten worse. Any ideas on areas you are looking at?

get a copy of your Equifax credit report as well to bring with you. It is a name Canadians recognize and when you have little to no credit history in Canada it can make a huge difference when renting apartments as a newcomer.
Please make sure these meet ICBC's requirement. Standard proof of no claims letters will not be considered. They must state that you have had no accidents not just that you have a no claims bonus.
Insurance discount for new and returning residents

Be aware that it is notoriously difficult to find a family doctor in the lower mainland of BC. Most of use walk-in centers and see who ever is available. For those without ongoing care needs this is ok but with your husbands diabetes this may prove more difficult/frustrating at first.

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

Thanks for the advice! I'll make sure we have sets of documents ready to go for apartment hunting, we do have credit reports as well from Experian and Equifax.

My husband's diabetes is generally well controlled but he usually gets 6 monthly checks here and yearly for retinopathy/podiatry so I guess he'll have to investigate how to get referrals for those, or if they don't do them. He will have health insurance through his work but honestly I've no idea how it all works yet! Do you get what you need and claim back, or give the pharmacy/GP/whoever your insurance details at the time and they only charge you for whatever percentage you pay?

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

It may work differently province to province but the family doc may refer to diabetic centre or check themselves. Mine does it both ways. Annual eye check at specialised clinic and foot check too but foot care if needed likely to be private, but probably covered by employee insurance.

Yes, about the co-payment.

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

After the waiting period (approx.. 3 months in BC), health insurance through the employer , other referred to as group benefits, is for coverage over and above that provided by the provincial Medical services plan. Most normal care will be provided by the province with extras like dentistry, optical care, prescription drugs etc. being handled by insurance. Make sure you register on day 1 of arrival for MSP with the province as this is the start of the waiting period.

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/h...betes-supplies
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/h...ation-benefits
:)

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver
 

You guys are full of helpful advice, thanks!

Today's task, ring esure who ignored the email I sent them with very specific information about what I needed and just sent me a standard NCB letter... just got to get over this hangover from the first of quite a few leaving do's :drinkwine:

Re: Experience of moving to Vancouver