Hi

I'll be straight to the point, i'm 23 years old, and my fiancee is 24. We have two children (4/2) and recently we've spoken about emigrating to Canada.

We've never been (yes I know it needs a visit) but this is more to find out where I stand and how to go about it.

I'm a trainee plumber, less than a year on my course. In full time employment here in the UK. My other half is a full time mum, but has training working with animals. (that is her background on work, she loves it)

So I guess when we move, it will be just me working as a start. I hear Canada looks for plumbers is this still true?
Does our age / children go against us?


I have family (my nans sister) lives in Alberta. The reason behind wanting to go is the current face of the UK. I want to give my children a better future in a country where the UK was 20 so years ago.

Thanks in advance.

bad news ...........

Canada is not better off than the UK... its about the same

unemployment depending on area is within 1% of the UK figures

We not in recovery, we're not in recession, we're spinning wheels and may need another interest rate cut to get the economy started

Canada rely's on the US for its economy we're 35 million, they're 316 million

just as the UK is 63 million and Europe is 500 million

If your looking to give your children a better future, i'd re-think because I'm pretty sure there is a better way than emigrating from one 1st world nation to another slightly smaller one

It's not about better or worse. It's different.

You could be super lucky and have a much better lifestyle than in the UK...or it could be similar or worse.
You will be a long way away from family and friends which can be very tricky, especially to start with, and especially for a Mum with young kids who will need more support than you as you will be working...

The winters can be tough and there are a lot more bugs in the summer...

That being said, if you consider it from the point of view of having an adventure and exploring new lifestyles and places then give it a go...don't do it for the future of your kids

Check the Wiki, and the Canada Immigration part of the foum, read all about getting a visa, what type you would be able to get, doubt that stilll being a trainee will qualify you, You may need to have your skills assesed and do some further training.

You're several years away from being able to get a visa as a plumber ( you'd need to have finished your apprenticeship, and have work experience behind you too), so you've got loads of time to research.

As pp have said, Canada won't really give your children any better opportunities than the UK will. As is often said on the forums, move for the love of Canada, rather than the perceived negatives of the country you're leaving behind, as the same problems are everywhere unfortunately.

Plan your visit (no point in spending £30k or so on moving your family without checking it out!) and in the meantime you can research and save up. Best of luck.

i have moved to Vancouver and my partner loves it but i found it difficult .
The cost of living, ( food, clothes ) is higher then uk. Property is expensive and uncertainty of the market.
School days are shorter then the Uk and a friend said are kids were advanced in the uk but have not had personally experience.
YOu need to think about the health service.

i am thinking of moving back to the uk

In Vancouver, perhaps, but that isn't necessarily the same everywhere in Canada.

The cost of living in Calgary isn't exactly cheap, either! I don't know where all the prospective newcomers are getting their information from. Housing and food costs haven't been all that cheap for some time: we've been here 16 years, and I would say that average house price for Calgary is about the equivalent for the UK (bearing in mind that Calgary is, in reality, a provincial city, like, say, Birmingham; in no way, could you say that it is the same as London. Yes, I know that the house will be bigger, but you still have to pay that mortgage!

Based on what supposition?

The cost comparison of goods based on current foreign exchange or how much money left in your pocket, wages minus expenses?

This site is neat - no idea where they get there data from but it gives a neat snapshot ...

http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living
or
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp

Thanks for the replies.

Generally the feeling seems quite negative about the idea, deffo will carry out research.

I don't think anyone is saying that, but just that you beed to do more research, as you are only a trainee at the moment, then you won't qualify for a visa for a few years, and who knows what the situation might be then.

Its more about having the right reaons to move

Nice find!

It would be better if the expatistan site allowed you to select which items were in your comparison basket, but it's interesting nonetheless.