Hi we have just started talking about making the move hubby is in the process of securing a job and it would be a pretty quick move! At least for him we are looking at Edmonton I have a million questions but will start with a few for now what kind of permit would we have because we couldn't get in on the points system after you have been there for so long can you apply for residence? Would it be straight forward for me and the kids to follow on soon after? We really have no clue this job came up and we need to know so much? Hope someone can help thanks Jayne

If you can say what the job is doing and on what basis he is getting a visa then more information can be given.

Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under the both the skilled and semi-skilled streams allow you to apply for Permanent Residency (PR), after working for 6 months I believe. http://www.albertacanada.com/immigra...rate/ainp.html

If your husband is coming over on a Temporary Work Permit (TWP) with arranged employment you would automatically be able to accompany him, however, it would depend on your husband's job category as to whether you could get an open work permit.

Thank you the job is for a cnc engineer in the gas and oil industry

I believe that would be classified as 2147 "A" under the NOC codes, which would mean you should also be able to obtain an open work permit (OWP).

I think he should be able to apply (as a family) under the PNP for permanent residency for all of you. More details here: http://www.albertacanada.com/immigra...ting/ainp.aspx

I don't have specific knowledge on this subject so you may want to wait until somebody with more experience and expertise comes along to answer any specific questions.

Hope that helps a little, you can find out more about the immigration process in the wiki http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...an_Immigration

Thanks so much for that

We are in Edmonton and about to move out to Ontario.

I came here under an LMO, this was applied for by the company before I arrived, is the company your husband is looking at doing the same? The work permit under this system will be restricted for your husband in that he can only work in Alberta and for the company applying for the LMO.

You can obtain an open permit under the spousal program; this could be an open permit allowing you to work for any company. Your restrictions will be that you can’t work in health care, schools or study. My wife followed on about 6 weeks after I arrived. When I obtained my permit I stated that I had trailing family members, they were listed on my permit. On arrival they headed to immigration and were issued their permits without a problem. The company provided a registered immigration consultant who sorted out our documents and introduction letters. These were presented to CIC on arrival at Edmonton airport. Just make sure his company know who will be following.

I am at GM level and there were no issues with open permits for my wife, I also have guys at technician level working for me whose wives also have open permits.

Good luck!

Andrew

Anybody on a SOWP can work in those fields, but they just require a medical first.

Thanks andy for that do u like Edmonton I am presuming u have now gone on to receive a permanent residence or something as you are moving to a new city! ?

What does GM level mean

If you click on a poster's name by their post, then you get a drop down menu and can see their previous posts - Andy_Zena appear to be moving on a new LMO/TWP from a recent post of theirs.

HTH.

I'd guess at General Manager?

Correct it's General Manager.

I was offered a new job hence the reason for the move. Nothing wrong with Edmonton, it's a blue collar city but lively and some nice places to live. Your 3 to 4 hours from the Rockies. The city has plenty of work around especially in the trades.

If you have any specific questions on Edmonton then please let us know.

Cheers

Andrew

Is there a good expat community there? What are the best places to live schools etc. thanks

i enjoyed living in Edmonton..if you are living inside the city limits then you cant go wrong with communities in the south west..Terwillegar. River Bend etc good schools and great facilities..if not then head to St. Albert or Sherwood Park both have a fair number of Brits and Irish expats that live there...as does Edmonton itself

Hi

We were on the south west side of the city between the Whitemud Drive and then Anthony Henday Drive. We are in the properties of Donsdale which sits on the river valley. The area is very nice, schools close by and close to all the amenities of the West End.

Sherwood park is favoured by many expats, it sits on the eastern edge of the city. We took a look but for us it was too far out of Edmonton itself, this was purely our choice but we know people in the area and they love it. It tends to be more insular and self contained as a result there is less reliance on the main city area. Depending on where you are in Sherwood Park you can get the smell from refinery row, but this will depend where you are.

Terwillegar is a nice place, the company I run rents a place in this area for some of the staff. On the very west of the city there is a more recent development called the Hamptons, again very nice with schools amenities etc all close by.

St Albert is very nice this is to the north of Edmonton, it is a more expensive place to live but it is a nice community. It's location can mean commutes to and from work can be excessive, this of course depends on where you end up, working. When we relocated the company to the south east of the city a couple of employees has some commute problems as St Albert is diagonally across the ciry. Again it's a personal preference but a nice area.

We are just off 178th where it runs into Lessard Road, it suited us for property size, access to amenities, close to West End, 15 mins to downtown and the commute to work was good.

When we were looking we found a place then spent a bit of time in the area to make sure it had what we needed.

There is a meet-up group for British Expats as well as a British Society I'm Edmonton. As it is an Oil & Gas town there are plenty of Expats in the area. We have really enjoy living in Edmonton.

Cheers

Andrew