hi newbies x
 

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1

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Hi posted this on the immigration page as well, was directed here to you folks........

http://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif hi new here...
Hi
Im very new here and am only just starting to get my head round this all, and was after some advice, on good sites, books etc that would make the whole process a little easier.

Me and my hubby have four little children and have been thinking about canada for a while but have decided now is a good time for us.

We are trying to decide bewteen applying as a skilled worker now , or trying to get him a job and applying that way as it seems that may be the shorter route to go by , considering the processing times were been reading up on .

Any advice or information greatly appreciated.

My hubby is classed as a skilled worker, we checked on that.

It would also be nice to see where people are from or hear anyones storys of moving from the uk.
:)

Re: hi newbies x
 

Hi! Do you know where you want to be?Lots of stories on here and many posters will help you with specific questions. Welcome:)

Re: hi newbies x
 

Hi Sixofus, welcome. where in Canada are you hoping to go to.

Re: hi newbies x
 

Where... now that is a good question!

We are considering a few places possicly in alberta somewhere, maybe calgary, have been there and is nice, more we know what we want just need to find a place, suppose will be down to work in the end as well.
Would also be nice to know others from uk around us, same boat and all that, schools are omposrtant aswell.

Want the diffrent seasons dont mind snow in winter and warm summers so kids can have a pool!
Need somewhere hubby can work, he specialises in the constuction sector so would need to be able to work, and would like nice house prices as well and a bit green, (mind you with the current uk ouse market anywhere in canada seems nicely priced!lol,)

would be looking to buy 4 or 5 bed property .
Were going on a trip in summer hold to look around more places hubby also knows someone in london who says its nice so may go look there x

Any suggestions ...?

Re: hi newbies x
 

Hi sixofus,
Welcome to B.E.....very addictive site this is, so be warned :D
To get a kind of idea of house prices and areas to start your research, I would suggest the very well-known www.mls.ca
House prices vary across the province and are definitely much more costly in the cities compared to rural living.
Alberta is booming in the construction industry - depending on his actual "trade title".
We live in Red Deer, smack bang in between Calgary and Edmonton (best of both worlds!).....it's smaller and more personable than to two major cities but be under no disillusions, Red Deer is swelling rapidly - too fast!
Any more info, feel free to ask.
Jaycee

Re: hi newbies x
 

Hi

Were planning on spending a month over there at christmas time 2007, in and around the calgary area and surrounding, any suggestions or links on good places to stay would be good, needs to be big place as we have 4 kids! :eek:., dont mind one base or split stay? unsure yet.

I suppose our long term plan, is a few years long, we cant decide whether to apply now given the long waits or try to arrange employment , which would be quite easy for my hubby(hopefully he was offered job once before but timing was not right) , in beggining of 2008, and then take it from there once were over there, this seems it may get us there quicker?

Still sifting through lots of reading, thinking of talking to a specialist, theres a convention thing in london in march i think well go to as well, anyone been?

sorry for diffrent trails of thought just thinking aloud!"

Any help from you wise lot who have already done it !
terri x

Re: hi newbies x
 

If you mean The Emigrate show at Sandown, then YES go get info from EVERYone but sign with NOone on the day.

As far as putting in the application, you can submit it then go for a WP while its being processed many others have (Voyager for one I think, some have come out on BUNAC visas while they wait for the final stages to go thru-Hi Scotty).

Re: hi newbies x
 

Hi Yes i do mean the emigrate show at sandown x
sorry for being vague!

I intend to go and get loads of info, will look it all over b4 going with anyone, if thats what we do, we need to decide on which way first etc, Ithink this is more of a factfinding year!

We go to disney in florida in may/ june for 3 weeks, so we have to get that out the way first, (i love disney, and canada is so much closer and cheaper for flights etc for us to get there- another good reason to move - we plan on beccoming DVC members !X)after that its saving for our christmas trip for a month nearly hopefully to look around some more, Can you rent somewhere for just a month, i think with all of us a hotel or similar would be way too much!

Then who knows if all goes well 2008 to land there ? possibly just in time for son to start school and eldest to start high school!:)

wow a lot to do first though, i am finding it a bit mindblowing reading about it all, it all seems so complicated, and everyone has a diffrent experience.:scared:

Im not sure if it hepls us but hubby has family in canada an aunt and uncle and cousins? is that considered family? does it help us at all?:o

Novice here i know, but im starting to understand all the terms and abberviations and things now.

One of the things i worry about most, is being lonely as hubby works and it will be me and the kids mostly on our own in the day, has everyone found it to be friendly out there, ive read some of the other posts about small towns as it worries me a bit, not sure where well settle yet although i do love calgary x We need a big house at least 4/5 beds so that might be our deciding factor , mind you the exchange rate helps !;)



Sorry for the long post.......appreciate all the advicex

Re: hi newbies x
 

You can rent for a month (suite hotels are excellent). You can also get month by month rentals on apts.

Calgary is booming so work isnt that a problem, house prices are forecast to rise again this year and the exchange can be volatile so dont rely on that too much. Dont forget Basements are often developed so search for three beds+ on mls (basements may contain 2 beds).

Calgary is 'friendly' but dont rely on making true friends of canadians too quickly.

The aunt\uncle connection will get you 5pts on your PR application but will not affect the chances of WP at all.

You can always PM me (or others hehe) if you want to ask really specific questions.

Re: hi newbies x
 

Sorry for so many questions, but beause of his family does that mean we can apply for a family visa? or is that not close enough relative for that, have read the site but its not so clear, i know family applications are a quicker time frame at the moment, if its family do you have to be in same provience as family does this matter?

Re: hi newbies x
 

NO not eligible for family visa.

Re: hi newbies x
 

i did think that, but thought id ask anyway, its a few more points on the application form then x

Re: hi newbies x
 

its worth 5 (not a lot when you consider you need 67?)

Re: hi newbies x
 

Were fine on points anyway as both have good education points and language, took the online test and both sailed through it, so i dont suppose the 5 points even count much, but it all helps eh!

Thanks for the replies x